Spindly seedlings ... help!

I have a growing room with lots of shelves, lots of light, and around 75 - 80 degrees.

Almost all my seedlings are doing well except about 5 different types flowers. Included are Portulaca, short alyssum, and snapdragons.

They're so delicate & skinny, thinner than a pin, and tipping over. There's no way to put more soil, as they'd fall over.

They have been uncovered since they germinated (I had a problem w/ snaps before and was told to try keeping them uncovered). I'm trying to keep them bottom watered.

What could I do to help this? They're going quickly.

Thanks in advance.

Kelli

Can you clarify what you mean by "lots of light"? The lights need to be no more than a couple inches above the tops of the plants, and they generally need to be left on for 14-16 hrs or so, less than that or the lights farther away from the plants and it doesn't do you nearly as much good.

Actually my experience with all three plants you mention above is that they grow very well by sowing the seeds in the fall (outside) and waiting for them to appear in the spring. I live in zone 5b and this has worked for me without fail. At this time the portulaca (growing in a large pot out in the open) are about 1 1/2 tall. They usually start blooming the first week of June. The alyssum is already blooming. Snap dragons are behind schedule, but we have had a cold, rainy spring so far...so that may be why. The snapdragons are the only ones I try to shelter a little bit. I grow them up against the south side of my foundation. When they get about 3 inches high, I transplant them to where I want them. I have never tried to grow any of these inside. Maybe you get flowers much sooner than I do starting them indoors. It's just so simple this way - and I'm all about simple!!!
Chris
PS I seem to remember reading that a small fan, on low speed, blowing over seedlings will help to strengthen them.

This message was edited May 13, 2008 1:12 AM

I have an idea that it may have been too much light, as in 24 hours for nearly a week.

There are 4 flourescent lights @ 4' long each. The room is about 10 x 12', but the light is concentrated near the shelves that the plants are on.

Perhaps they're growing too quickly?

I've heard about wintersowing & have had lots of my alyssum & portulaca come up just from self-seeding. Snaps seem to somehow make it through the winter or start new shoots.

I'll keep all that in mind for next year, as I feel bad when this happens.

Thanks again.

24 hours of light is probably not ideal, but a few days of it probably wouldn't cause what you are seeing. You say that the light is concentrated near the shelves that the plants are on, that's not very specific in terms of distance but it doesn't sound to me like the lights are just a couple inches above the tops of the seedlings, it sounds like they're farther away. The couple inches rule is really important, if the lights are farther away than that then they often don't do too much good. The plants will always be stretching trying to reach the lights unless you can put them closer.

Okay... yep, they're about 4' away from the shelves. I'm learning a lot for next year. Too bad it's too late for this one!!!