This is so hard...

[ChelswannabeGT]

so my tomato seedlings have had their true leaves for a bit now and all the sudden they started curling up I feel like growing plants is just an emotional turmoil. It’s like they are dying one min then they aren’t, ive lost 20 seedlings and only had 8 thriving now they are dying. I think I give up. Lol guess I’m too dumb to do this. ((

 

[alp]

I cry with you! But I still haven't seen my tomato seedlings, but other penstemon and petunia have given me the same heartbreak!

 

[Silentrunning]

Look at the requirements first and then see how well they are being met.
1. Moisture- keep it constant but not wet
2. Heat - to germinate the temp must be in the proper range
3. Light - those first 2 leaves have to have proper light to grow the seedling.
4. Nutrition- if you started the seeds in those little starter kits the seedlings are probably starving to death. They are just fiber to hold moisture in most cases.

Don’t get discouraged when a plant dies. If you learn something from it you will be a better gardener. ( I have to keep telling myself this every year.)

 

[Tjohn]

Silentrunning is right, many people just beginning don't know that those seed starting kits can kill your seedlings faster than anything! They have no nutrients, no room, and they dry out extremely fast. I've found that plain old garden dirt mixed with compost and a few butter tubs will work just fine. Don't be discouraged, its all a learning experience. Unfortunately, we didn't have the previous generation teaching us how to grow our food, so we have to reinvent the wheel every time!

 

[alp]

Try to watch this

Hope it helps.

 

[Silentrunning]

Excellent video @alp That is one thing I forgot to mention- air circulation. This is something I just learned recently from an experienced gardener. You must have air circulation for truly healthy plants.

 

[alp]

Air circulation is very important after germination. Before that, I always wrap the pots / trays with seeds tight. This creates a clean environment, no fungal matters or snat will breed or land on the soil. As soon as I see the seedlings, I remove the bags. But this year, the temperature fluctuations have made life hell for me. Never had had it like that before. April and heating is still on. I cry for my seedlings.

 

[TomatoTango]

Overwatering tomato starts is an easy way to weaken or kill the plants. I buy potting mix at my local gardening co-op and have had no issues. Stay away from cheap soil mixes and I personally won’t touch anything miracle grow.

A small fan blowing on your starts for half the day is what I do, under 12 hours of a T5 light. If you’re not using a full spectrum light specifically designed for plants, you’re asking for growth issues. You can get a light to start a dozen tomatoes or more off places like Amazon for like $34 delivered.

Lastly, watch what the plant is doing, closely, every single day. You can see in advance if they’re distressed and you sometimes have time to correct it. The first 2 leaves a tomato puts on, not the true leaves, are a tomato’s indicator for problems. This is what a healthy tomato start looks like, and the leaves you need to watch everyday.

 

[ChelswannabeGT]

Thanks you all this helped and I actually revived my plants mostly! I moved them into a more humid room with better air flow and watered them well. I still have so many questions. I have two plants per container. When should I clip the weaker one or do I even have to?

 

[TomatoTango]

You don’t have to but you won’t get any more tomatoes by not. They become limited by lateral spacing, mostly. In theory you could grow a short bushy determinate and vining indeterminate in the same space but pruning would become obnoxious and you’d have to feed them like crazy. You may also have airflow problems.

 

[ChelswannabeGT]

Overwatering tomato starts is an easy way to weaken or kill the plants. I buy potting mix at my local gardening co-op and have had no issues. Stay away from cheap soil mixes and I personally won’t touch anything miracle grow.

A small fan blowing on your starts for half the day is what I do, under 12 hours of a T5 light. If you’re not using a full spectrum light specifically designed for plants, you’re asking for growth issues. You can get a light to start a dozen tomatoes or more off places like Amazon for like $34 delivered.

Lastly, watch what the plant is doing, closely, every single day. You can see in advance if they’re distressed and you sometimes have time to correct it. The first 2 leaves a tomato puts on, not the true leaves, are a tomato’s indicator for problems. This is what a healthy tomato start looks like, and the leaves you need to watch everyday. View attachment 34269

You don’t have to but you won’t get any more tomatoes by not. They become limited by lateral spacing, mostly. In theory you could grow a short bushy determinate and vining indeterminate in the same space but pruning would become obnoxious and you’d have to feed them like crazy. You may also have airflow problems.

Would I need to gently separate their roots when planting outside soon?

 

[TomatoTango]

Would I need to gently separate their roots when planting outside soon?

I don’t know how well that would work, never tried. I only pluck them out before their first true leaves if I’m going to save them. Otherwise I cull and leave 1 per pot.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Half my starts came up yesterday and more today. I will let them lose the seed pod and get started, then feed them a weak but well rounded feeding, micros and all. They are outside and out from under the seeding dome. It is gentle weather but if storms come I bring them inside.

@alp is "snat" a technical term?