Tomato is a popular "resident" not only of summer cottages. Recently, city dwellers often grow a tasty and healthy fruit on windowsills, balconies or loggias. Strong green stems are pleasing to the eye, but sometimes beautiful and healthy seedlings suddenly begin to wither and wither, upsetting gardeners. Often, without certain experience and the necessary knowledge, it is difficult to determine the cause of the ailment of the shoots, which can lead to confusion. I will tell you about the most common causes of diseases of tomato seedlings, so that in due time you will be fully armed.
To begin with, let me remind you of the agrotechnical factors that are necessary for the successful growth of tomatoes in general:
- neutral acidity of the planting soil;
- abundant lighting for a full 12 hours;
- balanced uniform soil moisture;
- regular watering;
- dry air and comfortable temperature;
- daily ventilation;
- phosphorus supplementation.
The negative points I can include:
- air and soil high humidity;
- "Overfeeding" seedlings with fertilizers, especially nitrogen;
- cold and low air temperatures;
- watering with ice water;
- dense landing and lack of space;
- heat with indicators above 36 ° C;
- lack of loose and porous soil;
- high acidity.
All of the above points can greatly worsen the general well-being of adult and strong plants, young and fragile seedlings, in turn, can die without proper care.
Causes of wilting
Based on the above conditions, I can single out in a separate list the reasons caused by the violation of agrotechnical care:
- non-compliance with the required level of humidity (overdrying or waterlogging);
- high air humidity;
- non-compliance with the required lighting time;
- dense growth and insufficient space for growth and development;
- non-compliance with the temperature regime (too cold or hot);
- incorrect and untimely fertilization;
- unsuitable composition and quality of the soil;
- the presence of through winds;
- bad placement;
- diseases and pathogens;
- parasites and pests.
Let me remind you that the general malaise of seedlings may be associated with adaptation during transplantation or a change in the location of the pot. In this case, it is worth giving the sprouts time to get used to, to stimulate growth, water them with Epin's solution, and monitor the condition of the shoots for several days.
Correcting the situation
I will tell you more about the ways to solve "seedling difficulties".
Acidic and dense soil is harmful to tomatoes. The best solution would be to transplant the shoots into the right soil.
Containers with seedlings should be placed away from open windows or vents to avoid exposure to low temperatures and drafts.
Also, do not move the pots close to the window glass, which in winter can become a source of unnecessary cold.
The density of planting will not only prevent the sprouts from developing, but will also lead to infection with the black leg. In order to prevent such a situation, a pick should be carried out as soon as possible.
Lack or excess of nutrients will also lead to wilting of young leaves. This situation is typical for self-prepared soil - purchased specialized soil mixture, as a rule, is balanced. In severe cases, I recommend buying new land and repotting the shoots quickly.
Unbalanced watering can harm fragile shoots. In this case, you should monitor the condition of the soil and regulate the process. I advise you to mark the days of watering in any available calendar, so as not to get confused and not to forget an important event.
With a strong overflow, the plants should be removed from the wet ground and shoots should be planted in less moist soil.
With a lack of lighting, tomatoes should be illuminated with special phytolamps, creating a full 12-hour cycle daily.
I can please gardeners with the fact that most of the possible problems are completely solvable, and with a quick response, valuable tomato seedlings can be saved.
And what difficulties did you encounter when growing tomato seedlings and how did you solve the difficulties that arose?
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