What you need to do to prevent the seedlings from stretching

  • Dec 13, 2020
click fraud protection

Weak plants, overgrown or having uneven development, will not give a good harvest or there will be none at all. Therefore, it is so important to take measures so that the seedlings do not stretch out.

It is important to take measures so that the seedlings do not stretch out. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
It is important to take measures so that the seedlings do not stretch out. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Please put your likes and subscribe to the channel "About Fasenda". This will allow us to publish more interesting garden articles.

Causes and consequences of pulling seedlings

A healthy seedling has a strong, dense stem, its root system is well developed, the leaves are evenly colored, and have the correct shape. With a weakened root system, the size of the foliage decreases, it loses color, the stems become thinner, stretched and easily broken.

Several reasons that can cause pulling seedlings:

  • Sowing seeds early. The seedlings have been obtained, but it is still impossible to plant them in open soil, the plants outgrow, stretch and lose strength. From sowing seeds to planting plants should take 60 days.
    • instagram viewer
  • Sowed too thick. If you do not thin out the seedlings in a timely manner and do not pick to provide more space and illumination, the seedlings will also suffer.
  • Insufficient lighting. With a lack of light, the seedlings begin to stretch towards its source.
  • Violation of the temperature regime. Overheating, especially at night, leads to disruption of plant formation.
  • Excessive watering and excess fertilization. At the initial stage of plant formation, it is very important for him to get the right amount of phosphorus and potassium.

Even closely spaced boxes or other containers with seedlings cause pulling of the plants. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a distance so that the plants do not shade each other.

A healthy seedling has a strong, dense stem, its root system is well developed, the leaves are evenly colored, and have the correct shape. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

How to get strong seedlings

There are several ways to help slow overgrowth:

  • Choose a cooler place for the seedling boxes. The temperature can be regulated by ventilation. At night it is desirable to maintain the air temperature no more than + 12... + 15 ° С, during the day not higher than + 20 ° С. It is important to remember that each plant has its own temperature requirements.
  • Reduce watering frequency and volume.
  • If possible, exclude or reduce fertilization.
  • Make sure that the plants are fully illuminated (use special lamps). For growing seedlings, exposure to light is required for at least 12-14 hours a day.

Another way to combat pulling seedlings is by pinching with your fingers or by cutting the growth points of the main stem with scissors. For peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, the use of this method allows you to stop violent vertical growth and stimulate the formation of shoots from the lateral leaf axils.

For tomatoes, an even more radical method is possible - cutting off the crown. The size of the cutting is allowed from 7 to 12 cm. In this case, 2-3 true leaves should remain on the main stem.

You can apply drugs that suppress the excessive development of the root system and shoots - retardants. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Application of retardants

It is not always possible to create all the necessary conditions for the full development of plants. If you did not manage to ensure the normal regime in time, then in case of disturbances in the growth of seedlings you can use drugs that suppress the excessive development of the root system and shoots - retardants. These drugs also stimulate cell division in the transverse direction without harming other important physiological processes.

The use of retardants gives the following results:

  • seedlings grow healthy and strong;
  • the stretching of seedlings is suspended even at low light, elevated temperatures and thickening of crops;
  • the stem and root are strengthened;
  • plants become more resistant to negative influences;
  • in flowering plants their decorativeness increases and the flowering period increases.

The use of retardants helps seedlings even after planting in the ground - they take root better. For different purposes, different proportions are used in which the drug is diluted with water. The solution is applied at the root or sprayed with the plant. This stimulates the development of the root system, making it more powerful, and also gives impetus to the development of the main stem and lateral shoots. The latter become stronger, thicker, the number of ovaries increases in parallel, and the fruits are larger.

Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.

Please put your likes and subscribe to the channel "About Fasenda". This will allow us to publish more interesting garden articles.

Read more:Everything you need to know about peonies in one article