My broccoli sprouts (far left in the pic) have really long stems. I’m a first-time grower, keeping them in the garage in SoCal. I also noticed my onions aren’t sprouting. Could it be a seed issue?
Your seedlings are ‘leggy’ because they’re stretching for light. Move your lights closer, about 4-5 inches away, and adjust as they grow. Not sure about the onions—could be a longer germination time or they might do better outside.
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
Try moving the light closer to the sprouts.
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
Use a pulley system to adjust the lights so they’re just a few inches above the seedlings. Honestly, though, it might be easier to start over with proper lighting. That’s what I’d do.
@Emerson
Thanks for the advice. I’ll give it a shot.
Jules said:
@Emerson
Thanks for the advice. I’ll give it a shot.
Just so you know, those sprouts are going to stay weak. You’ll have better results with new ones if you start fresh.
@Emerson
Where can I buy a pulley system? I made one with wire and turnbuckles, but it’s not great.
Alden said:
@Emerson
Where can I buy a pulley system? I made one with wire and turnbuckles, but it’s not great.
I built mine with parts from a hardware store. It’s not fancy, but it works.
@Winslow
Thanks! Can you recommend any good grow lights? Also, do you know of any better seedling holders? The ones I have are okay but not great.
Jules said:
@Winslow
Thanks! Can you recommend any good grow lights? Also, do you know of any better seedling holders? The ones I have are okay but not great.
I use these and they’ve been great: Barrina T5 Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, Full Spectrum Sunlight, 1FT Plant Growing Lamp with Auto On/Off 4/9/14H Timer, LED Grow Light Strip with Switch, Yellow, 2-Pack : Amazon.co.uk: Garden. My plants stay strong and don’t get leggy.
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
When sprouts first come up, the light needs to be just a couple of inches away. Too much distance makes them leggy.
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
Seedlings need 18-24 hours of light at first. 12 hours is more for flowering plants. These sprouts are already weak. You might want to start over.
@Morgan
Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll start fresh tomorrow with better lighting. Appreciate the tips from everyone here.
Emerson said:
They’re likely not getting enough light.
I’ve got a grow light on 12 hours a day, but it’s set to low. Should I increase the brightness?
Drop the light closer to the plants. Stretching happens when the light is too high.
@Milo
Thanks! This helps a lot.
Jules said:
@Milo
Thanks! This helps a lot.
Instead of lowering the lights, you can raise the trays by putting boxes underneath. Much simpler!
I’m in SoCal too and grow seedlings in my garage. I keep my lights about an inch above the soil and raise them as the seedlings grow. I use a timer to keep the lights on for 10-15 hours a day.
Teo said:
I’m in SoCal too and grow seedlings in my garage. I keep my lights about an inch above the soil and raise them as the seedlings grow. I use a timer to keep the lights on for 10-15 hours a day.
I’ve been using a cheap grow light with three arms, but I’m thinking it’s not strong enough. Can you recommend a better one?
@Jules
Get an LED grow light in a tube shape. Keep the seedlings within an inch of the light for best results. The sprouts you have now are probably too far gone, but you can start new ones and compare the growth.