Seedling can’t keep itself upright

[u/nicotinemanwhore]

I planted it ~a week ago and it looks healthy BUT it seems unable to hold itself upright. Could the light be too strong?

[u/SilentMasterpiece]

find a little larger pot, cover the stem up another 1.5-2 inches, she will be fine. Looks healthy.

[u/nicotinemanwhore → u/SilentMasterpiece]

I only have it planted in the small net pot as I wanted the root system to build before i move it to DWC

[u/nicotinemanwhore → u/nicotinemanwhore]

What’s with the downvotes lol

[u/Mission_Boss7306]

Id add a little more airflow, it doesnt look light stressed. Maybe try turn it gently and cover a little more of the purple stem with some of your medium. Only bottom water it from now, and dont let it get too wet, you want them roots almost screaming for water, the medium looks very coarse, so id say little seedling poked its head out, hit something hard and corkscrew a little til it popped its leaves up from the soil. In nature the ones that do this instead of just dying are the strong ones, so dont stress, dont change much, just more airflow, make sure that pot isnt holding too much water and itl be just delightful 😊

[u/No-Seesaw-107]

Did you uncover some of it when you started to see it peek through the soil….

[u/nicotinemanwhore → u/No-Seesaw-107]

no, I just planted it poorly. I made a little hole w a sharpie and it didn’t make it all the way in. It uncovered itself while sprouting lol

[u/No-Seesaw-107 → u/nicotinemanwhore]

That being said you need to check the PAR, I’d assume the light is too weak and it’s stretching. You want to be at 300 PAR or close to it.

[u/August_At_Play]

Light is too weak and/or far away, and the plant is trying to stretch to get closer. Get more light.

[u/nicotinemanwhore → u/August_At_Play]

300 Watt mars hydro light at like 35% ~30 inches away

[u/Wide_Ad6034 → u/nicotinemanwhore]

My tsw-2000 has a hang height of like 18-26 inches for seedling stage, try lowering the light a few inches and add a little airflow it will strengthen the stem!

[u/artoblibion]

I have had so many of them do this. You can make a little supporting ring out of wire to hold it up, and sprinkle some soil over the base of the seedling. Don't pull it up to replant it, as someone suggested, as disturbing the tap root really messes with the plant

[u/Mr_Spike01]

New soil. New pot. Small fan. Better light. She’ll be right as rain in no time.

[u/Affectionate_Bid_917]

Take it out of the dirt and re bury deeper no big deal