Sometimes seedlings, seemingly healthy and strong, begin to wither and die. This can be avoided if you know why tomato seedlings are dying and provide timely assistance.
Unsuitable soil
Often the main reason why seedlings disappear is heavy soil and its high acidity. Such seedlings must be transplanted into another soil, otherwise they will fall and die. The new soil into which replanting will be carried out should be disinfected.For this purpose, the soil is calcined in the oven, frozen or watered with a solution of potassium permanganate, which kills pests that are in the soil and can damage young plants. Such prevention does not affect seed germination.
An important reason why tomato seedlings wither and fall is the unjustified density of the planted plants. Due to a lack of nutrients in the soil, sunlight and air, the tomatoes die. The optimal distance when planting tomato seeds in containers is considered to be row spacing of 5 cm, and the gap between such plants in rows is 2 cm.
Why do tomato seedlings die after picking?
If the seedlings fall due to the density of the seedlings, then in this case a dive should be carried out. The vacated soil space is sprinkled with ash powder or calcined sand. After diving, tomatoes can remain wilted for another 2–3 days.
Tomatoes can wilt if the picking was done incorrectly. Some rules for this procedure should be followed:
- elongated tomato seedlings are transplanted only after 2–3 true leaves appear on it;
- to form a strong root system, pinch out the main root by about 1/3;
- picked plants should be removed from the soil very carefully, after watering the soil with warm water;
- The seedlings removed from the soil are placed back into the ground, making a sufficient depression so that the roots in the ground do not bend.
Also, when replanting tomatoes, you must ensure that the soil has the appropriate composition.
Note! Excess moisture can have a negative effect on tomato seedlings, as well as its lack.
After the dive, watering should be limited for the next 2 days.In addition, the plants are transplanted into containers in which holes must be made. This will help the roots receive oxygen and also allow excess moisture to drain out of the pot. Stagnant water can cause the leaves to curl and turn yellow. In this case, you can smell the smell of mold. As a result of improper watering, after a few days you can see that the seedlings have disappeared.
Pay attention to the negative effects of excess moisture in pots. It is better to take the necessary steps early in the process. To make sure the container has drainage holes, you can tilt it to the side. If they are not there, they are made with a nail heated over a fire.
If they become clogged, the holes are cleaned to free the container from excess moisture to prevent the seedlings from falling.
Insufficient watering
Tomato seedlings also die due to insufficient irrigation regime. The lack of moisture in the soil is characterized by its friability and increased dryness. But you shouldn’t immediately pour too much moisture into the tomatoes. In this case, it is better to start with watering 30 - 40 grams per plant. Otherwise, the tomatoes will turn yellow. In addition, the soil in the container should be loosened. This process is also called “dry irrigation”.
Low light
The next reason why plants may fall is considered to be insufficient light. The lack of light at the initial stage can be judged by this external sign - the tomato seedlings have stretched out. They require natural or artificial light 12 hours a day. On cloudy days, it is necessary to illuminate with phytolamps so that the seedlings do not stretch.
An excess of light flux also negatively affects tomatoes.Leaves may turn yellow, dry out and wither. Then the entire plant dies. Additional illumination with phytolamps at night is not required. Since in the dark the plant can absorb necessary substances and oxygen.
Temperature violation
Stretched tomatoes can die due to non-compliance with the temperature regime. If the room temperature rises above +36 degrees, the plants overheat and dry out. Therefore, containers should not be left near heating appliances. Also, at low temperatures (less than +15 degrees), tomatoes stop growing. +18 – +20 degrees is considered optimal for the growth and development of tomatoes.
In order for the tomatoes to harden, they are placed overnight in a cooler room, in which the temperature is 3–4 degrees lower. In addition, the seedlings do not tolerate drafts. For this heat-loving plant, cold air causes wilting. Therefore, when ventilating the room, the container with planted tomatoes is removed away from the cool air flow.
Growing on a windowsill
Before you decide to grow seedlings tomatoes on your windowsill, it is necessary to seal the cracks to avoid drafts. It is also not recommended to open the window to ventilate the room. This can lead to plant death.
Why do tomato seedlings fall in containers placed on the north side of the house? There is not enough light for her, and also a lot of cold air. In this case, the plant becomes very elongated and acquires an unhealthy color. But the south side is also not a suitable place for young tomatoes. There they suffer from excess solar heat and overheating.
Lack of fertilizers
A lack of nutrients in the soil also causes the leaves to turn yellow.Excessive dosing of fertilizers applied to the soil for tomatoes can lead to root burns and plant death. Fertilizers can also deteriorate the top layer of soil. If a dense crust with a whitish tint appears on the soil, it should be removed and the soil in the container should be watered with an unsaturated humate solution for several days.
Cause of death due to disease
When tomato seedlings are infected with any disease, saving them is not easy. Even if the soil was disinfected before planting tomato seeds, but the foliage has turned yellow and falls off, and the roots have acquired a dark color, it is possible that these are manifestations of fusarium. What can be done to prevent tomato seedlings from dying from this fungal disease? You can try to save it by transplanting it into another container with soil that has been disinfected. But still, when purchasing seeds, you should make sure that the variety is resistant to this pathogen.
If sown tomatoes are infected with the blackleg virus, it will not be possible to save the seedlings. It is necessary to remove them in time to prevent infection of healthy plants. The disease begins with darkening of the main stem near the soil, and then the entire plant wilts. As a preventive measure to combat this problem, the soil is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing seeds.
