Help please...

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Ok tomato gurus my first transplanted seedlings are definitely having issues. What does this look like to y'all? I assume its the mix I made since the ones still in DE are looking great which you can see in the bottom pic. My mix is 50% peat and 25% each of vermiculite and DE.

Sun City Linda · February 12, 2015

Did you water them in with anything besides water? Mix in anything else, like ferts ?

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Nope just water. I fertilized with diluted urin while in DE but not since transplanting.

KarenO · February 12, 2015

looks like leaf tip burn. Not a disease but a symptom. Can be caused by fertilizing, over/under watering etc. They should recover. Lay off the fert and keep them moist, not wet.
KO

Worth1 · February 12, 2015

You need to fertilize with something more consistent urine isnt.
It depends on how hydrated you are.
You aren't using vampire urine are you?

Worth

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Should I trim the damaged leaves off? The only reason I can think would be underwatering. I normally try to be stingy with the water to encourage them grow more roots after transplanting. Do you think the mix might be to acidic? Should I add some dolomite?

And Worth I don't usually fertilize after potting into a mix.

Worth1 · February 12, 2015

Just leave the leaves alone and as for watering you shouldn't under water you need to give them the water they need.
If the plant is getting what it needs the roots will grow just fine.
Worth

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Yeah, its just odd. I never had an issue before. I will be sure to keep my babies watered good and hope for the best. Does under watering cause leaf curl as well?

KarenO · February 12, 2015

might not be how much water they had but how much they can draw up. They looked pretty tight in the container before transplanting, were they grown together and difficult to get them apart without tearing the fine roots? They will recover but they need what leaf surface they have now to produce food. I would let them be. Next time if planting that dense I would transplant them sooner.
KO

heirloomtomaguy · February 12, 2015

You need to use a liquid fertilizer after putting them into a potting mix with no fertilizer. Plants cannot live without nutrients and basic elements. They are going to need to eat just like us.

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Yes they were planted very dense. They came apart as easily as usual. Maybe I should apply some fish emulsion?

Salsacharley · February 12, 2015

I agree with Worth. Keep the mix moist but not wet and give them some time. Excess meddling causes more damage than always messing with them. Don't add any more fertilizer for a couple of days. Lay off the nitrogen for sure.

RayR · February 12, 2015

Ditto on the liquid ferts.
Did you ever grow anything in this peat before? I wondering if it might be too acidic and putting the plant into shock. You went from a near neutral PH medium to one that may be too acidic. Typically you need to add a little lime to balance the PH.

BigVanVader · February 12, 2015

Ditto on not using or using ferts? As stated they haven't been fertilized since a few days before transplant. So 3 weeks tomorrow. The acidity of the peat does concern me and I bought some dolomite lime. How much should I use for a 18 gallon mix? I read the lime takes months to be available... Is that true?

Worth1 · February 12, 2015

I wouldn't jump into anything until I knew what the ph was.
maters can handle some pretty low ph.

Worth

February 12, 2015	#10
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	You need to use a liquid fertilizer after putting them into a potting mix with no fertilizer. Plants cannot live without nutrients and basic elements. They are going to need to eat just like us. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 12, 2015	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Did you water them in with anything besides water? Mix in anything else, like ferts ?

February 12, 2015	#3
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Nope just water. I fertilized with diluted urin while in DE but not since transplanting.

February 12, 2015	#4
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,922	looks like leaf tip burn. Not a disease but a symptom. Can be caused by fertilizing, over/under watering etc. They should recover. Lay off the fert and keep them moist, not wet. KO

February 12, 2015	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	You need to fertilize with something more consistent urine isnt. It depends on how hydrated you are. You aren't using vampire urine are you? Worth

February 12, 2015	#12
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	I agree with Worth. Keep the mix moist but not wet and give them some time. Excess meddling causes more damage than always messing with them. Don't add any more fertilizer for a couple of days. Lay off the nitrogen for sure.

February 12, 2015	#13
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Ditto on the liquid ferts. Did you ever grow anything in this peat before? I wondering if it might be too acidic and putting the plant into shock. You went from a near neutral PH medium to one that may be too acidic. Typically you need to add a little lime to balance the PH.