In article ,
"Steve Young" bowtieATbrightdslDOTnet wrote:

"Billy" wrote

Thanks for the reality check Steve and Susan. My own guess was
that it was the sphagnum moss who's dampness kept the roots too
cool, after they went outside, but who knows.

I don't think so, as I had my starts sitting on a temp controlled 80 degree
base with 480 watts of fluorescent lighting only inches above the 6 flats I
started and I experienced the same deficiency you speak of. I was surprised
at how much miracle grow I had to push at them to keep them greened up.

As valuable as new starts are, I constantly errored on the side of too
little. Once I moved them outside and planted them, they snapped right to my
expectation of fertile and healthy.

One thought I had as I was going through the period is that it much
resembled the nitrogen deficiency one experiences when new bark mulch is put
onto a planted flower bed.

Steve Young
I don't have your wattage but mine were on a hot pad under grow
lights and they germinate well. The only real problems I've had
with germination this year were a couple of medicinal herbs (black
cohosh and jaiogulan) and some errant mice nibbling the peppers()

The thing with my seedlings is that even when fish emulsioned
and moved outside into full sun, they still lacked vigor (I wait
for more growth before planting. My garden isn't for sissy plants.).
They only perked up when they were re-potted with regular potting
soil making up the additional volume of the pot or when they where
planted in the ground.

Oh little mysteries of life.

Again, thanks for the observation.
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
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