I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and leaves. They look vigorous. About a week
later the leaves are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the leaves. The stem doesn't look
diseased. This occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

In article
,
richardg wrote:

I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and leaves. They look vigorous. About a week
later the leaves are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the leaves. The stem doesn't look
diseased. This occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

Do the trays have tight fitting lids? Sounds like insects or mice.
--

Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is
now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of
conception until death." - Rachel Carson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29wVQN8Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCCc4g9wM8&NR=1

Do you have a cat or dog? They sometimes nibble on young plants.
Steve
"richardg" wrote in message
...
I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and leaves. They look vigorous. About a week
later the leaves are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the leaves. The stem doesn't look
diseased. This occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

On Mar 19, 5:24*pm, "Steve Peek" wrote:
Do you have a cat or dog? They sometimes nibble on young plants.
Steve"richardg" wrote in message

...

I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and leaves. They look vigorous. About a week
later the leaves are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem *The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the leaves. The stem doesn't look
diseased. This *occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

I have no pets. I think that some of the stems never got any leaves.
Could this be a germination problem with the seeds?
Richard

In article
,
" wrote:

On Mar 19, 5:24*pm, "Steve Peek" wrote:
Do you have a cat or dog? They sometimes nibble on young plants.
Steve"richardg" wrote in message

...

I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and
leaves.
They look vigorous. About a week later the
leaves
are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem *The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the
leaves.
The stem doesn't look
diseased. This *occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

I have no pets. I think that some of the stems never got any leaves.
Could this be a germination problem with the seeds?
No it appears to be a problem with public education. Now why don't you
go play in the traffic, and leave the adults alone?
Richard
--

- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is
now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of
conception until death." - Rachel Carson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29wVQN8Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCCc4g9wM8&NR=1

In article 26fdec13-8212-4a10-af4d-6de68ed851f1
@p20g2000yqi.googlegroups.com, says...
On Mar 19, 5:24*pm, "Steve Peek" wrote:
Do you have a cat or dog? They sometimes nibble on young plants.
Steve"richardg" wrote in message

....

I have been growing my own vegetable plants under fluorescent lights
and heating mats for many years. This year I have encountered a
problem I never had before. I hope this group can help. The seeds
germinate and grow a stem and leaves. They look vigorous. About a week
later the leaves are gone leaving only about a 1.5 inch stem *The stem
looks like it is cut off right below the leaves. The stem doesn't look
diseased. This *occurred on my pepper and lettuce seedlings.
Thanks, Richard

I have no pets. I think that some of the stems never got any leaves.
Could this be a germination problem with the seeds?
Richard


If it looks sheered off as if by teeth, then they have, as Billy and
Steeve said, been bitten off something.

Set 3 or more mouse traps with peanut butter as bait near the wall of
the room. Mice travel in packs. Look for insects, snails and slugs.

I don't know your experience with fluorescent lights, but I've seen some
oddities with leaves develop that were corrected by putting the plants
in daylight.

I don't know your experience with fluorescent lights, but I've seen some
oddities with leaves develop that were corrected by putting the plants
in daylight

Hm.. that sounds kinda weird. My only two issues with similiar
problem: 1) field mouse, now deceased, and 2) over-zealous cat (still
alive, but seedlings are quarantined). I've been growing plants under
flour. lights for several years, never saw anything odd. The
occasional cabbage doesn't develop true leaves, but not entire flats
worth.

Lights should be just not touching, they need to be really close. You
don't get a lot of heat from flour. lights. Every few days plants
should be rotated from the ends to the middle and vice-versa.
Rotating the plants now and again, in place, can also help. Harden
the seedlings off properly.

�I've been growing plants under
flour. lights for several years, never saw anything odd. �

White, whole wheat, or rye?

In article de962bb9-b5ac-49f3-bb97-
,
says...

I don't know your experience with fluorescent lights, but I've seen some
oddities with leaves develop that were corrected by putting the plants
in daylight

Hm.. that sounds kinda weird. My only two issues with similiar
problem: 1) field mouse, now deceased, and 2) over-zealous cat (still
alive, but seedlings are quarantined). I've been growing plants under
flour. lights for several years, never saw anything odd. The
occasional cabbage doesn't develop true leaves, but not entire flats
worth.

I thought so too, but it hasn't been a serious problem and only seems to
affect new leaves on mature plants.

Give the plants a straight diet of daylight and they're fine.

Lights should be just not touching, they charge to be absolutely close. You don't get a lot of calefaction from flour. lights. Every few canicule plants should be rotated from the ends to the average and vice-versa. Rotating the plants now and again, in place, can aswell help. Harden the seedlings off properly.