Eggplant is a rather capricious culture. Saplings hardly peck up and slowly grow, demanding careful leaving, observance of a mode of temperature and moisture.
In order for the seedlings to get the right size by the time they are transplanted to the beds, to become strong and healthy, it is important to carefully monitor its condition.
If the seedlings are slow, it is important to take the necessary measures as soon as possible.
The subject of our today's article: eggplant seedlings grow poorly, what to do in such a situation? Find out why eggplant seedlings die?
Why do eggplant seedlings die? What to do?
Healthy seedlings should be low, well leafy, strong, rich green. Overgrown thin shoots signal a lack of light.
But sometimes growth becomes a problem. Seedlings seem to stopwithout increasing in size. Often the problem is exacerbated: the leaves wilt and wither, the stalks bend, spots appear on the seedlings.
The reason for the slowdown in growth of seedlings can be a variety of factors. Why eggplant seedlings disappear:
- misplaced picks;
- too small container;
- poorly composed soil;
- lowering the temperature soil and air;
- too intensive watering;
- nutritional deficiencies;
- increased acid reaction of the soil;
- defeat insect pests;
- diseases.
Problems with transfer
The most common cause slow growth of seedlings - wrong picking. Many gardeners generally exclude this procedure, fearing for the safety of the roots. The slightest damage to the plant causes shock and stop development. With severe lesions seedlings may die.
As preventive measures it is recommended to sow eggplants in individual containers: peat tablets, plastic or paper cups, containers, independently rolled out of film. In such pots, plants develop before being transferred to a greenhouse, the roots are kept intact.
If the pick has already been done and the eggplants have slowed down, you can try to save them, irrigation stimulating drug (eg, by Kornevin). This non-toxic remedy heals microtrauma, gives strength for the development of roots,increases the nutritional value of the soil. The drug is diluted in accordance with the instructions on the packaging, watering is carried out at the root.
Questions to the container and the soil
Very much the cause of the slowdown becomes poorly composed soil.
Eggplant prefer a light, nutritious substrate from a mixture of garden or sod land with humus, peat, sand.
The soil reaction should be neutral or weakly alkaline. Too much peat can make it too acidic. In this soil, the roots can rot, slowing the growth of stems and leaves.
Make sure the guesswork will help bad smell of rotcoming from landings. Plants should be carefully removed from the pots, inspect the roots. Healthy roots should be white, smooth, strong. If they are thinner or brown, it is necessary to change the soil.
Very part of the plant stops too small container. This can happen with seedlings grown in tablets.If roots appeared from the pot, you should immediately transfer the plant to a more spacious container without disturbing the integrity of the earthy coma.
A sufficient amount of soil is added to the new tank. Pots should be of medium size, in too spacious the soil quickly sours.
Watering and feeding
Eggplant do not like excessive humidity, but they also do not like drought. Properly formulated soil will help to ensure normal hydration. In the pots need to do drainage holes, after which the containers are installed on the pallet.
Water the seedlings need as the top layer of soil dries. Only soft, warm water is used., cold instantly stops the growth of seedlings.
If the soil under the seedlings is too wet, you can save the situation by cleaning and extending the drainage holes. The ground surface is sprinkled with chopped wood ash (preferably birch). Ash pulls moisture and feeds the soil, creating a favorable environment for plants.
In between watering the ground must be carefully loosenedtrying not to hurt the roots. A dense crust, formed on the surface of the earth, blocks the access of oxygen to the roots, does not allow the seedlings to develop normally.
Retard eggplant growth insufficient nutrient soil. After unfolding the first pair of leaves of the plant, it is recommended to feed with complex fertilizer for seedlings, including urea, superphosphate, potassium sulfate.
Another feeding is carried out before transplanting young eggplants into the ground.
Temperature conditions
Eggplant grow poorly in both too cold and hot areas. The ideal mode after emergence of shoots is to maintain the daily temperature at 24-25 degrees and lower it at night to 15-16 degrees.
Such a drop ensures the normal development of seedlings, they do not stretch out, but they do not stop growing. For health seedlings need frequent ventilation without drafts.
It is not allowed to overcool the soil.. The difference between the temperature of the soil and the air adversely affects the condition of the roots. If the planting is on the window, you can separate them from the source of cold, curtain glass with plastic wrap.
Another option is to raise the pan with pots so that the cold air passes under it. Seedlings can be mounted on wooden dies or other supports.
Diseases and pests
A very frequent and dangerous disease affecting eggplant seedlings - blackleg. The stalks of seedlings darken, a noticeable bridge appears on them. The plant does not receive nutrients, languishes and soon dies. It is impossible to save the affected sprouts.
However, the appearance of affected seedlings will be a signal for the adoption of express measures. Sick seedlings are immediately removed., the soil is abundantly covered with wood ash. Watering stops for a while.In the future, it is conducted very carefully, using a spoon, a small-mesh watering can or a spray bottle.
In the dry, warm indoor air seedlings can be affected by thrips, whitefly or spider mites. Parasites suck the juice from the stems and leaves, greatly inhibiting the growth of seedlings.
It is worth looking under the sheets, on the reverse side sometimes there are whole colonies of larvae. Kill the uninvited guests industrial insecticides will help. Seedlings are processed 2-3 times until the insects completely disappear.
For preventive purposes, it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air by spraying the space around the seedlings from the spray gun. It is important to ensure that there are no water droplets on the leaves.
Scare off thrips or small flies will help ground hot pepper scattered on the surface of the soil. It is non-toxic, does not affect the development of eggplant. The dressing needs to be updated at least once a week. Wash away aphids or mites larvae with warm soapy water.which gently rub the stems and leaves.
Slowing the growth of seedlings is a reason to thoroughly investigate the causes and deal with their immediate elimination. Timely action will help correct the situation. Seedlings will quickly return the lost shape, a short stop in growth will not affect the establishment of flower buds and future yield.
So, we figured out why eggplant seedlings aren’t growing, what to do? They cited reasons why eggplant seedlings do not grow well, described what measures need to be taken.
Useful materials
Read other articles about growing and caring for eggplant seedlings:
- Different methods of cultivation: in peat tablets, in a snail and even on toilet paper.
- All features of sowing according to the lunar calendar.
- Golden rules for growing from seed.
- Features of cultivation in different regions of Russia: in the Urals, in Siberia and the Moscow region.
- Read more about seed preparation before planting.
