Tomato seedlings are falling over and wilting at the roots, what should I do?

When growing tomato seedlings at home, many gardeners are forced to watch as young plants wither on the vine and fall over. The causes of this condition are often improperly managed seedling care or diseases. To correct the situation, it's important to understand Why do tomato seedlings die?, and take some steps to improve the health of your plants.

Conditions for successful seedling cultivation

Tomato seedlings require specific conditions for vigorous growth and optimal health. These plants are very sensitive. If the indoor microclimate isn't right, they fail to thrive, wither, and fall over.

Tomatoes prefer plenty of moisture. They thrive in well-moistened soil and grow vigorously. However, it's important to prevent water from stagnating in the seedling tray. This produces hydrogen sulfide, which causes root rot. If rot occurs, oxygen is cut off from the root system, making it very difficult to save the seedlings.

In winter, the air in an apartment is dried out by central heating. Tomatoes don't like this and fall over. Cold air masses have the same effect on seedlings. To ensure active growth, seedlings need warm air in the room, free from sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts.

Causes of wilting

Most often, tomato seedlings wilt if the seeds were initially sown too densely. In this case, the seedlings simply don't have enough space to fully grow. They stretch out, trying to get as much light as possible, and suck out nutrients from the soilIn the struggle with their neighbors for better living conditions, the seedlings destroy each other and wither.

The problem of overcrowding is very easy to solve. Simply thin out the plantings, leaving only the strongest specimens. To improve the condition of the remaining ones, lightly cover them with soil, which will help them straighten up.

Other reasons for the unhealthy condition of tomato seedlings include:

• unsuitable soil;
• incorrectly chosen place for growing;
• incorrect application of fertilizers;
• watering errors;
• incorrect lighting;
• failure to comply with temperature regulations;
• diseases.

Incorrectly selected soil

One of the reasons for poor tomato seedling growth is soil that's too acidic and dense. In this condition, the seedlings begin to turn yellow and fall over. Tomatoes prefer neutral, light soil. Suitable soil can be purchased at florist shops or mixed at home using the following ingredients:

• 1 part garden soil;
• 1 part leaf soil;
• 1 part humus;
• 0.5 parts sand;
• 2 parts peat.

Before sowing seeds, homemade or purchased soil is disinfected to eliminate pathogens and pests. To do this, the soil is sprayed with a pinkish solution of potassium permanganate or baked in the oven.

Incorrect choice of growing location

Seedling trays shouldn't be placed on a windowsill directly under a window. Tomatoes don't tolerate drafts well. Even if the window isn't opened, cold air seeps through the cracks and destroys young, fragile plants. Therefore, to keep the seedlings healthy, seal all cracks.

Cold from window glass can also be detrimental to tomato seedlings. This problem can be solved by limiting the seedlings' exposure to the glass. To do this, cover it with newspaper.

Incorrect application of fertilizers

The reason for the wilting of young plants Sometimes, excessive nutrient application can lead to problems. This problem is especially common when mixing soil yourself and adding partially rotted organic matter. Store-bought soil is already balanced and doesn't require additional fertilizer. However, nutrients cannot be fully absorbed if seedlings are kept at low temperatures.

Excess nitrogen in the soil is indicated by whitish deposits on the surface. In this case, these deposits are removed and the soil is irrigated with a humate solution. This helps restore soil fertility.

Watering errors

After picking tomato seedlings Sometimes cotyledon leaves turn yellow and droop. This happens due to overwatering. Transplanted seedlings require less watering. Therefore, do not water the seedlings for 2-3 days after transplanting.

To prevent this problem, plant the seeds in containers with drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess moisture to escape. If this doesn't happen, the drainage may be clogged. In this case, turn the container over and clean out the holes.

Underwatering is also detrimental to tomato seedlings. If the soil in the pot is very dry and crumbly, the stems will wilt due to a lack of moisture. However, in this case, don't overwater the seedlings immediately. To restore the plants, water them with 1 tablespoon of water per day.

To ensure healthy development of tomato seedlings, water them regularly and thoroughly, after the top layer of soil has dried out. Periodically, loosen the soil in the container to allow oxygen to reach the roots.

Incorrect lighting

Insufficient daylight often causes tomato seedlings to lose their color and become elongated. In winter, regular sunlight is insufficient for the proper development of newly hatched seedlings. Therefore, they are supplemented with phytolamps, providing at least 12 hours of light per day.

Young seedlings also don't tolerate direct sunlight. This causes the leaves to wilt and burn. Therefore, it's best not to place seedling trays on south-facing windowsills.

Failure to comply with temperature regulations

If the air temperature rises above 36 degrees Celsius, young seedlings overheat and die. Therefore, avoid placing seedling containers near heating devices. Insufficient temperatures are also harmful to seedlings. If the temperature falls below 15 degrees Celsius, tomatoes stop growing and wilt. Maintaining an air temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius is sufficient for normal development.

Harden off the grown plants to ensure they are strong and healthy before transplanting into the ground. To do this, gradually lower the temperature by 3-4 degrees at night.

Diseases

It's very easy to correct mistakes in caring for tomato seedlings. If all the seedling care instructions are followed, but the plants still die, the cause of wilting and poor growth is disease. Most often, tomato seedlings are affected by blackleg, fusarium wilt, or rot.

Blackleg

This dangerous bacterial disease affects more than just tomatoes. It can be recognized by root collar rot, yellowing and leaf drop, and wilting of the plant.

Save infected with blackleg The seedlings fail. They are pulled out and destroyed to prevent infection of nearby healthy tomatoes. To prevent this disease, it is important to disinfect the seedbed with a solution of potassium permanganate before planting.

Fusarium

Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease that attacks plant blood vessels. It affects not only tomatoes but many other crops as well. The disease first manifests itself as yellowing and wilting of the lower leaves. The disease then gradually spreads to the upper part of the seedling.

If the yellowing hasn't spread throughout the entire plant, it can be saved. To do this, remove the seedling from the soil and replant it in another container with disinfected soil. However, if the disease has completely spread to the entire plant, it cannot be saved.

Rot

This disease develops due to overwatered soil and growing seedlings in low temperatures. In affected plants, leaves turn yellow and fall off. Gradually, the plant itself begins to rot and wither. Once infected, seedlings cannot be saved. In this case, infected plants are uprooted and destroyed. Healthy plants are replanted in another container with disinfected soil to protect them from infection.

Conclusion

To prevent seedlings from wilting, it's important to provide the plants with the necessary care and create suitable growing conditions. Use high-quality seeds and buy them only from trusted sellers. This will help prevent infection. diseases preliminary treatment of the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or by calcination in the oven.