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Antwerp, Belgium

Hi,

My first seedlings just came up. They are as close to the window as possible but even after a few days they grow towards the light in an almost exact 90 degrees angle.

I can NOT place them under light bulbs or any other artificial light, this is the place where they'll have to stay.

Is there something I can do to prevent them from growing almost horizontally towards the light? Yesterday I turned the little pots for a quarter but they are back in position already...

Is turning OK? Or is there another solution?

Thanks in advance for any reaction!

4/1/2014 10:30:02 AM

Central Minnesota

Depending on your window type you are not getting the full spectrum of light and certainly not enough light. Your plants are going to be very long and pull towards any light they can get. If you continue to turn them, they will just get longer "leggier". Put them as close to the window in direct light. Ideally you would supplement this with another type of light for up to 18 hours a day. Leggy plants are not very healthy and often break at the stem. You may want to repot them already in bigger pots burying much of the stem to avoid breaking.

4/1/2014 1:32:28 PM

East Jordan, MI

A fan blowing lightly on them may help, but they need more light, plain and simple. If you can't supplement with artificial light, and it is not too cold, put them outside in the morning and bring in at night. If it is too cold you could try a cold frame. It could be a simple window pane or even clear plastic over a box.

4/1/2014 7:49:18 PM

Antwerp, Belgium

Because I only need 2 plants and I have 4 seedlings, I decided to put 2 seedlings outside already.

I know it's very early in spring but we have sunny and warm weather now, rather unusual for this time of year.
If it gets colder, I can put something over the plants at night(I have these little aquariums which are perfect for it).

Should it still go wrong, I still have the 2 plants indoors and I also have some backup seeds.

Wish me luck! :-)

4/2/2014 5:13:42 AM

Central Illinois

make a cover of reflective material to cover the plants and reflect the light back onto them,they will still grow towards the window but this will help, watch out for heat build up and turn the containers once or twice a day

4/2/2014 7:50:37 AM