Is my seedling doomed?

IndyRacerNick

New Member
Hey everyone, first time poster here, and will be uploading a journal later.

I ran into a problem and I am hoping someone can help me.

Today my seed finally broke through the soil. When it came up out of the soil it had the seed shell attached, the stem was straight up and not bent over

I sprayed the flower a little with mist water to soften the shell and using tweezers I removed the seed shell

Came off very clean, nothing attached, nothing ripped, silky smooth with no damage

Now the issue I am having is how the leaves are looking. It kinda looks doomed. The leaves never unfolded yet, I do see green inside, but to me it just doesnt look right. I have seen many photos of germination and seedlings but I never seen one look like this. Maybe I am overprotective of my girl, but I rather find and correct a problem early than ignore something that cant be fixed when its too late.

Please take a look at this 1 minute video I created showing what it is I am seeing and how this is looking.


Make sure you select HD version of video so it is nice and clear

Cheers and thank you!
 

Buba Blend

Well-Known Member
It looks fine. No need to pluck the shell off the 1st day and risk damaging the plant, it will do it most of the time by itself in a day or two.
Update us with another photo in a day or two. Good luck!
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
It should open up, there is still a thin film on the leaf tips holding them together. If this doesn't let loose today, take an exacto knife and carefully get that film off. Plant needs to green to keep going.
 

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
There's a clear membrane that is still holding it closed....I have this happen on occasion ....if it doesn't open in the next day ....moisten the head slightly with water and it will make that membrane easy to remove.....GENTLY roll the clear membrane off the top between your fingers and it will open rite up .....not a big deal at all and very east to remove ....sometimes if there not planted deep enough they pop up with that junk still on em ......I've always had great results removing it this way and no issues whatsoever.......after you mist it ,,,let it sit for a few minutes before rolling the clear membrane off .....GL


Forgive me for not knowing the Proper name ....GL
 

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
It should open up, there is still a thin film on the leaf tips holding them together. If this doesn't let loose today, take an exacto knife and carefully get that film off. Plant needs to green to keep going.
Never tried the exacto method ....I lost a lot of money in seeds and plants when I was young by not helping them out ....thinking the shell was the only thing holding them closed ......water and a finger roll works well for me .....some of my best plants I've ever had were ones that I had to help with this issue .....it's like they said thank you for the help by becoming dank monsters .....of course just to have me cut there head off later ((lol))

My own theory on why this happens is 1-seeds not being planted deep enough to have the shell and membrane pulled off naturally on it's way out of the soil ...2-the soil I use is much lighter and fluffier than what a seed should probably encounter in nature ....meaning it's so easy for them to sprout there's not enough resistance to peel the shell and membrane .....just my theory.

I just plant em slightly deeper and it seems to help quite a bit....I will continue to help seedlings like this. I think it's more my fault this happens than a week seedling....I see no difference between the ones I help and the ones I don't ....not a sign of a weak plant at all imvho ....good advice BTW
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
Never tried the exacto method ....I lost a lot of money in seeds and plants when I was young by not helping them out ....thinking the shell was the only thing holding them closed ......water and a finger roll works well for me .....some of my best plants I've ever had were ones that I had to help with this issue .....it's like they said thank you for the help by becoming dank monsters .....of course just to have me cut there head off later ((lol))

My own theory on why this happens is 1-seeds not being planted deep enough to have the shell and membrane pulled off naturally on it's way out of the soil ...2-the soil I use is much lighter and fluffier than what a seed should probably encounter in nature ....meaning it's so easy for them to sprout there's not enough resistance to peel the shell and membrane .....just my theory.

I just plant em slightly deeper and it seems to help quite a bit....I will continue to help seedlings like this. I think it's more my fault this happens than a week seedling....I see no difference between the ones I help and the ones I don't ....not a sign of a weak plant at all imvho ....good advice BTW
Yeah, I just don't trust my fingers to not decapitate the little ones! I don't really get this anymore since I started tamping down the soil above the seed after sowing, increasing the resistance it gets coming up. You really don't want to make it too easy on them!
 

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I just don't trust my fingers to not decapitate the little ones! I don't really get this anymore since I started tamping down the soil above the seed after sowing, increasing the resistance it gets coming up. You really don't want to make it too easy on them!
Yeah that's my conclusion as well...fluffy light soil doesn't give much resistance to peel them.
 

IndyRacerNick

New Member
Thanks a lot everyone! So yeah...that was a membrane that was on the leaf. I figured that out last night before I got the replies on here this morning. I did spray the top with water very lightly a couple times over a 10 minute period to moisten and help get it loose. I used my finger with a pair of gloves on (im kinda OCD about getting human oils on my plants, and keeping my grow tent very sterile as possible) i touched the top and it sort of peeled off, kinda reminded me of scales on a fish or that clear piece of film that covers fresh corn.

According to my journal update that I did this exactly at 8:00PM last night. It is now 3:00PM the next day and damn she is looking great! (all my photos are Black & White, its easier to see with LED lights on and I am not turning my light off just to take a photo...so yeah :)

Few things I have read about this...some of which you have all mentioned above. From what I have read, people were saying with highly resinous sativa plants this is known (cant say yes or not where this is my 1st grow), and not placing the seed deep enough, or if there is a lot of air in the soil. The seed was placed about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. I feel I could have went deeper, but was taking advise from growers on here for the first knuckle method.

The plant that is growing here and had the video posted above is called Tutankhamon a.k.a King Tut
The soil I am using is Fox Farms Ocean Forest which is very light and fluffy, so a combination of the 2 along with the high Sativa theory could be why.
pH of water is between 6.32 - 6.53

I do have a 2nd plant that is there and its strain is Cheese (Not UK or any other name, just straight up Cheese) and this plant never had the issue, I did experience a problem with it but have it corrected. I have everything documented in my Journal, not sure if journals are a thing that is used on here or not, I will get to opening a journal here if its possible

Either way...to the results...here is what our the King looks like today, less than 24 hours after removing membrane

 

IndyRacerNick

New Member
my seedlings burn in ffof, good luck with this.
she looks great
tut is an awesome cut
Really? I have not heard anyone having this problem, if anything everyone was recommending I try it out. But you are the one with more experience and got the title "Well Known Member" and I am not going to start asking questions. That really sucks dude, I hope I dont have the same issue with mine, I am looking forward to this one like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
 

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
Really? I have not heard anyone having this problem, if anything everyone was recommending I try it out. But you are the one with more experience and got the title "Well Known Member" and I am not going to start asking questions. That really sucks dude, I hope I dont have the same issue with mine, I am looking forward to this one like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
nono, dont take my word for it, google fox farm seedling problems, rollitup.org= you'll see
I tried it, understood, and moved on to pro mix and fertilized myself. some have good experiences with ff, I did in flower, just not clones or seedlings. good luck
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
Really? I have not heard anyone having this problem, if anything everyone was recommending I try it out. But you are the one with more experience and got the title "Well Known Member" and I am not going to start asking questions. That really sucks dude, I hope I dont have the same issue with mine, I am looking forward to this one like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
Not all seedlings will have trouble with FFOF but many do, just a bit hot for a seedling. Better to transplant into it after a month old.
 

IndyRacerNick

New Member
Not all seedlings will have trouble with FFOF but many do, just a bit hot for a seedling. Better to transplant into it after a month old.
Transplant will be too much stress on the plant, I am doing 2 autos not photoperiod

Wanted to do this first to get an idea for how things work on my 1st grow. What are the signs I should be looking out for during my seedling stages with this soil? I dont have a clue how to mix soil so I just went with what I was told. Lesson learned...maybe not..time will tell

I am using a 240WTT LED light in my tent so the temps are not high at all, I am getting between 22 C - 27 C and the soil is still very moist from when I gave it water 3 days ago..humidity is my concern between 25% - 35% but i am sure this will increase as the plant grows. Still winter like weather here in my part of Canada. Rather have lower humidity than too high and fighting mold and other diseases
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
Transplant will be too much stress on the plant, I am doing 2 autos not photoperiod

Wanted to do this first to get an idea for how things work on my 1st grow. What are the signs I should be looking out for during my seedling stages with this soil?
Downward curled leaf tips and dark green color will be signs the plant is having difficulties tolerating the soil. Most grow through it and can tolerate the soil as they get bigger, but you don't have time to stall growth with autos, so just hope for the best.
 
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