Avoid heavy soil, like garden soil, and use potting soil or seedling starting mix that is formulated to have a loose texture with good drainage. The quality of your seed starting mix may also be impacting the health of your seedlings. “Add a small amount of water, allow them to sit in slightly and let them soak it up.” “A great way to deal with watering and be more consistent is to have a tray where you wick the moisture into the seedlings,” Moreno said. When it comes to addressing hydration, watering from the bottom so that roots will wick up water may also help to make sure the plants are getting sufficient hydration. Stagger seedlings an inch or two apart once they develop the first true leaves so they have plenty of room to soak up the sun.
Make sure your seedlings are not clamoring for space, either. Some gardeners will set up a system where the lights can be raised as the seedlings grow. Moreno said to make sure seedlings are only a couple inches from grow lights. Moreno said you can try moving your plants to a different south-facing window and regularly turning the trays to help tilting seedlings grow straighter, but artificial light is the easiest way to achieve this, especially for northern gardeners with short growing seasons. The first step is to make sure your seedlings have enough light. “If you have a heat lamp on them and it’s too hot, the stems grow faster than the leaves.” “Too much heat causes a rapid growth spurt,” Moreno said. While warmer temperatures aid germination, most seedlings grow best at a high of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and nighttime temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Overheating, especially under a germination dome or on a heating mat, can also cause a burst in growth that leads to legginess. In a similar vein, poor soil with improper drainage can stunt growth as seedlings struggle to absorb the necessary water and nutrients. Seedlings may also grow leggy if they are not adequately watered. “If the plants are close together than the shade each other and compete for the light that is available.” “Crowding is related to the light conditions,” Gaper said. Overcrowding in seedling pots will also cause legginess as the seedlings compete for light.
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