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Nebraska

watermelon plants get spindly in indoor greenhouse.
I've tried everything high heat lower plant light down closer to plants! they grow to tall to fast!
why?
pumpkins do great not so for watermelons?help thanks neb

4/10/2010 3:06:35 AM

Frankfort Oh

try this ,soon as watermelons break the soil ,get them away from the light ,this is caused by getting to much light ,when you move them from light ,this is called harding off.plants should get thicker and stalkier,give it a try,to spindly not good

4/10/2010 3:27:51 AM

Murray, KY

I had the same problem until I started doing what Rob suggested. I germinate mine on a roll-around wire shelving unit covered with plastic and heated. As soon as they are out of the soil, I move the seedlings out of the plastic-covered shelving to another unit that is rolled outside every day. I rarely lose a seedling now, where before I was losing near one-third when the stems would break and fall over or start to rot. They don't need heat after they've germinated, at least not without sufficient sunlight. Heat without the natural light, at least in my situation, was causing the seedlings to grow up 6-7" tall before the cotyledons were even fully opened. I decided one day I was going to stop babying the seedlings and let them get a taste of the real world as soon as they were out of the soil, and I've had great luck with very strong plants ever since. This year I've germinated approximately 125 CC and Black Diamond seedlings and (fingers crossed) I've not lost a single seedling once it broke the surface. The cotyledons turn a nice dark green instead of the sickly-looking plants I had before, and when the first true leaves appear they grow fast and thick. Don't baby them, let'em see the light! :-)

Not an expert, just sharing what's worked for me.

4/10/2010 5:56:36 AM

formerly RGG

An alternative would be HID lighting. This type of light is very strong and plants will not get spindly under it. I am talking about metal halide and high pressure sodium lights.

4/10/2010 8:13:39 AM

Murray, KY

yep TD, I would think those would be much better with the light output. Seems like, to me anyway, there is a balance with heat and light that needs to be found. Too much of either just makes things bad. With flourescents I would think the heat would need to be cut back alot.

4/10/2010 2:04:28 PM

Murray, KY

I knew I shouldn't have made that statement earlier. I lost a CC seedling today. Not sure what happened to it, stem started flattening out and fell over. The cots are still green and firm but I don't think it's likely to make it. I'll learn someday not to make statements like that! :-)

4/10/2010 5:51:52 PM

Nebraska

Thanks "all",Neb i'll Give it a try!

4/13/2010 4:35:29 AM