Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings

CitizenKate 4/19/2015, 9:28 pm

We came home from being gone most of the past week, and left our gardening in the care of our pet sitter. I have a couple dozen tomato seedlings I started around the end of March. They were doing great before we left, but upon return, I found several of them (multiple species/hybrids) with leaves that were yellowing, then dying, starting around the edges.

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings Tomato11

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings Tomato11

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings Tomato13

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings Tomato14

The leaves affected were the lowest one or two branches (above the seed leaves, which were all fine), and none of the top-most branches/leaves have been affected... yet.

I hope this was just due to being over-watered - I think that would be easy enough to remedy - but I'm also concerned there may be some kind of fungus spreading between the plants. I did see one plant with leaves that had this appearance last week, before our trip. For now, I'm just letting the pots dry out a bit, and watering as conservatively as possible for the next week or two. Today I cut off all the leaves affected by this symptom, hoping it goes no further, but standing by with anti-fungus measures in case it rears its ugly head again.

Has anyone here seen this before? Possible causes/remedies? Thanks for any experience/insight you can share.

**Turan** 4/19/2015, 10:47 pm

To my eye that looks like a nutrient deficiency. I would make it some well rounded liquid boost with trace minerals. Probably mixing some kelp with a dab of fish emulsion into water for them.

Take a look here ~ http://www.farmspeak.com/nutrient-deficiency.html

TinySpock 4/21/2015, 12:30 am

Turan wrote:To my eye that looks like a nutrient deficiency. I would make it some well rounded liquid boost with trace minerals. Probably mixing some kelp with a dab of fish emulsion into water for them.

Take a look here ~ http://www.farmspeak.com/nutrient-deficiency.htm

Thanks, Turan!! That link is incredibly helpful!

CitizenKate 4/21/2015, 12:34 am

Second that! Thanks very much for sharing it.

slimbolen99 4/21/2015, 7:58 am

Are you sure that the plants didn't get too close to the lights? Mine kind of burn off if they get within 1/2" or even touch the bulbs. Something to ponder.

**camprn** 4/21/2015, 9:24 am

+1 what Turan said. The chlorosis is a clear sign of nutrient deficiency. A shot of liquid fertilizer and there should be improvement in a week. If no improvement, it could be a pH issue.

CitizenKate 4/24/2015, 7:52 pm

Could be some of all of those things. I forgot to mention to my helpers that the lights needed to be adjusted when the plants get taller, and they did end up growing up into the lights while I was away. This also reminds me of one occasion when some tomato plants a neighbor was growing turned that yellow color right after a very heavy rain, and it was determined they experienced a temporary iron deficiency due to there being too much water in the mix, which was not draining very well. The problem cleared up within a day after it was discovered. The leaves just turned right back to their normal color after the growing mix dried out a bit.

In addition to drying them out a bit by setting them outdoors for a few hours a day, I added some liquid fertilizer to the water, and they're doing better now. They've all got lots of new growth, and they're starting to green up again.

freedoms1791 4/24/2015, 10:02 pm

CitizenKate wrote:Could be some of all of those things. I forgot to mention to my helpers that the lights needed to be adjusted when the plants get taller, and they did end up growing up into the lights while I was away. This also reminds me of one occasion when some tomato plants a neighbor was growing turned that yellow color right after a very heavy rain, and it was determined they experienced a temporary iron deficiency due to there being too much water in the mix, which was not draining very well. The problem cleared up within a day after it was discovered. The leaves just turned right back to their normal color after the growing mix dried out a bit.

In addition to drying them out a bit by setting them outdoors for a few hours a day, I added some liquid fertilizer to the water, and they're doing better now. They've all got lots of new growth, and they're starting to green up again.

Hi,
What kind of liquid fertilizer did you use?

freedoms1791 4/24/2015, 10:04 pm

CitizenKate wrote:Could be some of all of those things. I forgot to mention to my helpers that the lights needed to be adjusted when the plants get taller, and they did end up growing up into the lights while I was away. This also reminds me of one occasion when some tomato plants a neighbor was growing turned that yellow color right after a very heavy rain, and it was determined they experienced a temporary iron deficiency due to there being too much water in the mix, which was not draining very well. The problem cleared up within a day after it was discovered. The leaves just turned right back to their normal color after the growing mix dried out a bit.

In addition to drying them out a bit by setting them outdoors for a few hours a day, I added some liquid fertilizer to the water, and they're doing better now. They've all got lots of new growth, and they're starting to green up again.

Hi,
What kind of liquid fertilizer did you use?

CitizenKate 4/24/2015, 10:18 pm

I used this, with about half the recommended dosage.
Miracle Gro Liquafeed for Tomatoes and Veggies

freedoms1791 4/24/2015, 10:20 pm

CitizenKate wrote:I used this, with about half the recommended dosage.
Miracle Gro Liquafeed for Tomatoes and Veggies

Thanks

freedoms1791 4/25/2015, 10:57 am

CitizenKate wrote:I used this, with about half the recommended dosage.
Miracle Gro Liquafeed for Tomatoes and Veggies

Hi,
Did you feed the Roots & Leaves and how much water to Liquafeed did you mix?
Thanks

CitizenKate 4/25/2015, 12:00 pm

About 1/4 tsp. in a quart of water. I water the roots only.

freedoms1791 4/25/2015, 12:04 pm

CitizenKate wrote:About 1/4 tsp. in a quart of water. I water the roots only.

Thank you

brianj555 11/7/2017, 6:36 pm

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings 52fb3210

I
Anyone know what this might be happening? The trays are sitting right beside each other. Sowed and transplanted the same day.
Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings 575dc510

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings 575dc510

Yellow/dying leaves on tomato seedlings 27373610

Some look great( middle) some look good (left) some are puny and yellow. (Right)

**Scorpio Rising** 11/7/2017, 9:40 pm

Same variety?

Lower those lights until they are millimeter above the growing parts. Right down on ‘em

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