TheNaturePlanet

Have you noticed that your tomato seedlings are growing wildly upwards, with thin stems and sparse leaves recently? Don't panic! Today, I'll show you step by step how to save the leggy tomato seedlings.

What is leggy growth?

Simply put, it's a "malnourished overgrowth" of tomato seedlings! The stems are long, thin and floppy, the internodes are long, and the leaves are small and thin, which is obviously a sub-healthy state lacking nutrition! More professionally, leggy growth is a phenomenon where, due to unsuitable environmental conditions during plant growth, the stems and branches become long, thin and weak, the leaves are light green, the tissues are tender, and the root system develops poorly.

Why does leggy growth occur?

Excessive watering: Frequent watering causes the soil to be in an overly wet state for a long time, leading to oxygen deficiency in the root system. The plant is forced to grow upwards for respiration.
Insufficient light: If the daily light duration is less than 6 hours, photosynthesis is insufficient, and the plant stretches desperately to get more sunlight.
Too high temperature: Persistently high night temperatures lead to vigorous respiration, consuming too many nutrients.
Overcrowded planting: Poor ventilation and light transmission between plants, and they compete with each other for growth space.

Tips to prevent leggy growth for balcony planting

Light: Except for the intense sun exposure in the dog days, let the tomato seedlings enjoy sufficient sunlight at other times! A south-facing balcony with more than 6 hours of light every day is ideal. If conditions are limited, you can use plant fill lights as an emergency!
Watering: Water the flowerpot only when it feels light when lifted! Don't keep the potting soil wet all the time, as tomato roots love the "dry-wet cycle" very much! You can put ceramsite at the bottom of the flowerpot to improve drainage and air permeability.
Fertilization: Apply granular fertilizer. Use nitrogen-based fertilizer in the early growth stage, and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the flowering and fruiting period.
Ventilation: It is recommended to ventilate for at least 3 hours a day, as air circulation can effectively inhibit leggy growth.

What to do if the seedlings are already leggy?

Seedling stage: When transplanting, directly bury the long and thin stems in the soil to stabilize the root system! The depth of burying should be enough to cover 2-3 nodes of the stem, which is conducive to promoting the growth of adventitious roots.

Mature plant stage: Move it to the position with the best light and strictly control watering! The tomato will gradually grow healthy roots and stems. You can also properly prune the branches to reduce nutrient consumption.

Physical assistance: Use bamboo poles or supports to fix the plants to prevent lodging. You can also spray 0.01% paclobutrazol solution to inhibit the growth of stems and leaves.