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Diagnosing Issues with Seedlings

Comprehensive Guide to Identifying and Resolving Seedling Health Issues in Hydroponic Systems

Overview 

Poor seedling health can stem from a variety of factors, including organic, mechanical, or physical issues. This article outlines the necessary steps for assessing, analyzing, and diagnosing problems related to seedlings in hydroponic systems. 

Factors Contributing to Poor Seedling Health 

  1. Organic Factors
    1. Sanitation: Evaluate the cleanliness of the growing environment. 
    2. Plant Material: Assess the quality and suitability of the seeds and plant materials. 
    3. Nutrients: Ensure that nutrient levels are appropriate and balanced for seedling growth. 
    4. Pathogens: You may be required to check for the presence of any pathogens that could negatively impact seedlings. 
  2. Mechanical Factors
    1. Growing Unit and Components: Inspect the functionality and condition of the growing system and its components. 
  3. Physical Factors
    1. Practices and Procedures: Review the methods used for seeding, including any deviations from standard procedures. 

Information Gathering 

To facilitate effective diagnosis, you will need to provide detailed information and photos related to your seedling issues. Use the following questions to guide the conversation: 

Questions for Assessment 

  1. Location of the Issue: 
    1. Where in the system did the issue occur? 
    2. What is the location of the 1020 tray in the seedling area? 
  2. Cultivar Impact: 
    1. How many cultivars were impacted? Was it just one identified cultivar, or does the issue extend to others? Please include photos. 
  3. Extent of Impact: 
    1. What percentage of the plants were affected? 
  4. Root and Shoot Assessment: 
    1. Were the roots and shoots impacted? Please provide photos. 
  5. Environmental Conditions: 
    1. What do the temperature and humidity levels look like? Have there been any noticeable dips or spikes? 
  6. Nutrient Levels: 
    1. What are the EC (Electrical Conductivity) and pH levels in the seedling area? If recently transplanted, what are the EC/pH levels of the current solution compared to the seedling area? 
  7. Seeding Area Conditions: 
    1. Are there any imbalances or dry spots observed in the seeding area? 
  8. Water Flow Assessment: 
    1. Is there adequate water flow through the seedling table, or is there an excess of water accumulating? 
  9. Lighting Inspection: 
    1. Are the lights above the seedling table functioning properly? 
  10. System Issues: 
    1. Are there any pre-existing issues with the growing system that need to be noted? 

Additional Testing

Water samples may be required for pathogen and nutrient testing. Note that the cost of these samples will be the customer’s responsibility. We can recommend testing, but the decision is ultimately theirs. In rare cases, costs may be covered after internal discussion. 

Next Steps 

Once the information has been gathered, forward it to help@thegrowcer.ca. 

Conclusion 

By systematically gathering information and following the outlined steps, you can effectively diagnose and address issues with seedlings in hydroponic systems.