The leaves of tomato seedlings are drying, what should I do? Seedlings suddenly begin to wither and die, or on already mature seedlings the leaves suddenly begin to turn yellow and dry out for no apparent reason. How to save tomato seedlings and what can be done?
Leaves of tomato seedlings turn yellow
The lower leaves dry out and turn yellow
If the cotyledon leaves dry out and fall off when the top of the seedlings is already sufficiently formed, then this is considered normal. In other cases, you should look for the reason:
- excess moisture;
- lack of nitrogen;
- low concentration of potassium in the soil;
- lack of lighting.
Violation of the watering regime
Tomatoes love water, but only if the watering regime is strictly followed. The standard scheme is once every 4-5 days in sunny weather and once every 7-8 days on cloudy days.
Due to excess moisture, the roots rot, which disrupts nutrition. In this case, it is the lower part of the seedlings that suffers. The lower leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out.
What to do:
- developing an irrigation regime based on the conditions in the room where the seedlings are grown;
- reducing the volume of liquid while simultaneously spraying air around containers with seedlings;
- loosening the soil after watering to enhance air exchange in the root zone.
Lack of lighting
Tomatoes are considered a warm and light-loving crop. Lack of lighting leads to disruption of the photosynthesis process. Plant damage begins from the lower tier.
The first symptom is discoloration and dryness of the lower leaves. Gradually the whole plant begins to wither and the seedling dies.
Lack of lighting rarely leads to disease in all seedlings at once. Yellowing and dryness of leaves begins with seedlings that stand farthest from the light source.
What to do:
- installing reflectors if the seedlings are on the windowsill;
- use of phytolamps;
- thinning seedlings.
By adjusting the lighting mode, you may encounter another problem: burning of young foliage.
When growing tomato seedlings in sunny windows, the rays hit the seedlings, causing small white, almost transparent spots to appear on the leaf blades.
What to do:
- shading;
- spraying with Epin solution.
Lack of nutrition
With a lack of nitrogen, tomato seedlings quickly turn yellow and dry out. This occurs when the volume of containers does not correspond to the age of the seedlings.
A secondary symptom is that the ground part becomes faded, and new leaves grow very small. In some cases, the veins acquire a red tint.
Nitrogen starvation is typical for seedlings and plants up to 4-5 true leaves.
Prevention:
- application of complex fertilizers with a high content of this element;
- watering the seedlings with infusion of chicken manure.
With a lack of potassium, the edges of the lower leaves dry out, turning outward. The ground part becomes discolored.
Tomatoes most often suffer from a lack of potassium after transplanting into the ground.
Prevention:
- watering with infusion of wood ash;
- application of potash fertilizers.
Causes of problems with lower leaves - video
Conclusions about the poor condition of seedlings
Thus, it is easy to judge the condition of the bushes by the green mass. Often gardeners are faced with the fact that the lower leaves of tomato seedlings fall off, the sprouts wither, wither, fade, and the leaves become stained. All this suggests that the growing rules are not followed, the microclimate necessary for the plant has not been created, or there is a fungal infection or virus. Therefore, you need to be able to determine the root cause and know how to treat tomato seedlings from diseases, and be able to restore its vitality.
The tips of the leaves and edges of tomato seedlings dry out
If the tips and edges of leaves wither and curl, this is a consequence of violating the rules of plant care. The very first thing to check is:
- humidity level in the room where the seedlings are located;
- soil salinity level;
- acidity of the soil mixture.
Air humidity
Tomatoes develop well at a relative humidity of 70%. If the room is hot and containers with seedlings are placed near central heating radiators, then the air around them must be humidified.
There should always be a hygrometer hanging in the room with seedlings. If there is no device, use traditional methods for determining air humidity.
A glass of frozen water is placed on a table away from a heating source and observed for 5-10 minutes. If during this time the walls of the glass fog up and dry out, then the air is very dry. If it starts to drip, it's over-moistened.
Plants begin to react gradually to dry air. If suddenly all the seedlings dry out at once, then a disease can be suspected.
Prevention:
- use of humidifiers;
- spraying from a spray bottle, but only on condition that the drops do not fall on the plants themselves;
- hanging wet towels.
Soil salinity
If there is an excess of salts in the soil, the seedlings will not only dry out the edges of the leaves, but also white or yellow spots will appear on all leaf blades. The cause of salinity is watering with hard water.
A secondary sign of a problem is a white crust on the ground.
The higher the level of salts in the soil mixture, the harder it is for the plant to suck nutrients from it.
First, the leaves will react to the lack of nutrition, their edges will gradually begin to dry, and then the above-ground part will begin to lose turgor.
Prevention:
- cutting the top layer of soil by about 3-5 cm;
- watering with settled, or even better, melt water;
- fertilizing exclusively after 2 weeks and only with complex mineral fertilizers.
Important: if there is a risk of salinization of the soil mixture, then compositions containing magnesium, calcium and chlorine should be avoided.
Increased soil acidity
In acidic soil, the concentration of potassium decreases. This element is considered the most beneficial for tomatoes. Potassium is involved in the main metabolic processes occurring in plant tissues. It is necessary for the development of the root system.
The balance of soil microelements can be checked in laboratory conditions. At home, acidity is checked using litmus paper. If it is elevated, then we can most likely talk about a lack of potassium.
Prevention:
- watering with infusion of wood ash 2 tbsp. per 1 liter of water, diluted in a ratio of 1:5;
- banana peel infusion at the rate of 3 peels per 3 liters of water. Leave for 2 days, dilute in a ratio of 1:1.
The tips of tomato leaves dry out and curl - video
How to save tomato seedlings
After determining the reason why the bush is losing its leaves and withering, treatment should be started immediately. Timely elimination of risk factors will help save plantings and reap a healthy harvest.
When pouring soil
Improperly prepared containers and violation of the irrigation regime can cause increased soil moisture. The seedlings begin to wither and lose leaves. To save the seedlings, the seedlings are transplanted into fresh soil. During the procedure, the root system is inspected for damage and signs of decay. Normally, the roots should be white. If the shade turns black or yellow, the plant cannot be saved.
The soil for seedlings requires loose and nutritious soil. You can make the mixture yourself, but before use, pour it with a saturated solution of manganese or heat it in the oven. This will disinfect the soil and destroy the pathogenic microorganisms present in it. Watering is carried out after the upper level of the soil dries out.
When dry
The leaves of tomato seedlings also dry out if there is insufficient moisture. Seedlings prefer abundant but moderate moisture. In the intervals between watering, the surface of the substrate is loosened for better aeration. During the heating season, install humidifiers or bowls of water. This will prevent the soil from drying out and maintain optimal air humidity.
When the soil becomes acidic
If white or yellow spots appear on the soil surface, this indicates an increase in soil acidity. In such situations, the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out, the plant begins to hurt and wither. Such soil needs to be improved - the top layer of the soil mixture is removed and replaced with fresh one.
To avoid re-acidification of the substrate, the seedlings should be watered with melted water, rain water, or water that has stood for at least 12 hours. Fertilizing is canceled until the seedlings are completely restored.
Lack of nutrients
With poor soil, not only do the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out, but also slow growth and development of seedlings is observed. The addition of additional fertilizers containing a complex of minerals or a specific missing substance will help compensate for the lack of nutrients.
Lack of nutrients
Nitrogen has an active effect on green mass. The lack of an element can be compensated by adding rotted manure (1 liter of mixture per 10 liters of water) or chicken droppings (1 liter of mixture per 20 liters of water).
Additionally, using an aqueous solution of iron chelate will help to saturate the plant with iron - 5 g of dry product per 5 liters of liquid. A folk remedy based on wood ash can compensate for the lack of potassium. To prepare a solution, 50 g of ash is poured into 1 liter of boiling water, and after the mixture has cooled, another 5 liters of water are added.
Using boric acid to irrigate foliage helps eliminate boron deficiency. An insufficient amount of zinc is replenished by foliar feeding with a solution of zinc sulfate - 5 g of the substance is diluted in 10 liters of water. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 10 days.
Fungal diseases
When grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse, tomato seedlings are often affected by the blackleg disease. This occurs in the absence of regular ventilation and high humidity of the microclimate. The disease can affect not only the foliage, but also the central trunk of the bush. If, as a result of an infection, the leaves of tomato seedlings dry out, the seedlings should be treated immediately, because with every minute the plant loses its vitality. As the disease progresses, the beds are treated with Maxim or Previkur. These drugs stop the development of infection. After recovery, the seedlings must be transplanted to a new location.
Tomatoes can also suffer from brown spot, late blight and septorosis. To eliminate the infection, irrigation is carried out with fungicides - Champion, Ridomil Gold, Quadris and Revus.
Diseases
Often the cause of drying out of the leaves of tomato seedlings is fungal and viral diseases.
Fusarium
An aggressive fungal disease that affects plants of the Solanaceae family. Spreads from bottom to top:
- the lower leaves of the seedlings become lethargic, quickly turn yellow and fall off;
- the stem dries;
- The leaves at the top dry out and curl.
Plants damaged by fusarium look as if they have not been watered for a long time. A characteristic sign is the drying out of the entire bush, while the ground part retains its volume, only the lower leaf plates fall off.
The damage to the lower part is associated with the penetration of pathogenic fungi into the vascular system of the plant in the root zone.
Prevention and treatment:
- soil treatment before sowing seeds;
- treatment of seed material with Fitosporin;
- carrying out alkalization of the soil, since pathogenic fungi multiply in an acidic environment;
- spraying with soap solution or Bordeaux mixture;
- destruction of affected seedlings;
- watering with chemicals Previkur, Maxim, Quadris;
- spraying with biological preparations: Fitosporin, Alirin, Trichodermin.
Tobacco mosaic
The causative agent is the Tomato mosaic tobamovirus virus, which enters the plant through the soil or when sowing undisinfected seeds.
The disease spreads very quickly: first, yellow spots with a bright border appear on the leaves. As it progresses, the stem part is affected, and the leaves of the seedlings begin to stretch, curl and dry.
Favorable conditions for the development of tobacco mosaic virus:
- excess nitrogen:
- increased air humidity;
- lack of lighting;
- increased air temperature.
Prevention and treatment:
- removal of diseased seedlings;
- treatment with karbofos in the initial stages (75 g per 10 liters of water);
- spraying with a milk-iodine solution (1 liter of milk and 10 drops of iodine per bucket of water);
- fungicide treatment.
Late blight
The most common fungal disease, which affects both young tomato seedlings and already formed plants.
The main symptom is dark spots that abundantly cover the entire leaf blade.
The progression of the disease is very rapid. The next stage is drying of the leaves. The disease spreads from bottom to top.
Prevention:
- compliance with temperature conditions and air humidity;
- thinning of seedlings;
- regular loosening of the soil;
- reducing the concentration of nitrogen in the soil mixture;
- feeding with compounds based on copper, manganese, iodine and potassium;
- spraying with Fitosporin.
White spots appeared on the leaves
Tomato leaves may dry out and develop white spots. The cause is white spot or septoria, a fungal disease. The spots on tomatoes are small with a dark border. The disease starts from the lower leaves and works its way up.
To prevent the disease, it is necessary to prevent the spread of fungal spores. They can be transmitted through soil. Before using soil mixtures, they need to be frozen outside for several days or calcined in the oven.
Another reason why leaves dry is sunburn. This happens most often when the weather has been cloudy for a long time, and then the bright sun is shining. Scorching rays can cause severe burns on tomato leaves. The leaves turn very white and dry out. Be sure to remove the seedlings from direct sunlight. Spraying with Epin will help the tomato recover.
Leaves dry out and curl after picking
The reason for this condition is injury to the root system. Tomatoes are characterized by a decrease in immunity after any transplant. The main symptom is loss of turgor in the green mass.
If the plants do not recover within 2-3 days, and the foliage begins to dry out from the bottom up, then it can be assumed that the root system was severely damaged during picking or replanting.
Prevention:
- compliance with the watering regime;
- application of phosphorus fertilizers.
If leaves dry on tomato seedlings, then in 90% of cases we can talk about a violation of the agrotechnical rules for growing this crop. Poor lighting, violation of the watering regime, unbalanced fertilizing are the primary causes of drying out of the above-ground parts of plants, which entail the development of fungal and viral diseases.
If the seedlings stretch
We all want to grow seedlings with a dense trunk, and also a thick crown. But it is important to understand that it is almost impossible to grow such seedlings without the use of special equipment. Moreover, in apartment conditions, seedlings often grow thin and light. Naturally, I want to correct this situation.
In most cases, seedlings can be strengthened by taking the following steps:
- organize more light in the place where you have seedlings;
- reduce the amount of nitrogen and adjust the temperature, it should not be high;
- thin out the seedlings, since often it is the density of plantings that provokes the stretching of seedlings;
- sow tomato seeds no earlier than March;
- make a pick.
By eliminating all these problems, you will ensure that the seedlings acquire an absolutely healthy and natural appearance.
Important: when sowing seeds, use soil marked: for tomatoes. The composition of such soil fully meets all the needs of young animals. Thanks to this, you do not need to carry out additional enrichment with various fertilizers.
In addition, the seedlings are threatened by a disease called septoria, which causes them to become thin and look sickly. The thing is that young animals do not yet have what is necessary to combat immune defects. And if the disease is confirmed, all material will have to be destroyed. However, if you follow all the rules of care and planting, then such a defect will bypass your plantings.
As a preventive measure, spray the seedlings with Fundazol, and water them sparingly. It will protect the culture from many infections of fungal origin.
And one last thing: your seedlings will fully strengthen and become denser in diameter after transplanting into open soil. Therefore, do not panic ahead of time. Just when planting, bury the seedling a little deeper into the ground.
Can proper care help?
The health of the plant and the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the future harvest depend on proper care of tomatoes, from the moment of preparing seed from tomatoes of the previous harvest to planting seedlings in open ground.
Curious! Many experienced vegetable growers grow seedlings not in the house, but in a winter greenhouse. They argue that in such conditions the plant develops better immunity and in the future the sprouts will get sick and die less.
Proper care will help prevent the problem of leaf drying.
Proper care of tomato seedlings includes the following actions:
- selection of seed material;
- when independently selecting seeds, carefully study and complete all stages of preparing seeds for sowing;
- correctly determine the time of sowing;
- gradually increase the periods of ventilation and hardening of the seed, avoiding hypothermia or overheating of the plants;
- do not over-moisten the soil, do not use raw, “hard” water - only boiled, melted or rain water in a warm state;
- observe the lighting regime for the sprouts: if possible, use window sills on the south side, be sure to use phytolamps with purple lighting;
- prevent the moment when the sprouts begin to thin out and pick the seedlings in time;
- Before thinning and transplanting plants into a new container, water the sprouts abundantly;
- after picking, treat the seedlings with growth regulators;
- carefully monitor the development of seedlings and at the first signs of disease, take the necessary steps to save the seedlings.
When following these rules for the prevention, care and treatment of diseases of seedlings, a real gardener will not allow his sprouts to begin to wither, dry out, die and die uncontrollably. Having decided to grow tomatoes on your own plot, you must know all the nuances of this difficult work, which will ultimately bring joy and pleasure.
If the vegetable grower adheres to the recommendations given, then he will certainly be rewarded in the form of a good harvest of “Señora Tomato”.
Death of seedlings for other reasons
Tomato seedlings do not always deteriorate due to certain external influences: insects or diseases. Sometimes plants simply lack the necessary microelements. Let's look at the most common problems with microelements in the soil:
- lack of nitrogen makes the plant trunk fragile, and the tomato leaves turn yellow or completely lose color;
- a lack of a substance such as phosphorus slows down the growth of the plant; tomatoes also turn their leaves bluish and drop them;
- a small amount of potassium leads to yellowing of the foliage, which then darkens, becomes deformed, dries out and falls off;
- with a lack of magnesium, yellow stripes can be seen along the veins of the leaves, sometimes the leaves completely turn yellow and die;
- a lack of iron turns the leaves of tomato seedlings light yellow, while the veins remain green;
- calcium deficiency can be identified by yellowed, shriveled and curled ends of young leaves;
- with a lack of boron in the soil, the plant becomes fragile, the upper shoots of the seedlings dry out and curl, the veins of the leaves lose color;
- lack of sulfur manifests itself in the paleness of the seedling, the stem becomes fragile and thin, the leaves lose color;
- with a lack of copper, the leaves of the seedlings acquire a bluish tint, turn white at the edges and curl;
- A lack of manganese causes leaves to turn yellow at the base and along the veins.
Try proven fertilizers:
