Seed starting indoors

Rammy said:

Mine died. Looks like my tomatoes and peppers are too. I swear Im not over watering. Guess I dont have a green thumb.

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@Rammy, what kind of potting soil are you using? You seem to be having worse luck than if you were trying to kill them! What kind of containers are you growing them in? Are there holes in the bottom of the containers so water can drain out?
How do they look as they die? Turning dark at soil level and keeling over?(damp-off) Or turning pale and withering away?(drying up) Is there any white fungus looking stuff on the top of the soil? How large do the plants get before they die? First set of true leaves or just the two little first leaves (cotyledons)? Do the plants get tall and spindly then fall over? Do you have air circulating around them? Are you fertilizing them too soon? If you can describe their death, maybe we can help you.

Im using the Jiffy pearpot thingies. You add water and they swell up? I put water in the bottom to keep them moist when they need it. I have grow lights on them. Even the ones ontop of the fridge arent doing anything. Those are filled with Miracle Grow soil with some vermicullite mixed in. I dont know what Im doing wrong.
They look fine at first, then turn yellow or just start looking limp and fall over. Yes to some pots have some white fuzzy stuff on them. The tomatoes were dojng good then just started wilting and fall over. The peppers just got thin looking and are dying. Any other seeds I started either died soon after sprouting, or turn yellow and wilt.

And here I thought that "Crealcritter" was a fishing lure .. . Like gardening and fishing were the two most important but competing pastimes.

Creal Springs, eh?

Parsley seed is in the soil mix through the cold, cold night after a very warm day in the unheated greenhouse.

Steve

Rammy said:

Im using the Jiffy pearpot thingies. You add water and they swell up? I put water in the bottom to keep them moist when they need it. I have grow lights on them. Even the ones ontop of the fridge arent doing anything. Those are filled with Miracle Grow soil with some vermicullite mixed in. I dont know what Im doing wrong.
They look fine at first, then turn yellow or just start looking limp and fall over. Yes to some pots have some white fuzzy stuff on them. The tomatoes were dojng good then just started wilting and fall over. The peppers just got thin looking and are dying. Any other seeds I started either died soon after sprouting, or turn yellow and wilt.

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Too wet and too cold. Do you have a small fan, like a tabletop one that you might see in an office cubicle? The seeds Need to dry out and you need to overwater WHILE they are drying out, just like they would experience outside. My tomato seedlings are doing great, not growing very fast, in a container on top of a heat mat and with a cover. I have to water them every day.

I dont have a fan or a heat mat. I'll try to find a small one ( fan) and get them dried out.

Personally, I've not had the best luck with the jiffy pellets. It seems like they get too wet, then stay wet too long, then all of a sudden they are too dry and difficult to get wet again.
The white fuzzy stuff growing on the sides may not be damaging to the seedlings, but it indicates a problem with the moisture regulation. A symptom, rather than a cause.
The way your plants look while dying does suggest that they are being over watered.
You can start seeds in a plastic clamshell like you get cookies or strawberries in. There are holes in the bottom of these containers for drainage. When I use these, I line the bottom with a paper towel to keep the soil in, but allow water to drain out. Don't let the containers stand in water for more than a couple hours or so. You can keep the clamshell closed till the seeds sprout, then open them up and turn the fan on so they get good air circulation. Otherwise, they can get damp-off. They start looking weak and dark at soil level, then just fall over.
You may have to check the moisture two or three times a day until you get familiar with how fast they dry out, and how the containers look and feel when dry as opposed to wet.
It sounds like you just need some practice sprouting seeds. Don't be afraid to try again and do things a little different. Also, I usually don't have very good luck with the really cheap bargain seeds sold at Dollar stores. Even if they germinate and grow, they may be frail plants that don't produce well.
One more thing--The grow lights need to be very close to the plants while they grow. That will keep them from getting spindly. And after germination, you may have trouble trying to grow cool season crops like broccoli along side warm season plants like tomatoes. What makes on happy will make the other one mad. Kind of like trying to live with two women.

X2

I water mine sparingly from the top. I have lost many seedlings from overwatering too. I use a measuring cup with the spout to help direct the water.

I load a flat up with peat pellets, water them and let them swell up. Then I let the flat sit for several days to let some of the water evaporate, then plant the seeds. You might want to use a spray mister to water with so you don't overdo it.

I thought about using the sprayer. If at first you dont succeed, try, try, again.

I quit using Miracle Gro a few years ago for about the same reasons you are having. The seedlings came up and looked good and then they would look pale and weak. I used other brands and had different problems. I do not think I have the best watering system when they first start out in the house and usually dry out fast. I started using ProMix and no problems so far.

Rammy said:

Im using the Jiffy pearpot thingies. You add water and they swell up? I put water in the bottom to keep them moist when they need it. I have grow lights on them. Even the ones ontop of the fridge arent doing anything. Those are filled with Miracle Grow soil with some vermicullite mixed in. I dont know what Im doing wrong.
They look fine at first, then turn yellow or just start looking limp and fall over. Yes to some pots have some white fuzzy stuff on them. The tomatoes were dojng good then just started wilting and fall over. The peppers just got thin looking and are dying. Any other seeds I started either died soon after sprouting, or turn yellow and wilt.

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aww!

different plants can need different things for heat/moisture/light to get started.

peppers like it warm to start (same with tomatoes and squash) - i'm not sure what else you are trying to sprout?