Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Spindly Lettuce

  1. #1
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Montana, USA
    Posts
    878

    Spindly Lettuce

    Gotta question for the gardeners here ..... we have started some lettuce in a terrarium next to the window 2 weeks ago, the starts are all tall and spindly (2 1/2" - 3 1/2"), even though they have a lot of natural light during the daytime and a red/blue light on them at night. They just keep growing taller and taller, rather than bushing out with more leaves ..... two leaves, that's it! After they get too tall for the stalk to hold up the leaves, they lay down and die from the moisture in the peat pellets. This is the same thing that happened to my lettuce in the AP system last year. These starts are all in peat pellets if that makes any difference. Any ideas, or am I just being too anxious?
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
    You're never too old to learn something
    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

    Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy

  2. #2
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Malden Bridge, NY
    Posts
    1,544

    Re: Spindly Lettuce

    They are not getting enough light. Windows are over rated when it comes to light and rarely give you enough. Leggy plants are always lack of light. Ligth actually retards growth in plants. That is how they seek the sun. The side with less light grows slower. The longer side being in the dark leans the plant towards the sun.
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

  3. #3
    Moderator davidstcldfl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Saint Cloud FL USA
    Posts
    2,029

    Re: Spindly Lettuce

    Indoor and greenhouse plants will have stronger stalks, if you run a fan to simulate the wind mother nature provides. Hook one up to a timer, it doesn't have to run all the time.
    "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." - President Ronald Reagan

  4. #4
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Montana, USA
    Posts
    878

    Re: Spindly Lettuce

    Quote Originally Posted by davidstcldfl
    Indoor and greenhouse plants will have stronger stalks, if you run a fan to simulate the wind mother nature provides. Hook one up to a timer, it doesn't have to run all the time.
    These are indoors ... and the terrarium is only about 12"x12", so no room for a fan.
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
    You're never too old to learn something
    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

    Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy

Similar Threads

  1. Is it Lettuce or $$$$$$
    By JCO in forum Lettuce
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 11-01-2014, 09:10 AM
  2. Lettuce DWC spacing
    By Neil H in forum Lettuce
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-21-2013, 04:51 AM
  3. The lettuce...
    By Tanktotable in forum Want To Know HOW TO..?
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-11-2013, 11:00 AM
  4. First round of lettuce
    By Tanktotable in forum Aquaponics Knowhow
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-21-2012, 04:41 AM
  5. More Ado About Lettuce
    By JCO in forum Lettuce
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-12-2009, 02:40 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •