This vegetable crop is considered very capricious and requires special care. You can grow it yourself, but it will take a lot of strength and patience. Then suddenly the seedlings stop growing, then they wither, then some spots appeared on the leaves. Why and why all this is happening, let's try to figure it out together. There can be several problems and all have their own individual reasons.
Eggplant seedlings do not grow
Most often this happens after a dive. Perhaps, after transplanting plants from a common container into individual pots, delicate young roots were damaged. To avoid this in the future, use the transshipment method so that the earthen lump along with the roots of the plant is not damaged. And the most reliable way of planting seeds is to sow each seed immediately in separate cups, then picking is not required at all.
If already adult seedlings have stopped growing in separate containers, then it is necessary to inspect the state of the root system. Brown roots indicate a lack of space in the container. The plant should be transplanted into a larger pot as soon as possible, along with a lump of earth and nutrient soil added.
Eggplant seedlings wither
Sluggish eggplant leaves in the daytime become common in the evening - this is not a problem at all. This is how the plant reacts to sunlight and high air temperatures.
If the seedlings wilted with proper watering and normal weather, then this may be due to one of the common reasons:
Waterlogging of the soil
For example, from waterlogging of the soil, which leads to acidification. This can be confirmed by the specific smell of the soil. Such seedlings can be saved by urgent transplanting into larger pots and changing the irrigation system. It is recommended to water the seedlings often, but in small portions.
Imbalance in air and soil temperature
An imbalance in air and soil temperature can cause great harm to seedlings. Seedlings on a poorly insulated windowsill are exposed to drafts, the soil is cooled, and the upper part of the plants is at the same time under sunlight and warmth.
This problem can be solved by raising the containers with seedlings at least 15 centimeters above the level of the windowsill and insulating the window well.
Poor air exchange
Poor air exchange can also affect the condition of the seedlings in this way. This is due to abundant watering, dense soil, lack of drainage holes and thickening of the plants. Plant horses simply do not have enough air.
It is necessary to constantly loosen the top of the soil, make or increase the size of the drainage holes and reduce the amount of irrigation.
Excess moisture
Excessive moisture creates favorable conditions for infection "black leg". The seedlings first wither, and then fall to the ground and die.
Such plantings need to be carefully checked and urgently get rid of all infected plants. Then carry out preventive work - sprinkle the soil under all the remaining seedlings with wood ash. Ash will be able to pick up all excess moisture from the soil. After that, spraying with special preparations for fungal diseases (for example, "Previkur") is carried out under strict observance of the instructions.
Hypothermia
During the hardening period, eggplant seedlings are usually taken out to a loggia or balcony. If it is overexposed in the cold, then it may wither from hypothermia.
As a measure to save the plants, it will be enough to water them abundantly with water heated to 30 degrees.
The lower leaves of eggplant seedlings turn yellow
This is due to the lack of some significant substances in the soil. Plants cannot find food for themselves in the soil, so they continue to develop and grow to the detriment of their leaves. First they turn light green, then whitish, and then turn yellow and dry.
It is urgently necessary to introduce a complex mineral fertilizing into the soil, intended specifically for growing seedlings. Of course, this will not save yellow leaves, but then the seedlings will grow and develop normally.
Light spots appeared on eggplant seedlings
The first reason is the appearance of pests, and the second is a burn. Pests need to be dealt with with the help of special preparations. Burns on the leaves remain from excessive illumination or from direct sunlight.
What do we have to do? To avoid burns, it is recommended to create shady conditions for seedlings during the appearance of bright sunlight.
If a dry border appears on the leaves along the entire edge, then this indicates a lack of potassium. This deficiency can be restored with the help of wood ash infusion, which is introduced during watering. Add 1 tablespoon of ash to 1 liter of water. You can also use any potassium supplement.
Surprisingly, the same spots on the leaves appear with an excess of fertilizers containing potassium and calcium. Then a pink manganese solution will come to the rescue. It is used for watering. Affected leaves can also be sprayed with a specially prepared solution. To prepare it, you will need: 3 liters of water, 2 grams of vitriol and the same amount of citric acid.
One of the reasons for leaf damage may be non-compliance with watering rules. Do not use cold water for irrigation. Its temperature should not be lower than 23-25 degrees.
Damage appeared on the leaves of eggplant seedlings
Typically, such damage to eggplant seedlings is left by various pests that can be detected with the naked eye on the back of the leaves. There can be midges, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies and mushroom gnats.
Sciarids are small midges that live in the organic layer of the soil. The larvae of this pest feed on the roots of young plants.
Aphid - a very small insect that can damage not only the leaves, but also the stems of seedlings. She feeds on plant sap. You can notice her stay on eggplant seedlings by sticky marks on the back of the leaves.
Spider mite - a pest that also feeds on the sap of a young plant. It not only causes damage, but also entangles parts of the eggplant seedlings with a sticky cobweb.
Whitefly - This insect poses a double danger, as larvae are also pests. All this family prefers to destroy seedlings, starting with the upper young leaves.
Pest control is not easy, but possible. Of course, you should not neglect various preventive measures, starting with the treatment of seeds and containers and ending with soil treatment and plant feeding. Then the likelihood of the appearance of pests is minimized.
If we talk about an already accomplished fact (pests were found on seedlings), then you need to hurry and take decisive measures.
To get started, prepare a soapy solution (from water and shavings of laundry soap) and wipe all the leaves of the eggplant seedlings with it on both sides. This treatment will destroy the spores of the harmful fungus.
Then treat the plants with special insecticidal preparations, strictly adhering to the dosage indicated in the instructions. You can process seedlings by spraying or watering.
If you are an opponent of chemicals, then use folk advice. For example, treat the surface of the soil with ground red pepper. This will not only destroy pests, but also scare off all other harmful insects.
