Seedling

What happens here

The plant develops its first sets of true (serrated) leaves and a basic root system, but it's still vulnerable — overwatering and too-intense light are the top two things that kill plants at this stage.

Key tasks

1. 1Keep light gentle — if using grow lights, keep them further from seedlings than you would for older plants, and increase intensity gradually
2. 2Water sparingly; the top inch of soil should dry out between waterings
3. 3Hold off on nutrients — starter soil usually has enough for this stage, and overfeeding here is a common early mistake

What to watch for

• Yellowing at this stage is usually overwatering, not a nutrient problem
• Stretching (long, thin stems reaching for light) means the light source is too far away or too weak