Seed Starter Kits - never again

I had so many plants started in seed starter kits. Apparently I left them in the too long? Didn't get enough sun? They just hate me? Who knows. Most of the plants wilted, got thin spots in their stems and fell over. I am just done.

Seed starter kits might be good for beginner gardeners though they are not water once and it's done.

Seed starter kits require attention just like any new seedings.

My most favored and easiest planting method is right in the garden.

I let Mother Nature give me a helping hand while I do the watering.

There are plenty of folks with nice elaborate seed starting stations with grow lights and all.

Everyone has their own methods.

I did water and tend to the plants,  though I am not surprised that you made that assumption I didn't, based on the fact that most of my plants wilted. They were wet today while they were wilting over. I have only once had success with seed starting kits. That was with mums. Other than that, this is how it goes. I will go back to seeds in the ground again. I just thought I would give it another shot.  Thanks for the input.

It sounds like you had a problem with dampening off. There is a good description of it here.

When I start my seeds early enough to require staying inside I only use soiless starting medium. If I use potting soil or garden soil many seedlings die on me.

If it is warm enough outside for my seedlings to stay outside in the sunshine, I have not had this problem.

Thanks for the information. Once I get done licking my wounds, I will put some seeds directly in the ground.  I'm such a baby when my plans don't come together.

Gardening is always an adventure. Sometimes it's a wonderful journey, and sometimes it's a miserable ride.  It can be incredibly rewarding starting seeds indoors before you can direct sow, matter of fact it can be quite addicting.  
If you're satisfied with planting outside then that's what you should do.  I tend to be in the mindset of if at first you don't succeed try, try, again.  It's possible the seeds got a little too much water.  Did you have a grow light? It's a game changer. I got an inexpensive one of $12 to $15. You can spend a great deal on grow light's, but if it's something you aren't sure you are going to like, start cheap, you can always upgrade later if you want. Last a little fan is helpful. It strengthens the stem and helps with damping off.
Don't be hard on yourself. It's a learning process.

My mother is always telling me about the kits she's using, which have lights and stuff integrated. But the units are so tiny that it seems like suddenly the plants need to go in the ground NOW or they just poop out. It seems to work for her, but in the past they never worked for me either.
Something else I've noticed is it seems like you have no idea how old those kit seeds are-- she's given me some leftover seeds from kits and I occasionally throw them out in my beds when I go on a planting blitz and then a month later realize, hey, not a single thing came up. Hmmm.....
Still, your profile says Wisconsin, which tells me you could probably use some extra growing time. Keep on trying! Every season is a learning opportunity, and eventually it will work.

The only time I had a seed kit was when I was young.  Though I never took gardening seriously as a child I did dabble a little bit, one of which times was a flower starter kit.  My first attempt failed and I was disappointed, but the next year my mom bought me the same kit again and it worked and I grew bachelor buttons and was proud of myself!  I think part of the problem, as stated above is that you have to be super on top of things with those, transplant them at the right time, etc., plus seeds that are too old won't grow most of the time and one never knows how long that kit was on the shelf.  

Would I use a seed kit again if one landed in my lap?  Yeah probably, but not if I needed to buy it, it comes with too many challenges that planting things straight into their pot don't come with as heavily.

If you can rule out something in the "soil mix" used for the starter, I would think lack of light or as others talked about, maybe too damp.  If you don't want to go with the grow lights(once the true leaves come out) and a small fan would help, I would suggest a cold frame to place the trays in.  You just need a south facing location with some protection from the wind.

Then again, it could be that they do indeed "hate" you.  But I don't think that could be.  Maybe planting a fairy garden this year would be in order??  Can't hurt!!!


Peace