Trouble in Paradise

Not a real trouble yet, but some signs of problems with #4 and #15, the two undisputed leaders. They continue to grow, but the shapes and especially the color are taking on an unexpected form.

Look for yourself, they are no longer green! #15 is almost purple with #4 not far behind.

#15 December 5, 2012. 1 month old

#4 December 5, 2012. 1 month and 1 week old.

#4 is doing clearly better, judging by the number and the size of secondary needles. #15 secondary needles have one clear leader, which is now approaching the size of the initial needles, but they are thinner and have a strong purple tint.

From the environmental conditions stand point, the very bright light (4x 6400K and 2x 3000K 24W lamps) is the biggest factor influencing the seedlings at this time. I also started watering #15 with significantly more water, because moisture meter that I now use was showing Very Dry readings at all depths. This is because I used pure light soil mix for #15, without addition of the heavier black dirt used for #4. The water has no chance of sticking inside tube #15. To mitigate that issue to some extent, I placed a thin layer of vermiculite and then a layer of peat moss on top for a total of about 1/4 of an inch.   I also use a plastic cup with a hole on top to further keep the moister in #15.

I am adding about 150ml of water every two-three days to #15. The moisture meter shows Very Wet for a few hours at depth of 2" and then the reading quickly drops to Dry and then Very Dry. I still do not add water for one extra day after it shows Very Dry.

I also moved the light rack to about 8" above the plants from 4".

Other trouble in (brown patch) paradise is that some seedlings got white fungus of some sort before even emerging from the ground:

#54 Germinated November 24, 2012

I applied fungicide on top of the two affected seedlings and will keep them for control a bit longer. Several seedlings from the same germination batch have been already standing green for a couple of days.