The plant hormone auxin is responsible for cell elongation in plants. Doubt it, but it could be genetically pre-disposed to repress auxin or change levels required to function as expected.
Phosphorus is essential for seedling growth and development because it's a key component in many processes that plants use to create energy and build biomolecules, nutrient responsible for cell elongation and division.
P content in seeds has direct effect on seedling vigour and crop establishment as it affects root development and associated physiological processes. 10–20% reduction of seedling biomass and P uptake was noticed in low P seed germinated in P-deficient soil.
Who knows could just be as simple as soil compaction from flood watering from the top but since you have grown a bit and have not experienced it before.
Vpd could certainly help too, how accurate is your RH% is it canopy level? What's night Rh?