Damp Off on my poor seedlings

17 years ago

Are there certain environmental conditions I can change to keep Damp Off from starting? I use the plastic seed trays with a cover and have lost all of my seedlings to Damp Off (which someone just helped me out with on another post).

I've heard about circulation and the tea remedy but I'm wondering if there's something simple I'm doing wrong that may emliminate this.

The tea remedy I guess can used from the beginning to prevent it altogether...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

vela75
17 years ago
Are you sure it was damp off? Just checking, because some of my seedlings were dying and I thought it was damp off....but the soil was dry...so out of desperation, I gave them lots of water, and they perked up. Seems I was UNDERwatering them!
User
17 years ago
Hey timsburgh,

Like vela75 asked, are you sure it's damp off? Are you experiencing a mold problem?

I guess I've been lucky, my 3rd year growing from seed and I've avoided the dreaded damp off the first two.

If it's mold infestation you have;

give them 24 hour air circulation via a fan;
cut back on watering;
try a 1 part 3%peroxide 9 part water mix for your next few waterings.

Hope you mis-dignosed the problem... it's a bugger to get under control. (Don't ask me how I know! LOL)

Bill
Related Discussions
Damp off on my delphs!
Q
Comments (2)
bindersbee...Just a suggestion that has worked successfully for me for the last three years... I know most gardeners who use the camomile tea remedy have their own recipe as far as how many bags/how much water/how long to steep/how long the tea is good for...I have 32 oz. spray bottles. I drop one camomile tea bag in the room temp water and use that to mist my seeds if they appear dry prior to germinating in the soil and for several weeks after they have sprouted. I use a regular (guess it's a gallon) plastic watering pot with one or two (my whim) teabags to bottom water. Once the water is no longer discolored from the tea bag, I pull it out and drop a new one in. No recipe, no rhyme or reason...and NO damp-off in three years of thousands of seedlings started in a heated garage w/artificial lighting. (knock on wood...lol)...Give it a shot! Barbara in AK
...See More
Hmmm... what have I done to these poor seedlings?
Q
Comments (12)
If you keep seeds in plastic in the refrigerator, tomato seeds stay viable for several years. Your seeds are not too old unless they've been stored improperly (like in high heat, for instance). I agree with Helen about Jiffy Mix Seed Starting Mix. It's so bad that I refused to try seed starting mix for years. But last year, I bought a better quality and had great results with it. Also agree about the peat pots. I have had lousy results with them. They wick water from the soil and then dry out bone dry in no time at all. It's very difficult to maintain proper moisture around your seedlings in them. Plastic or styrofoam works much better. (I am intrigued with Cow pots, but have no tried them. They are so expensive. Would love to hear someone's experience, though.) I would keep the seed trays in the light from the beginning. Unless a seed says that it specifically needs darkness to germinate (like pansies or vinca), it's best to keep them in light. The instant they germinate they head for the light and if it's not there, they get leggy fast. Yes. The gnats are likely moisture gnats. They are a pain and reproduce incredibly fast. You can get rid of them by putting a layer of sand over the top of the soil in the pots. They are another reason I grow my seedlings in my basement. (They are a nuisance, but they won't hurt your plants.) Just a note, it's generally said here on GW that the lights should be on for 16 hours a day and off for 8. Plants need the rest. (like at night out in nature) It's easy to arrange this with a $5 timer attached to your fixture.
...See More
What's wrong with my poor tomato seedling?? Help please!
Q
Comments (12)
Potting mix that holds too much water is like fighting a losing battle. Peat and perlite wouldn't have much in it for the plant and your kelp fertilizer by your description seems unbalanced. I think a good potting mix with some extra perlite in it might have the proper pH and a little fertility. I am no expert but I have found that drainage is critical. I think you have a combination of potting mix holding too much water and a lack of nutrients. You have a control because your plant with worm castings looks better. Do you have any more worm castings? I am thinking you could put them in water and strain it then use the 'castings' tea next time your plant is dry. I am having a problem with some of my plants and the difference is I ran out of one batch of potting mix and used another on the later plants. I treated them the same but the earliest potting mix drained well and those plants look better.
...See More
Damping off of seedlings and soil mix
Q
Comments (5)
What seedlings are you growing? I grow all sorts of seedlings and I am careful watering them to prevent damping off, only water them when dry, use the eye and touch to make sure. Most of the available mixes, as long as they look good to the eye are good for me, and when I don't have anything ready I make my own. I have tried Pro Mix (difficult to get) Fox Forest Farms (difficult to get) the mixes available at the big box (easy to get) and now I got a free bag of Burpee mix and some coir, they are all good as long as I am careful with the water and the light, outside or inside. My tomato seedlings are getting ready I also planted snapdragons Silvia
...See More
limequilla
17 years ago
It's hard to belive somebody in Miami is getting damp off. Are they too cold from air conditioning? When I had damp off before, they were too cold, too wet, and not getting enough light.

I sow in a community pot now because the bigger pot disperses water better and the crowded seedlings, instead of blocking air circulation from each other as I'd expected, seem to spur each other into better, bigger growth.

Now I never get it -- knock on wood -- and I don't even use sterile potting mix or wash out my pots. (I do rinse them out, just not very weell, and I don't use soap or anything.)

Lime
timsburgh
Original Author
17 years ago
The symptoms I'm having match damp off exactly. I may have been keeping the seeds too wet and we have had several cold spells in the past two months (very uncharacteristic for us) and I keep the seeds in the garage.
yeti00
17 years ago
I had 1 tray get hit by what I can only imagine was Damp off this year... I started watering everything else with either chamomile tea or 1:9 3% peroxide less frequently (currently bottom watering 1x/day, but was misting 2x/day) and placed 24/7 fans on everything... Also started bringing hardier plants outdoors on warm mornings for more "breeze". Luckily, no other trays have been hit so far. Hope that helps,

Amy
catlaughing
17 years ago
My tomatoes got Damp this year. I stopped watering from beneath, and spritzed with chamomile tea instead, sprinkled cinnamon, and set three fans oscillating on them all day and night. It saved the day, plus everything smelled wonderful for a week.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Seeds or Seedlings? How to Get Your Garden Started

By Abundant City

Growing delicious herbs and vegetables starts with knowing your goals and when you want to plant

Full Story

LIFE 6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

These methods can reduce temperatures in the home and save on energy bills

Full Story

212

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Just What Mom Wanted, Off the Washington Coast

By Mitchell Parker

With an art studio, age-in-place features and a view-maximizing design, this home shows just how well the architect knows his client

Full Story

208

GARDENING GUIDES Gardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils

By Falon Mihalic

What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

Full Story

227

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Wild Lupine Dresses Up Rocky Gardens

By Pollination Press LLC

Spiky blue flowers and a high tolerance for poor soil make this plant ideal for tough sites

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 15 Favorites for Your Summer Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Get your summer garden off to a good start with these popular fruits and vegetables

Full Story

TILE Top Tile Trends From the Coverings 2013 Show — the Wood Look

By Becky Harris

Get the beauty of wood while waving off potential splinters, rotting and long searches, thanks to eye-fooling ceramic and porcelain tiles

Full Story

220

BATHROOM DESIGN 8 Clever and Creative Ways With Small Bathrooms

By The Inman Company

Take the focus off size with a mural, an alternative layout, bold wall coverings and other eye-catching design details

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared

Full Story

Damp Off on my poor seedlings

Comments (6)

vela75

User

Related Discussions

limequilla

timsburgh
Original Author

yeti00

catlaughing

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Damp Off on my poor seedlings

Comments (6)

vela75

User

Related Discussions

limequilla

timsburghOriginal Author

yeti00

catlaughing

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

timsburgh
Original Author