By Christine Freeburn, Master Gardener
There is nothing more disheartening than checking your freshly sprouted seeds to discover them rotted and almost dead. Damping Off is a fungal disease that often kills young seedlings. There are several fungi that are responsible, however the most common ones are soil-borne.
Damping off can be identified by these symptoms:
- wilted leaves while soil is moist
- rotten mushy seedlings
- roots that have rotted off
- stems that have thin, brown, almost transparent sections
- white mold, almost cobweb-like on plant stems or surface of soil
Here are some tips to prevent this disease:
- don’t plant seeds too closely together – plants need air to be healthy
- fill container to top with soil, so seedlings grow up where air circulates
- keep air circulating around the young seedlings – do not cover
- water from the bottom with room temperature water
- do not let container sit in water – no waterlogged soil
- use good sterilized seed starting soil and clean containers
- keep seedlings warm – cool wet conditions are where fungi thrive
- apply a natural fungicide like a weak solution of chamomile tea
Basically, the best solution to controlling damping off is to give your young seedlings the best soil, watering techniques, and temperature control to ensure success.
