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.