What is damping off?
Damping off is a condition which sometimes appears in seedlings, especially when the seedlings are grown in containers or in indoor spaces. This condition is characterized by abrupt wilting and failure to thrive, with eventual death of the seedling, and it is caused by fungal infection. There are a number of steps which gardeners can take to prevent damping off, and to manage it if it occurs. Gardeners should also be aware that damping off happens to everyone, including the professionals, so they shouldn’t be too disheartened when it happens. In pre-emergence damping off, the seed fails to dry entirely after it is sown, and as a result, fungus starts to develop. The seed may fail to germinate, or it may germinate but produce a weak, sickly seedling which eventually dies. Damping off can also occur once a seedling breaks the soil, in which case it may be caused by root rot, or by fungal infection around the stem. In this case, the stem typically thins and eventually bends or breaks near
This gentle term describes the death of seedlings by fungal disease, either before or after they emerge from the pod. This sudden plant death can happen for up to four weeks after seeds are started. It actually describers a few different fungal diseases carried in soil or seed. These fungi can survive for years or forever in soil, and are found in all soil outdoors. Causes: • overwatering • unsterile soil • dirty growing containers • overcrowding seedlings • stress, such as low light, cool temperatures Symptoms: • Seeds dont germinate: they may have rotted underground • Sudden wilting or discolouration • seedling falls over: stem bends at soil level • roots of diseased plant are black or brown Prevention: • Clean growing conditions. • Clean containers yearly • use sterile soil mixes. • Water seedlings from the bottom of their containers • Avoid overwatering • Dont plant seeds too deep • Soil with a low pH: commercial starter mixes average 5.5 pH • Good ventilation: moving air • Use a s
