How To Prevent Damping Off

Damping off is the single term used to describeunderground, soil line, or crown rots of seedlings due tounknown causes. The term actually covers several soil bornediseases of plants and seed borne fungi. The fungi whichcause root rot are species of Phyium, Phytophthora,Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.

There are two types of damping off: pre-emergence and post-emergence. In pre-emergence damping-off, seeds may rot andseedlings may decay before they emerge. In post-emergencedamping off the seedlings emerge then may pale, curl, wilt,and collapse from a rot at the soil line and below. Thebase of the stem is generally water-soaked at first thenturns gray to brown or black then rots.

Vegetable seedlings often do not grow well under humidconditions, particularly if the soil is cold and wet.Damping off fungi flourish in moist, unhygienic conditions.The disease often starts at one end of a seed tray, andquickly spreads to the other end. A fluffy fungal growthmay also appear on the soil surface as well as on the deadseedlings.

When preparing to plant be sure that flats, tools, plantcontainers, and benches are clean. Damping off pathogenscan live in these containers. The easiest way to disinfectthem is to dip them in a bleach solution for 10 seconds.Use 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Or use 70 percentrubbing alcohol.

Plant in a light, well drained fertile seedbed. Preferablyuse sterile soils that have been pasteurized with heatbefore planting. Maintain a soil pH at the low end of theaverage scale. A soil of 6.4 pH is less susceptible to rootrot than a pH of 7.5. As plants are watered the pHgradually increases. Test often and continue to maintain alower pH while the plants are still germinating. Ifnecessary use one tablespoon of vinegar to 1 gallon of waterto lower a rising pH level.

Plant seeds no deeper than 4 times their own thickness.Keep the seedbed soil on the dry side after planting andallow plenty of bright light but not direct sunlight.

Use plant containers with drainage holes, water from thebottom only, and avoid excess watering. Do not allow potsto stand in water as excess water cannot drain and the rootswill be starved for oxygen which will stop all growth ofseedlings. Never water late in the day.

Avoid overcrowding and overfeeding of plants. Do notoverfertilize, especially with nitrogen.

For additional organic tips from the experts on damping off:

http://www.apluswriting.net/dampingoff/dampingoff.htm

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Author: Marilyn PokorneyFreelance writer of science, nature, animals and theenvironment.Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.Website: http://www.apluswriting.net