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

---

REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRINT: You have permission to publishthis article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter,ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if itremains unchanged and you include the copyright and authorinformation (Resource Box) at the end. You may not usethis article in any unsolicited commercial email (spam).

You may retrieve this article by:

Autoresponder: dampingoff@getresponse.comWebsite: http://www.apluswriting.net/articles/dampingoff.txt

Please leave the resource box intact with an active link,and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which thearticle appears to: marilynp@nctc.net

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

Car Insurance Rates | Dental Insurance | Health Insurance | Home Owner Insurance | Life Insurance Quote

| 1 | 2 |

Light Up Your Garden And Brighten Your Life
Extending Your Living SpaceThe garden is fast being considered to be an extension to your living space and homeowners are putting as much effort into creating a harmonious environment outside as they are inside. A beautiful garden is also considered to be one of the biggest selling features of a home and can certainly help to add value and appeal.As the short days of winter recede, many of us will be starting to think about our gardens and dreaming up projects and schemes that we plan to undertake when the days become longer and the weather warmer. For many traditionalists this will mean planting borders, manicuring the lawn and cultivating a myriad of blooms that will add colour and life to their gardens throughout the sum...(related: Gardening Supply)

Wildflower Seeds - Ten Reasons Why You Should Plant...
Native wildflowers are those that were growing naturally in the landscape before the first settlers arrived from Europe. Ever since that time more and more plants have been introduced from around the world with very mixed results. Although many of the imports are now prized garden specimens, others are regarded as invasive weeds whose cultivation is actively discouraged eg Japanese Knotweed. The benefits of growing wildflowers are many, but here are just a few:Since wildflowers grow naturally in the landscape they will thrive in similar soil types and situations in your garden.Because they are growing in their natural habitat, wildflowers will require less water and fertilizer than other plants.Equally wil...(related: Gardening Supply)

22 Fun Things To Do With Your Dozen Rose Gift
Your dozen rose gift doesn't only have to decorate your favorite room. Roses are about romance and enjoying the moment they are given and received. I've discovered some fun ways to use roses to create a stimulating day or night.So read through this list of fun rose goodies.Spice up your relationship and turn an ordinary day ...(related: Gardening Supply)

Are There Really Black Roses?
Throughout the course of time, black roses have conjured up a variety of symbolic meanings. From unnatural worlds to death, vengeance, farewell or rebirth, the black rose has come to be viewed in a number of different ways depending on the occasion. Though symbolic meani...(related: Gardening Supply)

How To Build A Waterfall
The number one, most asked question that I receive about water features is "How do I build a waterfall?"The first advice I give is to visit natural waterfalls or at least look at photos. Don't try to memorize just how they look...just get a general idea how the water flows around and over the rocks.The design of your falls will depend on topography, pump and pipe size, length of water flow from pump to falls, pond size and possibly other site-specific factors. If your pond is just 4' x 6', you certainly don't want a large, three foot wide falls - keep the elements of your water feature in scale.One of the most common mistakes results from the desire for a tall waterfall at a l...(related: Gardening Supply)

Themes Of Shade
A Shade Garden can be created in any of several different types of shade. It can be in the mottled shade that comes from a broad leaf tree to the deep dark woods mentioned in Robert Frost's "Stopping by A Woods on A Snow...(related: Gardening Supply)

When To Plant Vegetaibles
Planting times for vegetables and other annual plants vary from species to species. In much of the United States the prime consideration is the date of the last spring frost/freeze. Many vegetables can be planted u...(related: Gardening Supply)

Growing Palms

Palms

Everybody recognises palm trees, they are the universal symbol for the tropics but many are hardy enough for our temperate climate gardens. Until recently New Zealand gardeners have had only a very limited range of palms to choose from. In the last five years the range has grown enormously as nurseries have been encouraged by gardeners eager to experime...(related: Gardening Supply)

Tuberous Begonias

If you appreciate plants that have no hesitation in boldly stating their presence with huge, almost artificially perfect flowers, then tuberous begonias are for you. While some may find them rather too overstated, downright brazen even, if you like colour, and plenty of it, with subtlety an option rather than compulsory, then look no further.

Flowering from late spring, as the days exceed 13 hours long, until well into autumn when the foliage dies back, these tuberous-rooted perennials have been extensively hybridised and refined to the point where the larger-flowered forms are nothing short ...(related: Gardening Supply)