How To Prevent Damping Off
Damping off is the single term used to describe underground, soil line, or crown rots of seedlings due to unknown causes. The term actually covers several soil borne diseases of plants and seed borne fungi. The fungi which cause 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 and seedlings may decay before they emerge. In post-emergence damping off the seedlings emerge then may pale, curl, wilt, and collapse from a rot at the soil line and below. The base of the stem is generally water-soaked at first then turns gray to brown or black then rots.
Vegetable seedlings often do not grow well under humid conditions, 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, and quickly spreads to the other end. A fluffy fungal growth may also appear on the soil surface as well as on the dead seedlings.
When preparing to plant be sure that flats, tools, plant containers, and benches are clean. Damping off pathogens can live in these containers. The easiest way to disinfect them is to dip them in a bleach solution for 10 seconds. Use 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Or use 70 percent rubbing alcohol.
Plant in a light, well drained fertile seedbed. Preferably use sterile soils that have been pasteurized with heat before planting. Maintain a soil pH at the low end of the average scale. A soil of 6.4 pH is less susceptible to root rot than a pH of 7.5. As plants are watered the pH gradually increases. Test often and continue to maintain a lower pH while the plants are still germinating. If necessary use one tablespoon of vinegar to 1 gallon of water to 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 and allow plenty of bright light but not direct sunlight.
Use plant containers with drainage holes, water from the bottom only, and avoid excess watering. Do not allow pots to stand in water as excess water cannot drain and the roots will be starved for oxygen which will stop all growth of seedlings. Never water late in the day.
Avoid overcrowding and overfeeding of plants. Do not overfertilize, 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 publish this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter, ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if it remains unchanged and you include the copyright and author information (Resource Box) at the end. You may not use this article in any unsolicited commercial email (spam).
You may retrieve this article by:
Autoresponder: dampingoff@getresponse.com Website: http://www.apluswriting.net/articles/dampingoff.txt
Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney
Please leave the resource box intact with an active link, and send a courtesy copy of the publication in which the article appears to: marilynp@nctc.net
Author: Marilyn Pokorney Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
 Google News Updated : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:49:09 GMT Eagles' Westbrook out for Sunday's game - Sports Network
Sports Network - Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will not play on Sunday at San Francisco. Westbrook, who has been hampered by a sprained ankle he suffered in the Week 3 victory over Pittsburgh, fractured his ribs in ... Brian Westbrook: Ruled Out Les Bowen: Eagles vs. 49ers: The pick Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:20:18 GMT NATO agrees on Afghan drug role for military - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - NATO defense ministers Friday authorized their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to US$100 million (euro74 million) a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters. NATO Joins Drug War in Afghanistan NATO to Hit Drug Trade in Afghanistan Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:11:48 GMT UPDATE 1-Bush says US moving quickly to solve market crisis - Forbes
Forbes - WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Friday the US government was moving aggressively to address the financial markets crisis, but he acknowledged that anxiety was feeding on itself as stocks continued to plunge. Bush appeals for confidence Bush Says Markets Must Remain Calm Despite Challenges Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:33:45 GMT States probe possible voter registration fraud - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - Questions about possible cases of fraudulent voter registrations were being raised this week as officials in several states investigated hundreds of questionable or duplicate registration forms submitted by an advocacy group. Carnahan statement on ACORN registration mess Republicans try to tie Obama to vote fraud cases Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:48:10 GMT A Cautious Approach to Gardasil Shot - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - News today cheering the fact that 1 in 4 teen girls has received the Gardasil vaccine sounds to me like some serious spin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government agency pushing girls as young as 9 to get the shot. Cancer Vaccine Used by 25% of Girls 13 to 17 Quarter of adolescent US girls received HPV vaccine Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:14:13 GMT Help Support Breast Cancer Awareness With Lifespring Health - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - Lifespring Health will be Donating $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation Each Time you Shop Online This Month SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- October is breast cancer awareness month! Go "Passionately Pink for the Cure" on Oct. 17 Panera Bread to sell pink bagels Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:05:31 GMT Coleman calls off negative ads - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis Star Tribune - By Patricia Lopez, Star Tribune ...and it has nothing at all to do with several outlets (including one of Franken's ads) letting us know that a Coleman ad that wants us to … read more see Franken looking out of control/angry, is actually video of ... Coleman: I'll remove negative ads and urge others to do same Coleman says he'll pull negative ads to focus on economy Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:25:04 GMT Display RSS Feeds on Your Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries for both... Read More Installing a backyard fish pond is an aesthetic addition to... Read More Today's successful water garden usually is designed as an ecosystem... Read More Many of us garden just for the sheer joy of... Read More HOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEHas summer come in with a bang!Heat waves everywhere.And where... Read More Think of cyclamen and the chances are that Mothers Day... Read More Are you like me? Sad to see the summer end... Read More Ok, the title "winter gardening" might be a tad bit... Read More The word for 'paradise' comes from the Persian word for... Read More What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The... Read More Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one... Read More How much have you thought about landscaping? Do you know... Read More You've found a great Porch Swing and you know exactly... Read More Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly called rosemary is an aromatic herb indigenous... Read More Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor... Read More IntroductionSo you've decided to build your very own backyard water... Read More Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to... Read More Anyone with even a passing knowledge of plants knows that... Read More Newsletter Name Change?After several of you made suggestions to me... Read More In days gone by, outdoor furniture was cast from iron.... Read More The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by... Read More Dried plants and dried flowers are midway for people who... Read More The first thing you need to do when deciding to... Read More Perhaps you were browsing the pages of a catalog and... Read More Extending Your Living SpaceThe garden is fast being considered to... Read More
Adsense
websites
Garlic: The Stinking Rose
Tips for Backyard Fish Ponds Care
Easy Pond and Water Garden Construction
Gardening is Good Therapy
Bird Baths in Your Yard
Cyclamen
Preparing The Garden For Winter
Winter Gardening Looking Towards Spring
The Garden As Healer
Mosquito Farms? Is That What Water Gardens Are?
Butterfly Gardening
The Benefits of Landscaping
How to Find and Work With a Porch Swing Contractor To Install the Porch Swing of Your Dreams
Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Friendship
Home for a Gnome?
Liner Ponds versus Folding Preformed Ponds
Pest Control Tips for Maintaining Your Greenhouse
Daphnes for Scent and Colour
Orchids Plus More Newsletter - December, 2004
Cast Aluminum Furniture
Overwintering Pond Fish
Beauty After life - Plants For Drying - Grasses
Herbs: Growing Your Own
The Exotic Rose of Sharon
Light Up Your Garden And Brighten Your Life
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Moss on Lawns
Just about right now, we start to see moss on... Read More
Composting the Easy Way
Having an ample supply of good rich compost is the... Read More
The Zoo-Doo Man - Or How to Make the Best Compost in the World!
Is your garden soil great? Does it produce an abundant... Read More
Low Maintenance Teak Furniture
In all likelihood you have heard of teak furniture and... Read More
Park Benches
One of the best ways to create a warm and... Read More
Are You Being Taken Advantage of when Ordering Flowers Online?
Did you know that you can send flowers many different... Read More
How to Care for Long Stem Roses
Widely considered to be the most popular roses for... Read More
New for 2006 - Granite Flexible Preformed Rock Ponds
Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome... Read More
Gardening For Birds
What a cruel trick the weather is playing on us.WE... Read More
How to Control Deer in Your Garden
Deer are the most difficult of all pests to deter... Read More
Amish Furniture on the Front Porch
While shopping on line the other day at www.stoveramishfurniture.com, I... Read More
Tidy Your Garden Up Cheaply
Recently I got involved with gardening. Preior to that, all... Read More
Set Out a Feast for Your Feathered Friends
February is "Feed the Birds" month in much of North... Read More
Choosing the Perfect Landscape Painting
Landscape paintings are a beautiful way to spruce up the... Read More
Composting and Composters: A Basic Introduction
Why Compost?Recent studies show that an average family throws away... Read More
Starting Seedlings Indoors
Unless you have access to a greenhouse, or something like... Read More
Planting Bare Root Roses
Before planting, the plants must be prepared. The following suggestions... Read More
Orchid Myths -The Truth
Here are some of the popular orchid myths#1 Orchids are... Read More
Planting Roses in Pots
In years past, serious rosarians would never consider having a... Read More
A Teak Chair - Create a Livable Outdoor Space with One
When creating a comfortable, usable outdoor space, nothing could me... Read More
Enjoy Creating and Growing a Sustainable Garden While Feeding Your Family
A sustainable garden means one that can be sustained over... Read More
Wildlife in Winter Ponds
This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a... Read More
Teak Furniture: The Premier Outdoor Furniture
When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More
A Teak Table - Accent Your Outdoor Decor With One
It's been time consuming, and there have been a lot... Read More
Bottle Gardening or Terrarium - Design and Maintenance
Women take pride in home decoration and gardening and want... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |