Damping off.....your experiences/solutions please!

Dendy, I have taken the fllowing measures so far:
propergating compost in 2 heater propagators.
sown seeds & sprinkled sand on top.
Sprayed with Cheshunt compound. Once tha seeds have germinated I have half removed the lids but I'm still getting some damping off.!!

 

AARGH!!!!

Ok......possible things to do.. (don't take offence if you do already do them, but just hadn't mentioned them becasue they're so blinking obvious...... :rolleyes: )

1. clean units

2. sterilise compost in microwave or oven, add handful of perlite / vermiculite

3. stand tray in water for a few minutes, then remove

4. sow seeds as directed, and cover if directed with vermiculite

5. cover and put in propagator.

6. don't water again, but open vents on lids during day

7. when seeds come up, remove lid during day, cover at night for first day

8. move trays off propagator, put on window ledge, turning tray by 9 degrees daily to stop them growing in one direction to the light (phototropism- nice word!)

9. only water from below, and not very much

10. prick out when the true leaves have appeared

If you do that, and rememer to cross your fingers atr every stage ( ) just maybe, it'll work!

Good luck

 

The only other things I can think of to add to Dendys comprehensive list are:

1. When removing the propogator lid do it carefully so that condenstion droplets don't fall onto the seedlings. Wipe it dry with kitchen towel before replacing.


2. If sowing into seed trays rather than cells sow very thinly as crowding can cause damping off problems.
Very best of luck

 

Ok, thanks guys.
Dendy, all that you have listed I can check off except the Vermiculite. Haven't added any of that. Just bought some at B&Q though!

One thing I have now done is moved tha propagators from the utility room to the conservatory where there is a lot more light & I can leave the lids off during the day without risk of the cats diisturbing them.

I'll let you know how they get on.....if you're interested!

 

Yes please r2oo, always interested in how seedlings get on. I will watch this space. :D

 

I have sprinkled Vermiculite over the surface of the seed trays & I am taking the lids off during the day. Watch this space!

 

well, since my last post I have been removing the prop lids every day.
so far so good. I will post some pics soon.

 

Great r2oo, looking forward to the pics

 

Keeping fingers crossed for you r200!

 

Ok Guys, as promised, here's some pics:



wohooo yes! :D :D :D :D

 

Brilliant r2oo, looking great :D
Can I just see the label for some Verbena Bonariensis there and Globe Thistle? Dendrodrium will be impressed. :D

 

For some reason the Verbena haven't come up yet.
The first pic with the fibre pots is a mixture of:
Dianthus Fenbow
Globe Thistle
Sweet Rocket

The second pic you can see 1 sweet pea in the foreground
then Penstemon
then
Hyssop

chuffed I am

 

r200 - just be patient with the Verbena. Three years ago I sowed a tray and nothing happened for a long time, so I put it in the fridge for 2 weeks, then took it out and nothing happened for ages. I was just about to throw it out, then one morning all 500 seeds had germinated simultaneously overnight. Once you get it in the garden it will seed itself quite freely - but I don't mind that.

 

thanks for the advice Peter.

 

Well those beuties above are still going strong.

I have now re-seeded the propagators with the following on 11.03.07
Acacia Leucopholia
Coneflower
Wahlenbergia 'Snow Cap'
Agastache 'Apricot Sprite'
Dahlias ' Various' (Germinated on 13.03.07)
Pandorea Jasminoides
Schizostylis
Petunia (Germinated on 18.03)
Tecomaria Capensis
Echinacia Purpurea (Germinated on 18.03)
Delphinium Hybrida
Chrysanthemum (Germinated on 18.03)
Harebell 'Campanula'
Verbena Bonariensis
Gaillardia Goblin (Germinated on 18.03)

fingers crossed for this lot......pics coming soon!