Topic: Indoor seed problem

[wahaj]

Hi,

I've sown some seeds last week inside because according to thompson and morgan and suttons, those particular seeds can be sown in january.

so anyway....they're in a make shift propagator.....but it seems to be there seems to be some sort of soft fluffy white stuff forming on the compost surface. it was compost i bought from a garden centre but i found a tiny little toad stool form on the compost surface aswell.

i'm assuming it's some sort of fungus forming? how can i prevent it do you think....and what can i do to get rid of the fungus that's already there.

it doesn't seem to be hindering seed germination as they seem to be up up and away....but i'm just a bit worried about them.

thanks.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You may be keeping them too moist.

[okra]

I seem to remember the advice with propogators is to wipe away the condensation daily

[Barnowl]

It isn't mushroom compost is it?

[wahaj]

nope. doesn't say it's mushroom compost....just normal multi purpose stuff.

but i guess maybe i am keeping it too moist. the condesation doesn't build up in there to be honest.....so i'll try and give it a bit more ventilation.

thanks for the advice peeps.

[Curryandchips]

Yes I agree on the moisture level - too high I think. Propogators don't lose as much moisture as open seed trays, since evaporation is very limited.

Derek

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

You've probably got "damping off" fungus. I find that I get very high rates of germination failure if I don't use a fungicide on sowing. It's especially bad with small seeds and seeds that take a long time to germinate, or when I use heat. You can cure the problem completely if you water the seeds in using Cheshunt Compound solution, which is a Copper-Ammonia Complex fungicide.

RT

[Merry Tiller]

It's funny, I break all the rules, I never clean pots and I use rainwater to water my seedlings but I hardly ever have damping off problems ???

[Mrs Ava]

Phew, I'm as bad as you MT, and it isn't a problem I really get.  Of course, now we have said that we will have a bleeder of a year and loose all of our seedlings! :'(

[wahaj]

um....ok....thanks for the advice RT. I'm not sure if i've seen chesnut compound in any of the local stores....so might have to go to a specialised garden centre for that one.

till then do you think it's worth just lightly spraying everything with a general fungicide?

[Tee Gee]

If you can't get 'cheshunt' any proprietory fungicide will do. I keep some 'Sythsane' around for any fungal problems I get.

I generally find if I really soak my compost and let the excess water drain off then sow my seed I don't have to water again until the seedlings have emerged.

Then when they do, I never water as such, if I think they need some water I just spray them with a hand sprayer containing clean water and some fungicide to manufacturers spec.

I find this keeps them going until such times as I can get them pricked out.

I find this method very useful with cuttings as well, it keeps leaf hydration to a minimum and the cuttings seem to root better/quicker.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Tee Gee - for me the problem with fungal stuff is at the germination stage. Once the seedings are up I don't have any more trouble

Wahaj - When I have problems like yours, they're usually done for, but nothing wasted in waiting and seeing

Another thing you could try is to sterilize the compost first by zapping it in a microwave (dampened with water, and some clingfilm on the top), but fungicide really does work

[wahaj]

thanks for your advice tee gee.

and you aswell RB. i've always heard of microwaving soil....but i always get horrible visions of the soil popping in the microwave and bursting inside it and making a huge mess in my tiny little kitchen lol.

to be honest conditions seems to have improved with my seedlings. i left them as they were and tried to give them a few hours of ventilation every day by taking the plastic cover off the top of them. most of the seedlings i've sown have germinated. they're 100s of tiny little green heads popping out of the soil and seem to look very happy. i've given them another watering last night because the soil looked a bit on the dry side. and they seem to be loving the conditions now and most of the white fungus has gone.

so thanks for all your advice on this peeps :)

[redimp]

It's funny, I break all the rules, I never clean pots and I use rainwater to water my seedlings but I hardly ever have damping off problems ???

Snap ;D
And organic alternative to fungicide:

- chamomile tea, or
- clove tea, or
- a  one-time light dusting of powdered cinnamon on the soil surface, or
- a one-time light dusting of powdered charcoal on the soil surface, or
- if stinging nettle is endemic in your area, make a fermented infusion to use like clove tea.           
These last five actions are suggested by sufficient anecdotal evidence to prove  the existence of a low level of fungicidal activity.  I would not hesitate to use them in germination environments which have no history of damping-off diseases.

[Tee Gee]

Quote; for me the problem with fungal stuff is at the germination stage.

To me this sounds a bit like a drainage problem, adding some sand might help.

I have found that some composts can be a bit indifferent so I tend to mix my own.

For economy reasons and to save having too many types of  compost around I mix composts to suit my needs.

There was a time when I would buy all the different ingredients now I just buy multi-purpose and alter it to my needs.

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