damping off & those pressed peat pots

[bennettsleg]

Hi Guys

Forgive me, I am at work and my terminology will not be up to scratch.  I sowed some seeds in new seedling compost using those pressed peat/cardboard sow-it-in-here-till-it-gets-big-and-plant-the-whole-d**n-thing pots and have a recurring problem: damping off.

The pots are filled, watered lightly with a fine spray nozzle, seeds are sown, two days later: a fine grey bloom appears.  What am I doing wrong? This never happens when sowning a whole plastic seed tray for pricking out.

Any ideas, wise and elucidated brethren?

[bennettsleg]

[manicscousers]

don't know whether it helps or not, we only water or peat pots from the bottom,  :)

[Hyacinth]

Leg, I use those pots all the time. Method I use: fill pots with soil. Stand tray of pots in water til the pots have changed colour & the soil is well wet. Sow seeds. Cover with soil. NO MORE WATER!!! Cover tray with propagator lid or clingfilm until seeds are through. Any further watering gets done from below until the plants are sturdy.