Sprouting seeds have mould - why?

[shaolin101]

Hi,

I have some seeds sprouting indoors that have white fluff on them - looks like mould. They are in a plastic propogator - some in peat pots and some in plastic mushroom tubs i cleaned.

Does anyone know what it is - could it me something from the mushrooms/maybe the inside of the propogator is too damp causing mould?

Shall i chuck the whole lot and start again. I will upload a pic if needed after but was hoping someone may know off the top of thier head to save me uploading!

Thanks
Liam

[shaolin101]

[shaolin101]

pic added

[Debs]

Same has happened to some of my sweet corn sowings.

I think it might (in my case) be over watering coupled with cold temps - not ideal growing conditions.

Debs

[janafolly]

HI,
Debs is likely correct.
You will have to let them dry out a bit, remove the plastic propagator, use fleece if need to keep warm.

Looks like you have been very generous with your sowing in tray - the plants should green up a bit now and grow away - give plenty of light, but if not re-seed. At this time of the year they will soon catch up.

Sorry unless you can guarantee pots are clean ie. sterilised best not to use them for seeds, especially mushroom compost.

Regards

JW

[bupster]

I'm not an expert in pre-sprouting seed, but they look very damp to me. I agree with the other posters, stop watering, let it dry out a little. Mist them if you must rather than watering until they're rooting properly, and then do so from the bottom.

[norfolklass]

could they be root hairs rather than mould? ???

edit: I found this pic of root hairs on a radish seedling

[kt.]

I have had some with mould on.  I just scraped it away and let the plant dry a little.  Most have recovered without any other problem.

[shaolin101]

thanks - i have put them outside to dry out. that mass of seeds is cress the kids had done and was a bit heavy handed! They have more in eggshells which is doing fine so i have binned that lot.

[valmarg]

I agree with norfolklass, root hairs.

I grow quite a lot of sprouting seeds.  I have a four tier, square sprouter.  I usually give them a rinse in warm water each day, and the root hairs disappear.

valmarg

[Tee Gee]

My tuppence worth is they are lacking ventilation!

Fine that they are damp and warm but they require air flowing/passing through the leaf system.

[shaolin101]

could they be root hairs rather than mould? ???

edit: I found this pic of root hairs on a radish seedling

It just seems odd that it is on these but not on any that are outside nor on the ones in eggshells. Hopefully they will sort themselves out - if not I will jsut try again i suppose! It is also very thick and clumed together - more like somethign that has gone mouldy. I actually have a similar problem when i try to keep hers on my kitchen windowsill - i get tehm from the shop and after a week or so they get white 'tufts' of mould around them and on the soil - could be ventilation then as the kitchen gets hot but i dont often have the windows open.

As some have not yet sprouted is it worth keeping them to see if they will come up ok? Also - if it is teh worst and tehy are mouldy should i bin them or just let them grow and see what happens? They have just started to poke through the surface (well some have)

[valmarg]

The sprouting seeds need to be 'reasonably' damp.  I have never been bothered with 'damping off'.

Believe me it is not mould, it is root hairs.

I have a tray of alfalfa and another of daikon radish ready to be washed and dried in the salad spinner.

Yummy bit of 'home grown' at this time of year!!

valmarg

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's definitely root hairs, nothing unhealthy. You've probably got them too damp, and you need to give them some ventilation as you're asking for damping off if you don't.