I'm done with organic ferts for seedlings

[AKmark]

I start a couple thousand tomatoes in different mediums, and environments, and don't get damping off problems. Just let the top of the soil dry out between waterings, then put the water to them. Wait until they dry again, then repeat until you are ready to transplant. Dry, not dampish on top, just short of wilting.

[drew51]

I may have said something about algae on top. You know if it works, you don't have a problem. Thanks for not debating I really respect that! Everybody have different experiences. To me if I have algae it usually means I'm watering too much, but that is me. Other environments you might not be able to stop it. We have very dry air here in the early winter spring, if in a higher zone than zone 6, you may have more water in the air, and controlling algae is a problem and not a sign of overwatering. Midwest zone 6 is dry, MI has just a touch more rain than Texas, not the Northeast has a lot more rain, and damp air. All gardening is local! Zone 6 in the midwest is a lot different that zone 6 in the northeast or south.

[topazgirl170]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Well I guess we're going to find out, because I am sick of smelling like rotten fish. I had tolerated it because I thought it was good fertilizer. It certainly seems popular.

This stuff should be called 'Bag-O-DampnOff:' http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors...88-c-10116.htm It seems like everything I plant in this mix dies.

I used this Pro Mix Ultimate last year in my earthboxes and another SWC . I loved it and had NO problems. I didn't have any issues with fungus or growing. But I didn't use it as a seed starting mix, I used it to grow established vegetable plants

Also, I had really good results last season with using Neptune's Harvest Fish/Seaweed blend.

[Sodak]

Originally Posted by topazgirl170

I used this Pro Mix Ultimate last year in my earthboxes and another SWC . I loved it and had NO problems. I didn't have any issues with fungus or growing. But I didn't use it as a seed starting mix, I used it to grow established vegetable plants

Also, I had really good results last season with using Neptune's Harvest Fish/Seaweed blend.

I use Pro Mix Ultimate in both raised beds and smart pots last year and it worked great. I do not use it for seed starting either. And I used Neptune's harvest as a foliage spray. And Texas Tomato food as the main fert.
Combo of these things worked great.

[Cole_Robbie]

To update this thread, I am still getting damping off when using chemical fertilizer.

All I can think of is to try a different pro mix next year. Two years ago I had a Fafard mix that was mainly pine bark fines instead of peat. It's double the price of the Menard's mix, but might be worth it. I don't think I lost any plants to damping off in that mix.

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I use two Menard's pro mixes that I like a lot:
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors...53-c-10116.htm

http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors...01-c-10116.htm

If there is a difference between them, I can't tell it. The other product has compost added to it, which I am almost positive is what's causing me problems.

I realize that it is common to refer to pro-mix as "sterile," but that's just not what the word means. I guess it's catchier than 'non-nutritive.' "Sterile" means the inside of a pressure cooker or autoclave before you open it. As soon as outside air hits anything, it is no longer sterile. The last bag or two I bought from Menard's had been sitting outside all winter, because I start buying it before the new shipment arrives for spring. The bag had mold and algae growing on it. Calling it "sterile" doesn't seem right.

If your seed starting mix is old or has been outside, that might be a big problem. The only time I had big issues with damping off is when I left my jiffy tray outside for several months. I used to use jiffy pellets for seed starting with no problems. But, that tray with the pellets left outdoors for months caused very single seedling to die of damping off.
Something you're using is contaminated. The soil, greenhouse or your water source.
The DE is good stuff and the only thing I use for tomatoes and peppers nowadays.

[Cole_Robbie]

The water is tap water, and the most recent sheet pots I used were new in the box. The bales of pro mix look like they have probably been outside in the Menards garden center over the winter.

It's getting too late in the season to do much experimenting, but I want to try DE and also a pine bark mix to see if there is a difference. I will settle for having fewer plants in more expensive media if that stops the damping off.

I really hate peat mix anyway. It's impossible to get wet without floating out of the container. Then when I try to dunk a cell tray to water established plants, it floats like a boat on the ocean.

[RootLoops]

evergreens have their own antifungals, cedar probably has the best anti fungal ability. the effectiveness diminishes with time after it has been cut, i don't know exactly how long and there is probably a lot of variation