Damping Off

b54red · March 18, 2012

I can vouch for what Carolyn is saying. I once used a seed starting mix that had so much surface mold I couldn't even see the mix yet I had no damping off even though the seeds looked like they were growing out of totally moldy bread. This year keeping the surface dry with 3 different brands of seed starting mix and no surface mold I was plagued by damping off. For me weather conditions seem to be the biggest contributor to damping off. When we have cool, cloudy weather with 100% humidity I almost always have a problem. When it is bright and sunny with lower humidity it seems to almost never appear. Of course I am using a greenhouse so I have very little climate control.

Surprisingly I have had as much damping off with high end soil less seed starting mixes as with regular potting soil. I still go with the seed starting mixes because they are more uniform and easier to use.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

March 18, 2012	#17
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I can vouch for what Carolyn is saying. I once used a seed starting mix that had so much surface mold I couldn't even see the mix yet I had no damping off even though the seeds looked like they were growing out of totally moldy bread. This year keeping the surface dry with 3 different brands of seed starting mix and no surface mold I was plagued by damping off. For me weather conditions seem to be the biggest contributor to damping off. When we have cool, cloudy weather with 100% humidity I almost always have a problem. When it is bright and sunny with lower humidity it seems to almost never appear. Of course I am using a greenhouse so I have very little climate control. Surprisingly I have had as much damping off with high end soil less seed starting mixes as with regular potting soil. I still go with the seed starting mixes because they are more uniform and easier to use.