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#1 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MA 6a/b
Posts: 352
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Did not sterilize seed trays ![]() Have not measured soil temperature. The air temperature in the seed tray + plastic enclosure stays between 70-80. I am letting the DE almost dry out before adding some water to the bottom tray instead of keeping water there all the time Lets hope that sterilizing the trays solves my damping off problem |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Noblesville, IN
Posts: 112
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I put the used DE in the microwave for 3-4 minutes in a glass bow when barely damp. Then I check it to 180.
I started over 500 plants in DE so far this year with over 90% germination and no damping off at all. That includes: Pepper - Cal Wonder, China Giant, Anaheim, Greek pepperochini, Corno di toro, Serano, Orange habanero ( I have 72 super hots germ. now) Tomato's - Martino Roma, Pineapple, Cherokee Purple (I planted another 72 of various varieties yesterday) Baby Bok Choi, Muchilini Cabbage, Spinach(2 types), Kale, Chard, Lettuce (4 types), Kohlrabi, Lime Basil, Common Basil and Butterfly weed Celery was a bit of a problem but it was my fault with moisture. Here are some random pics. Everything was started in DE except for flowers. ![]() ![]() Fig was propagated in DE but is in soiless now with DE topping. The butterfly weed next to it was also started in DE. I am working on Goji Berry now and will try other berry propagation throughout the year. ![]() The BEST part...it is super easy to shake off the DE when you let it dry out for transplanting to my aquaponics system. No more rinsing and soggy roots. There is also less shock. Here a a shot of one of the AP beds. They took off much faster than previous years. ![]() Overall shot of the GH. ![]() Thanks Ray! Last edited by Rairdog; March 19, 2015 at 05:38 PM. |
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#3 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 1,992
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Great pics and nice setup! |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,413
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I use the microwave quite regularly to sterilize soil. It works great, I never have damping off problems any more.
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,917
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Somewhere in this monster of a thread there is a post about sterilizing DE for re-use. I made a note for myself because I knew I'd never find it again!
Spread it out on a baking sheet and place into a 400F oven for 30 minutes. There was also discussion about whether or not it should be rinsed prior to baking (to eliminate salt build up, I believe). What I remember is that if you are only using organic fertilizers, this wasn't a concern. |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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I think this thread should be make a sticky thread. It is one of the most informative and helpful threads especially for those seed starters having trouble with damping off.
Bill |
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 637
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Just a thought for someone who is great at summarizing. I used DE and it worked great. ![]() Zeroma |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Noblesville, IN
Posts: 112
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I keep a five gallon bucket of bleach water on hand. All the small stuff that fits goes for a dunk before use. I keep a spray bottle of bleach water for spraying the bigger stuff. I keep a bottle of 1 to 10 3% hydrogen peroxide on hand to spray the top of any media when I see brown/green algae or white mold/fungus. If the media has been damp on top and humidity is high, I will do a preventative spray.
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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#10 |
BANNED
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 44
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OK, I made it through all 771 posts in this thread, lots of good info here to be sure. I went to the local Auto Zone and picked up a bag of DE and filled my 3.75" net cups and planted five different tomatoes and nine different pepper plants. Placed the cups in a 39"x19" fiberglass tray (no humidity dome) and filled with tap water that was left for 24 hours to help remove the chlorine, keeping ~1/2" of water in the tray. I planted the morning of 3-24 and as of yet no joy, they are currently on the second floor in a south facing window. If nothing is up by tomorrow I will move them to the basement and put them on a heating mat, once I have germination they will move to a second tray and go under a 400 watt metal halide light with a fan to simulate outdoor conditions. In the end these will be planted in a hybrid RGGS, this will be my first experience using this system but I have high hopes.
Heather |
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,917
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They just need a couple more days. Mine were started in DE on 3/22 and they just started popping up last night. No heat mat. |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 3
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Could it be the the de is mostly calcium is that not the shell of the diatom animal just a thought
cya Pegasus |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Cheektowaga, NY
Posts: 2,466
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DE is almost entirely amorphous silicon dioxide. Diatoms make their shells from disolved silicic acids in the water, not calcium. Any other minerals present are in trace amounts.
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 610
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Just a bump as it is seed starting time.
Any chance we can pin this? |
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,917
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