Seedlings shriveling ...........again.

[KLorentz]

Yes I know what it most likely is I used cinnamon managed to save a few out of the original batch but a second batch has also come down with it now.A third batch of 24 varieties just started coming up this week and so far so good. For growing media I used Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic seed starting mix. At the time I ordered it I could not find a decent price on Espoma's comparable mix which is what I used in 2012 without a problem. I just don't get why such a problem cuz I don't do anything any different than I did in Michigan.Btw the seedlings are shriveling from the top.Beginning to think there is something wrong with this particular version of Pro-Mix.


Kevin

[Hermitian]

I used "Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix" topped with some Vermiculite. As in past years, I'm having great success: Richard's Indoor Propagation

[Urbanfarmer]

Hard to say. The only times we've seen your symptoms were from over-fertilization and/or too much intense light. It's possible your mix has some fertilizer in it that is too hot. You're probably right. It seems to be originating in your mix.

[Worth1]

Kevin I warned you Texas was a hard place to live in.
See how hard it is to even get seeds growing.

Worth

[KLorentz]

Originally Posted by Urbanfarmer

Hard to say. The only times we've seen your symptoms were from over-fertilization and/or too much intense light. It's possible your mix has some fertilizer in it that is too hot. You're probably right. It seems to be originating in your mix.

I know and that is strange.The description does not mention fertilizer in the mix. with other mixes they mention that i.e. Miracle Grow. But since now it seems not to be dampening off fertilizer burn would be the only thing it could be IMO.

@Richard I did call Lowe's and they do have Jiffy but said what they have " is not necessarily organic" I also called a local garden center and what they have is an organic made by a company called Fertiloam.


@Worth. Yes you did but I did not think the hard work would start till AFTER I got the plants outside.

[Hermitian]

Originally Posted by KLorentz

... @Richard I did call Lowe's and they do have Jiffy but said what they have " is not necessarily organic"...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OWF97S

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Hermitian

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OWF97S

Wow, that's for a 16 quart bag. Last year I started over 1000 seeds, using 2-72 cell
Trays and didn't even use half of a 4 quart bag. Does that lose its "sterility" ( I know it isn't really sterile) by the next years? It looks like a good product.

Marsha

[mdvpc]

Fetilome is a good product - I have used it before.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by KLorentz

Yes I know what it most likely is I used cinnamon managed to save a few out of the original batch but a second batch has also come down with it now.A third batch of 24 varieties just started coming up this week and so far so good. For growing media I used Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic seed starting mix. At the time I ordered it I could not find a decent price on Espoma's comparable mix which is what I used in 2012 without a problem. I just don't get why such a problem cuz I don't do anything any different than I did in Michigan.Btw the seedlings are shriveling from the top.Beginning to think there is something wrong with this particular version of Pro-Mix.


Kevin

Dumb question but did you completely sterilize all containers and tools with hot water and 10% bleach spray?

[Hermitian]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Wow, that's for a 16 quart bag. Last year I started over 1000 seeds, using 2-72 cell
Trays and didn't even use half of a 4 quart bag. Does that lose its "sterility" ( I know it isn't really sterile) by the next years? It looks like a good product.

Marsha

I provided the link to show the product I used. One bag was just about right for two 72-cell trays. However, for the same price at the local agricultural supplier I can buy one 3.8 cubic foot bag of Sungro #2. In years gone by, I would plant a couple dozen trays.

[kath]

Sorry to hear about your shriveling seedlings, Kevin- I missed that you'd already lost most of a previous batch. It must be very frustrating to lose that time after careful planning, especially when you have a more narrow window of growing time now.

I had lots of trouble with my seedlings last year using Pro-Mix BX but I have a huge bale that was just opened this season so I'm going to give it another try at least for this season. The things I've started already are doing ok. I do find that no matter how careful I am to keep an opened bag covered whether it's stored in our basement or the shed, by the next season I've got to be very vigilant about damping off.

Wishing you smooth sailing from now on-

kath

[Labradors2]

Nobody has addressed this. Why did you use cinnamon? Did you have fungus gnats? Perhaps they could be the problem - eating the roots.

Linda

Originally Posted by KLorentz

Yes I know what it most likely is I used cinnamon managed to save a few out of the original batch but a second batch has also come down with it now.A third batch of 24 varieties just started coming up this week and so far so good. For growing media I used Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic seed starting mix. At the time I ordered it I could not find a decent price on Espoma's comparable mix which is what I used in 2012 without a problem. I just don't get why such a problem cuz I don't do anything any different than I did in Michigan.Btw the seedlings are shriveling from the top.Beginning to think there is something wrong with this particular version of Pro-Mix.


Kevin

[Worth1]

I'm lost on the cinnamon.
What on earth is going on up there?
Being that close to Fort Hood maybe they contracted some sort of GI disease.

No really I have read your post concerned and am confused.
Worth

[aconite]

Cinnamon has mild anti-fungal properties. Sprinkled around the base of the seedling it can prevent damping off. It can also be used to protect plant wounds from infection, a paste of honey and cinnamon is actually pretty good for that. Though here it looks like a seriously bad batch of seed starting mix.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by aconite

Cinnamon has mild anti-fungal properties. Sprinkled around the base of the seedling it can prevent damping off. It can also be used to protect plant wounds from infection, a paste of honey and cinnamon is actually pretty good for that. Though here it looks like a seriously bad batch of seed starting mix.

Why not just inoculate with a 10% solution of hydrogen peroxide?

Call me lucky but I have never had these problems ever before.
I dont sterilize anything and use the jiffy starting pods.

Worth