did it look anything like this?
ive been reading a thread and it says something about damping off disease. this is what they say to do.
[h=2]Damping Off Disease[/h]
Somewhere lurking in the air in your house is the fungus spores of the most dreaded of plant disease for those of us who start plants indoors for transplanting outdoors later in the season.
Damping off Disease is very common plant disease problem. We fear it, because it is fatal to our young seedlings, and is quite harmful to our soaring spring spirits. To lose seedlings so early in the new gardening year is just heartbreaking, especially if it is a special seed. It leads to replanting, and gets our young gardening season off to a late start.
If you grow indoor transplants early in the spring, you likely have experienced it at some point. We usually think of Damping Off Disease as an indoor plant problem. But, it also occurs outdoors, too. We are less likely to recognize it outdoors, as the loss of plants in the spring can be attributed to a number of things.
Now for the good news.... Damping Off Disease as a threat to your seedlings can be minimized. We have lots of tips and ideas to help fight off this enemy of the state.
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Causes of Disease: Damping Off disease thrives in cool or cold, dark or cloudy, wet or damp conditions. The disease is airborne, and can spread very quickly from one seed tray to another.
The fungal spores take root in your soil and quickly spreads across the seed tray, jumping to other trays with ease. It is fatal to young seedlings, nipping them off at the soil level.
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Treatment: As with other plants diseases, prevention is the best means of treatment. Follow the do's and don't's listed below. If Damping Off disease does take hold in your seed trays, act immediately. Remove diseased sections to minimize the spread. If it has affected a significant number of plants, replant in new soil and clean containers. Do not reuse the soil. Either use new containers, or sterilize the ones you were using. We recommend new containers.
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Controlling the Disease: Controlling the disease is a matter of removing the environment that Damping Off disease thrives in. Here are the basic do's and don'ts:
Do:
** Buy sterilized seed starting soil.
** Use clean, sterilized containers.
** Provide plenty of air circulation.
Tip: Use a small fan and direct a gentle breeze across the room. The important word here is "gentle"
** Thin seedlings to increase air circulation.
** Provide as much sunlight as possible.
** Let the surface of the soil dry out between watering. Watering from the bottom is preferred.
** Stir the top of the soil around the seedlings.
** Put plants in a sunny location.
Don't:
** Don't leave your seedling trays in the basement. Basements are perfect breeding grounds.
** Don't overwater plants.
** Do not use fertilizer on your new seedlings.
** Don't use tray covers. While it is a popular practice to use them, they increase the humidity level and encourage disease growth.
Did you know? Nitrogen in your fertilizer can promote rapid growth of Damping Off Disease.
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Other Tips and Suggestions: It is believed that soaking seeds in a small amount of water and a clove of crushed garlic will prevent the disease.
Some people suggest misting the plant with Chamomile tea as a preventative.
Some people suggest fireplace ash on the top of the soil.
Cinnamon also acts as a fungicide.
Sphagnum moss spread thinly on the surface of the soil.
