Aww. crud

[desertgirl]

My cauliflower sprouted in only 5 days, and was growing just fine, but then got a white fungus-y growth and keeled over.

So I am replanting (a lot of things) and would like to know how to avoid this in the future. I have them in the little seed incubator thing, south facing window (inside). I guess I should turn off the heating pad when they sprout? Do I take off the cover? Any help would be appreciated.

Please stop me before I kill again!

 

[Ariel301]

Sounds like maybe they are staying too wet? That is the only time I have seen anything like that grow on my plants.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Add some coarse sand to your seed compost, turn your heating pad off & take the cover off ........Oh! & only water from the bottom. It is too hot & muggy in there!

Hope the next lot do better! Good luck!
:rose Hattie :rose

 

[digitS']

Your cauliflower wasn't supposed to sprout in 5 days, DesertGirl.

I'm going to again use this table from the University of Minnesota (which is actually only a few miles to my east since I'm visiting my son in the Twin Cities ). Days to Germination for Vegetable Crops at Various Temps. The important thing in this table isn't the # of days so much as the temperatures for germination.

Covering the starting mix and placing the container in sunlight is fraught with risk . . . Notice that the quickest germination was 6 days at 68F. Many homes are that warm, day & night. For cool-season plants, probably no special efforts are needed to get quick germination.

I essentially do all my seed starting in the warmest indoor location - out-of-the-sun and covered. I need to pay close attention to what is going on because the seedlings need sunlight almost immediately. Once they are up and growing.

When it is set in the sunlight -- then the cover is taken off the container.

Another try DG, you'll get it

Steve

 

[Catalina]

Aww how frustrating!

What you are seeing is called damping off. Here are a couple links that might help
http://www.ehow.com/how_9361_prevent-damping-seedlings.html

http://tomclothier.hort.net/page13.html

I have a powder that I mix with water and lightly spray on my soil when the seeds start to sprout. I got the powder from my parents, so I don't know what it is. I'll check when I get home. They have been using it for 35+ years with ver good results.

Air movement and lowering the humidity will help a lot. As will sterilizing your potting soil.

 

[Catalina]

I found a little more info

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 dont's:

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.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

My cauliflower sprouted in only 5 days, and was growing just fine, but then got a white fungus-y growth and keeled over.

So I am replanting (a lot of things) and would like to know how to avoid this in the future. I have them in the little seed incubator thing, south facing window (inside). I guess I should turn off the heating pad when they sprout? Do I take off the cover? Any help would be appreciated.

Please stop me before I kill again!

As I have said before, I am no expert. Day before yesterday, my seedlings had fuzz on them. They were about an eighth of an inch high. I took off the top of the seed tray for the day, and then last night, just like with children, I lightly covered them .with a plastic bag. Well.er... ya dont cover your kids with a plastic bag.my bad.

Anyway, this morning I check my new sprouts, and the fuzz was only on one sprout. I had to use a magnifying glass to see it. I would say take the top off but at night if they are close to a window, lightly cover them.

 

[vfem]

sounds like too much heat and humidity to me... this is one of those lucky cool weather plants. You probably don't have to do much of anything to get it going. Even my tomatoes and gerber daisies start on their own with no additional heat.

Get you some fresh seed starter and try again... don't give up!

 

[journey11]

Bummer! Good advice here, so do try again!

I take the cover off mine (all my stuff) once most of them are up (some stragglers might pop up later, but they're usually duds). I've had more trouble with my cauliflower being leggy than with anything else I've started. I got some lights this year, so I'm trying again too!

 

[Grow 4 Food]

Air, Air, and More Air. I had the same sort of issue and the closed in domes dont get any air movement or fresh air to them.