5 steps to avoid damping off your seedlings

Two austrian pines are now dead, just like that. Over-night. By a fungus, called "Damping Off". Once again a horticular selfmade mistake. But I love it. More things to learn. More articles to read.

Worst thing about it is that once you get the fungus it will most likely kill all your seedlings as its almost impossible to get rid of.

5 steps to avoid damping off your seedlings

1. Use sterile soil mix. Bake it in the oven even, but use a sterile soil mix.
2. Keep your seedlings in a ventilated environment, use a table fan to get that air circulating.
3. Use antifungal agents.
1. Hydrogen Peroxide 3% per quart of water
2. Strong brew of Camomille Tea, 2 ounces per quart of water
4. Use a top soil layer of Perlite, Spaghnum, Grit, Sand or grit.
5. Use a one time dusting of cinnamon or powdered charcoal on the surface.

The next following days I will most certainly apply all these steps to avoid more pines dying.

A good article about damping off: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/277/

Malus Seeling.

Home made green house with regulative growlight.

Pinus Nigra seedlings.

3 Zelkova seedlings with a cold stratification period approach has germinated out of 7 sown.