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RE: Hello and a few questions.

I've been mixing biodynamic compost into the soil and been presoaking and
sprouting some seeds just a bit before sowing. Then I place the seeds on the
top of the moist soil, not digging up the soil at all, and then gently
sprinkling some more fine bd compost/soil over top, and finally I've been
mulching over this with alfalfa straw and I've since had amazingly seedling
growth, no more damping off like I used to when I used to cover them with
plastic tents. First off, I find that biodynamic compost is about as stable
and alive a substance as you can get, so full of beneficial bacteria. The
fungus that causes damping off is merely there because it has found a nice
home, if we use sterilised potting soil we are using a dead and
bacteria-vacant substance which wil attract all sorts of bacteria, fungi,
etc. to itself. Balance is the key. A well balanced soil is complete and can
fend off the nasty stuff. Secondly, I've found the loosely strewn mulch
makes a fantastic little microclimate for seeds to spring to life,
underneath the mulch the seeds get everything they need, a little of each of
the 4 elements (fire,air,earth and water) and by watering the mulch rather
than the seedlings or the soil, the understory remains moist and cool, gets
some air, plus the soil and seedlings don't get pelted with huge drops of
water. When they are ready, we can watch the seedlings benchpressing
themselves out from under the mulch. The mulch should be absent of green
material (nitrogen), so that it doesn't want to compost itself. If there's
still damping off problems, two other remedies are putting hydrogen peroxide
in your water (about 5% or so) and watering with that, or making a horsetail
(equisetem) tea (simmer for 30 mins) and mixing that in your watering can. 
Regards, Conrad von Zirkwitz


> >One problem I'm having is that a lot of my plants seem to keep dying off
> at
> >the roots. They fall over and wen I look at them they're disconnected
> from
> >the soil like the roots have rotted away. Am I over watering them? Is it
> >because it's so @!#$ hot out here (Southern California). My sister
> planted
> >some seeds for squash, carrots and other edibles in the same potting soil
> >and they're growing like crazy.
> >Please help.
> >
> >Sam J. Bowling
> >Third Dimension Illustration
> >
> >http://24.0.216.43/
> 
> The condition you describe sounds like damping off, which is caused by a
> fungus. It attacks any and all seedlings. Some ways to prevent it are:
> good
> air circulation, clean growing medium and pots, and not keeping the soil
> too damp. Some people say spraying the plants with a solution of chamomile
> tea prevents damping off. My personal experience has been that damping off
> happens mostly when conditions are too moist without adequate air
> circulation. Try replanting in new medium, keeping the seedlings slightly
> drier with good air circulation.  Good Luck.
> Cindy in TX, Z8/9
> 
> The Herb Cottage
> Rt 2  Box 90
> Hallettsville, TX
> phone and fax: 409/562-2153
> http://theherbcottage.com
>
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