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Re: Propagation Tools/Misters

Hi Angelika,

Sorry to hear about your seedling woes.

It sounds like the mix is holding too much water.  Start over with a new
mix and thoroughly cleaned containers and flats as Kevin suggested.  Also, is
it very cool where your seedlings are?  Too cool conditions will slow down
seedlings transpiration and keep the soil mix wet longer.

I concur on the point about off-the-shelf soil mixes, they are often mostly peat
and their pH can be quite acidic (4.5-5.5).  As well sterilized mixes can
provide an excellent medium for pathogenic fungi to flourish in.  In garden soil
there is a complex mix of bacteria and fungi which exist in balance, competing
with each other for nutrients, while in a sterilized medium there is no such
balance to keep fungi in check.  Maybe look for a good compost based starting
mix.  I use a product like this myself, from Professional Gardener in Alberta
and I've had no damping off problems with it.  You can likely find something
similar where you are.  It might cost a bit more but is worth it.  If it seems
too "heavy" then add some perlite and vermiculite to loosen it up.  That will
give it the capacity to hold more air and prevent it from being so soggy.

   ____________________
  |                    |
  |     Bob Carter     | Kootenay Bay
  |  bcarter@awinc.com | BC, Canada
  |____________________|


... Automatic simply means that you cannot repair it yourself.
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