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Re: Gradual Damping Off?


From: MsAlaiyo <MsAlaiyo@aol.com>

>I had no takers for my question about the Verbena Bonariensis seedlings with
>"hunchbacked" or bending stems.  Consequently, I assumed they were damping off
>and threw them out.  I thought damping off happened suddenly (not sure because
>I've never experienced it).  Can damping off be gradual?  Is that what
>happened to my seedlings?  I really, really would like to know.


Damping-off is a collective name covering a large number of diseases, each
of which has its own origin, its own method of activity, but all of which end up
with the death of the seedling.  Since the activity of these diseases in just
under the surface of the soil, you see only the final result which is relatively
sudden, however the growth of the disease  was gradual.  For more
information on these diseases, and a list of the remedies and preventatives
used by most seed-starters, see the fact sheet at:

http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes/page48.htm

Hunchbacking does not sound like one of the damping-off diseases to me.
Stem bending above or below the cotyledons similarly in a large number
of seedlings could hardly be traced to vascular damage, so I would
suspect nitrogen overdose.  Too much fertilizer and the variations
in natural light can cause seedlings to act like inebriated rubber men.

V. bonariensis is a plant with rigid square stems that will do just fine with
no added fertilizer.   Like many plants, its response to excess nitrogen
is greater internode lengths, softer outercell walls, and an inability to
recover from knockdowns.  If you are using a balanced fertilizer in your
seed starting operations, and if you are following the recommended
measure of one tablespoon per gallon of water, then you probably
overdosing your seedlings.  Most of the seed-starters I know, use only
one fourth to one fifth of that measure.

manytimes,
tom
zone 5a, NE Illinois, -21ºF Min
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes
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