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Re: Seedlings & sulphur

for-pac wrote:
> 
> -- [ From: for-pac * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
> 
> To help anwer the question of using sulphur to help control damping-off, the
> answer is probably useful.
> 
> There are a handful of soil-born fungi that attacks seedlings, collectively
> called "damping off" fungi/disease. If you understand the conditions for the
> disease, then prevention is pretty easy.
> 
> First, the fungi is in virtually all soil, and spores are typically spread
> by moving water. What triggers the disease to go its killing rampage are the
> soil conditons. Just as seeds need favorable conditions to sprout, the fungi
> need thier own set of conditions. What triggers the fungi is - a) excessive
> moisture in the soil, b) cold temp., c) poor air circulation, d) alkaline
> soils (pH greater than 7.0), e) nitrogen fertilizers.
> 
> Second, knowing the trigger agents, you can control damping off by - a')
> Improving soil drainage with a seed-starting soil mix that drains better (ie
> : including perlite and sand), b') warmer seed-starting conditions which
> increase water evaporation,

I've found that *cooler* conditions retard the fungus.  But I use a
layer of peat or (better) milled sphagnum moss on top of the soil.  The
moss is acidic and stays drier than the soil.  I also always bottom
water to avoid wetting the top of the soil.  Cooler conditions also make
a stockier, more healthy seedling which can better resist the fungus.

Steve  (Maritime...)

> c') fewer seedlings per flat and/or natural or
> artifcial air circulation which again aides in keeping water from settling,
> d') soil mix is nuetral, sterile, or acidic, and e') and hold off on
> fertilizing until seedlings have gotten their secondary leaves and/or gotten
> past the "succulent" stem stage.
> 
> Since sulphur adds acid to the soil, it does help somewhat in controlling
> damping off, but its not the cure-all.
> 
> f-p
> 
---snip
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