Hey everyone, I'm really struggling with damping off disease. Just three days ago, my seedlings started dying off, and now I'm down to just two that are showing symptoms too. I think my mistake was using an opened bag of soil that was just sitting outside in the garden, which got cold and damp. I'm not too worried since I've sown another batch of seeds. However, I mixed that bad soil with my organic mix (which has compost, peat moss, perlite) and stored it on the balcony, sealed up. Is that soil ruined too? What are the chances it's bad? Is there a way to disinfect it without losing all the beneficial stuff? I can't help but feel a bit silly about this situation.
1 Answer
Don't beat yourself up! Damping off is a common issue when starting seeds. Your mixed soil is likely contaminated from that bad batch, so it's best to consider getting a seed starting mix that's specifically made for young plants. You can also blend a seedling mix with a good potting soil in a 50/50 ratio to give your plants a nutritional boost. Just make sure to buy your soil from a store, so it hasn't been exposed to the weather – that way you should have better luck!
Totally agree! Fresh soil from inside the store can really help. Just keep an eye on your seedlings!