Damping off wins the prize for Sudden Seedling Death. It goes like this: your seedlings are all up and doing well, then suddenly they fall over and die for no apparent reason. The most likely reason is what is called "damping off". Damping off is caused by fungi, usually Rhizoctonia, occasionally Pythium and less often Botrytis or Phytophthora. These fungi occur in the soil, in the air and in water. Since they are most active between 68 and 86°F., they cause fewer problems for seeds that need a cool temperature (55° F.) to germinate. However, most seed need higher temperatures, and are thus susceptible to this nemesis of seedlings.

What can you do to prevent damping off of your precious little seedlings?

First, using a sterile medium will help control it. So will proper spacing of your seedlings so air can circulate freely. Do not over water and make sure drainage is excellent in your seed-starting set-up.

If all else fails (the fungus spores can be on the seeds or in the water) and you have a problem with damping off, or want to take some preventative measures, you can drench the seed flat and medium in a fungicide solution before sowing your seed. Please call your local extension office for a recommendation of what sort to use. Though using a fungicide adds complexity and manufactured chemicals to your seed-growing process, it will also greatly improve your seedling survival rate.