How can I prevent my seedlings from damping off?

Did you use a soiless mix to start them in?

Keep the temps. even.

If they are getting too cold they will start dying off.

Fluctuating temps. and water are key.

A too wet seedling in the cold will keel over.

Also, if they need light, sun, make sure they are getting the proper exposure to help harden them up.

@Adirondackwannabe—I know of no such “invisible dirt” ! XD
@Coloma -#4 could be the problem.

Thanks:)

@lucillelucillelucille

Trade ya. I’ll tend to your seedlings if you come over and finish cutting back my 5 foot tall crazy, outta control exotic grasses.

I need a chainsaw! lol

@lucillelucillelucille It’s like a hushabomb. Seriously, soil is too moisture retentive and rich sometime and the plants damp off. A mix of perlite, vermiculite and peat moss works better or just try a seed starting mix.

@Coloma-Sure! I used to kick some grass with a sickle!:)
@Adirondackwannabe-Next year I might do it your way.For now,I will try to save the ones I have.psst…what’s a hushabomb?

I had never heard of the term “damping off”. So thanks for getting me to look up something new.

How firmly packed is the soil that you start the seeds in? I’ve learned that in order to start new seeds (from grass to just about anything else) you want to have relatively firmly packed or rolled soil, so that the roots have something to dig into. Otherwise the roots are left too exposed to the air, even in the soil, and bad things are happening (including the roots drying out), that, and the soil then takes too much watering and has to be kept too wet for the plant’s own good.