"Damping off" at three months?

Shrinkrap · June 22, 2019

That's the only way I can explain it.

Two maras pepper plants flopped over, and there seems to be something wrong at the soil line. I've never used this starting medium before , and haven't grown these particular peppers before ( a sincere thank you!), but no other change's, and I've been doing this for a minute.

Any thoughts?

Above the soil
Below the soil
Seed starting medium?
Unaffected, so far

SueCT · June 22, 2019

Obviously some type of stem rot. Was water pooling at the base of the plant? I am thinking it might be related to too much rain if you live where they have been having a lot. To blame the seed starting medium 3 months later seems like quite a stretch to me.

Shrinkrap · June 22, 2019

Thank you!

I'm in California, so it never rains here (ha ha). I don't know if blame is the word I'd use, but the "plug" is still quite discernable at the soil line, and I suspect it never really decomposes. The plants are in a sub irrigation container, and I'm wondering if this "plug" keeps the stem moister at the soil line then does my usual Pro-Mix.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Worth1 · June 23, 2019

Those critters can in the soil and can effect a plant at any time if conditions are right.

bower · June 23, 2019

Wow... I think you're right, Shrinkwrap. Take away the plugs!

I admit I am one of those who detests the plugs and cannot use them successfully. For my climate, a peaty plug around a transplant in the ground will worst of all go totally dry due to dessicating wind, and then sucks the life out of the plant.

But I can see how sub-irrigated it could do the opposite and be too wet. I have the same issue with peaty potting mix, they are either too dry or they are too wet, never a happy medium.

I killed a load of seedlings this year with Promix myco... so loaded with damping off, the ones that didn't shuck their seed immediately got cotyledon rot inside the seed.

Hate the stuff... never again!

Shrinkrap · June 23, 2019

Thanks everyone!

June 22, 2019	#3
Shrinkrap Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 694	Thank you! I'm in California, so it never rains here (ha ha). I don't know if blame is the word I'd use, but the "plug" is still quite discernable at the soil line, and I suspect it never really decomposes. The plants are in a sub irrigation container, and I'm wondering if this "plug" keeps the stem moister at the soil line then does my usual Pro-Mix. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Last edited by Shrinkrap; June 22, 2019 at 10:02 PM.

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June 22, 2019	#2
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Obviously some type of stem rot. Was water pooling at the base of the plant? I am thinking it might be related to too much rain if you live where they have been having a lot. To blame the seed starting medium 3 months later seems like quite a stretch to me.

June 23, 2019	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Those critters can in the soil and can effect a plant at any time if conditions are right.

June 23, 2019	#5
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Wow... I think you're right, Shrinkwrap. Take away the plugs! I admit I am one of those who detests the plugs and cannot use them successfully. For my climate, a peaty plug around a transplant in the ground will worst of all go totally dry due to dessicating wind, and then sucks the life out of the plant. But I can see how sub-irrigated it could do the opposite and be too wet. I have the same issue with peaty potting mix, they are either too dry or they are too wet, never a happy medium. I killed a load of seedlings this year with Promix myco... so loaded with damping off, the ones that didn't shuck their seed immediately got cotyledon rot inside the seed. Hate the stuff... never again!