I have studied horticultural science. Belong to the passionate hobby gardeners of course. I harvested my first watermelons already at the age of 7 years. At the moment, I find topics related to the interaction of plants with other living things and the environment particularly interesting.
My favorite fruit: Definitely avocados My favorite vegetable: Actually everything, except Brussels sprouts
Fall over disease: how to recognize the pest, prevent fungal infection and protect your seedlings.
When seedlings fall over, fungus may be the cause [Photo: AmBNPHOTO/ Shutterstock.com]
Seedlings bend, fall over and die
If your freshly germinated seedlings suddenly hang their heads or fall over directly, then a fungal infection may be responsible for this. For the fall over and subsequent shrinkage of the young plants is the fall over disease (Syn.: emergence disease, blackleg, root blight, seedbed rot) responsible. A whole host of different fungal pathogens, such as Fusarium and Botrytis, trigger this disease. If the seedlings lie completely on the ground and also have a sickly looking stem near the ground, then unfortunately the diagnosis is most likely to be fallen sickness. The diseased area may look shriveled, brownish or constricted. Heat-loving crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, basil and chilli are particularly likely to be affected by emergence disease. By the way: The pathogens are also often able to kill cuttings.
Another cause of seedlings falling over
Besides the harmful fungi, there is often a completely different explanation for falling seedlings. Most often this happens in the spring, when you are growing the first vegetable plants for the garden season on the windowsill. In poor light conditions, i.e., especially at the north window, the seedlings then become wilted. In the case of yellowing, the plant does not get enough sunlight and grows strongly in the length. All the growth energy is then used for stem growth. Affected plants thus have small cotyledons and at the same time a very soft and long shoot. For example, if a tomato seedling is placed on a windowsill with very little sunlight, the seedling will continue to grow in height until it falls over. Such plants are generally more susceptible. Most of the time they bend over completely after the first gust of wind. With a few precautionary measures, however, you can counteract the rotting: Wait with the cultivation of their seedlings, until the sunny spring is really there. Seeding too close also causes the small plants to rob each other of precious light. By the way, the yellowing can also be slowed down with cool temperatures. Many young plants feel well even at 15 to 18 °C. Seedling cultivation should not take place in the warm living room (25 °C) in poor light conditions because of this. As a rule of thumb, they can remember: The warmer a plant is, the more light it also needs.
Very long and thin shoots indicate a lack of light [Photo: Africa Studio/ Shutterstock.com]
Preventive measures against the disease of seedlings plantura
Since infected seedlings can hardly be saved, attention should be paid to prevention. If a few tips on cultivation are taken into account, the blight will no longer cause any problems. Because the harmful fungi like a humid and at the same time warm environment, you should avoid this combination. The temperature must be adjusted to the needs of the seedlings. They usually like it warm too. Above all the air humidity should be lowered again and again by regular airing. Many hobby gardeners literally ensnare their seedlings. This often involves watering the seedlings too much or constantly wetting them with water from a spray bottle. By such a culture management also fungi find optimal living conditions. To keep the fungi away from our delicate seedlings, we have put together some tips for you:
1. Keep your fingers away from the spray bottle! Plants, including young plants, do not have to be constantly wet. As a rule, most plants also do not like constant moisture at all. 2. If you use a mini-greenhouse for growing, do not forget to air it regularly. As a rule of thumb, the older the young plant, the more often and longer it should be aired. Unfortunately, there is no general duration of ventilation; a bit of intuition and practice is required here. 3. Optimally, you only water the plantlets from below. Because on the one hand, this keeps the plants dry. Secondly, the top layer of soil is also not too wet. Many harmful fungi develop particularly well in the top layer of soil. It is also sufficient for the vast majority of young plants if the top layer of soil is slightly moist. Penetrating wetness only harms here. 4. The right choice of soil plays a role for seedlings that should not be underestimated. It is generally recommended to use growing soil such as our Plantura Organic Herbs& Seeding soil to use. It is low in germs and nice and loose, so excess water can drain away quickly (of course, this only works with existing drainage holes!). If you want to be on the safe side, you can also steam your soil to kill possible fungal pathogens. This works in the microwave and lasts approx. 15 minutes or you can put the soil in the oven for 30 minutes at 200°C. In order for the damping-off to be successful, the soil must not be dry during the sterilization process.
Correct control of fall sickness
Although it would be nice if affected seedlings could still be saved, this is not the case. The small plants are still much too sensitive to regenerate after a fungal infection. For this reason, you should remove diseased young plants immediately, so that the fungal disease can not spread further. Sow as a precaution rather a few seeds more, then you can live well with the loss of some young plants.
