A fungal disease that attacks young seedlings, causing stems to rot at the soil line and resulting in sudden collapse and death.
Damping off is one of the most common problems during seed starting. A seedling may appear healthy one day and fall over the next, even when the soil is moist.
The disease develops when fungi or fungus-like organisms attack the tender stem near the soil surface. Once the stem is damaged, the seedling can no longer transport water and nutrients properly, causing it to wilt and collapse.
Overwatering, poor airflow, overcrowding, and contaminated growing materials all increase the risk of damping off.
Because seedlings are most vulnerable during their earliest stages of growth, damping off can destroy an entire tray of plants in a short period of time. Fortunately, the disease is largely preventable through proper watering, good air circulation, and clean growing practices.