Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Seeding and Propagation

Coast Redwood Seedling Damping Off: Fungal Disease Prevention

Sequoia sempervirens Seedlings Dying at 3-4 Inches: Classic Damping Off

Pale green → brown progression from base upward in 10 days = damping off (fungal: Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium). Caused by excess moisture + poor air circulation.

Prevention Protocol

Water: Evenly moist, never soggy; reduce frequency
Air flow: Oscillating fan on low, aimed at soil level
Medium: Milled sphagnum moss top-dressing (natural fungistatic)
Sanitation: Sterile pots, fresh medium
Spacing: Avoid overcrowding

Treatment

Remove affected seedlings immediately. Apply chamomile tea or commercial biofungicide to remaining. But prevention is far more effective than cure.

Greenhouse Management

Daily light watering creates perfect fungal conditions. Switch to deeper, less frequent watering. Morning watering allows surface drying.

Seeding and Propagation: Growing Bismarck Palm from Seed: Cleaning, Planting, and Germination; Cherry Seed Stratification Required Even in England; Growing Daylilies from Seed: Two Methods; Cactus Seed Sowing: Salad Container Method, Winter Timing, and 40°F Minimum; Growing a Magnolia from Seed: George Washington's Tree; Growing Sundews from Seed: Species-Specific Methods; Seed-Starting Resources: Books and Websites for Specific Germination Data; Starting Vegetables from Seed: Greenhouse, Indoor, and Hardening-Off Methods; Growing from Seed: Why & How to Start Your Own Plants; Growing Aloes from Seed: A Complete Guide to Germination & Seedling Care

Garden Articles

Growing Wisteria from Seed: Patience Required

Growing Canna Lilies from Seed: Scarification, Sowing, and Overwintering

Sourcing Small Packets of Medicinal Herb Seeds

Growing Asparagus from Seed: Economy, Disease Avoidance, and the Male vs. Female Debate

How to Grow Perennials from Seed: Step-by-Step Guide

Growing Bell Peppers from Store-Bought Seeds: Unreliable

Complete Guide to Starting Tomatoes from Seed Indoors

Plants

Growing Wisteria from Seed: Timeline and Tips

Growing Quince from Grocery Store Fruit Seeds: Expect Variable Results

Indoor Seed Starting: Watering Mistakes and Tricks for Difficult Seeds

Growing Citrus and Pomegranate from Grocery Store Seeds: Realities and Methods

Can You Grow Peach Trees from Immature Peach Seeds?

Why Wave Petunias from Seed Don’t Bloom Like Nursery Plants

Seed Starting Mastery: From Packet to Transplant