Mold on seedlings: 4 proven ways to defeat

General description of the disease

Science knows about 60 species of zygomycetes, loosely grouped under the name Mukor or white mold. They can develop on the top layer of soil, on food debris and on some surfaces if they contain organic matter. Their specific feature is the absence of partitions characteristic of other representatives of this separate kingdom.

How to get rid of mold in soil with seedlings?

If mold or white plaque appears, you should carefully remove the top layer of soil that is affected by the white fluff, then carefully fluff the soil with a toothpick, without touching the roots of the plants.

This will improve air circulation in the soil.

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But such measures are not always effective since mold spreads not only along the surface of the soil, but also in depth. And it is quite possible that mold will soon appear and in larger quantities.

After removing the top layer of soil, it should be thoroughly treated by spraying with antifungal agents - a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, special deoxidizers from the store or Fitosporin.

Vermiculite should also be added to the soil.

– it improves soil breathability, removes excess moisture and salts.

You can also use medications from the pharmacy: for example, dissolve 1 tablet of Nystatin in a glass of drinking water.

Mulching the soil

– the second series of measures against mold. Try mulching the surface with wood ash, sprinkle with river sand, crushed activated carbon, and a mixture of wood ash and charcoal in a 2:1 ratio.

If there is excessive humidity, be sure to dry the soil by placing containers with seedlings in a well-ventilated, warm room, and then control the amount of watering.

Mold and mildew often grow in peat cups because they retain moisture well. In such cases, treat the plants with antifungal drugs and transplant them into plastic containers.

Why is white mold dangerous for seedlings?

Getting rid of the fungus or preventing its occurrence is extremely necessary, because the growth of colonies causes numerous negative consequences for future plants:

• a dense crust appears on the soil surface, preventing air from circulating and reaching the root system;
• water stagnates on a dense lump of earth and leads to rotting processes;
• the roots and trunk are subject to putrefactive destruction;
• a plant that does not receive nutritional components from the liquid is not nourished enough, grows poorly, and sometimes dies;
• under such conditions, seeds often simply do not germinate;
• ideal conditions are created for mold, which causes the death of seedlings.

When the soil in seedlings turns white, this may not always be a mold colony; sometimes stains of mineral salts appear on the soil. This occurs due to the increased hardness of the irrigation water, but in appearance such layers differ from shaggy mold colonies. Although mineral inclusions, like fungal colonies, change the composition and acidity of the soil, which has a bad effect on seedlings.

Why is there mold in seedlings?

Mold is microscopic fungi that appear in pots of seedlings on the surface of the soil. Mold spores are everywhere - in the air, soil, water - they begin to develop only under certain conditions.

Gardeners try to help their young plants by creating conditions for them in warmth, high humidity and light. With some deviations in the growing conditions of seedlings, mold fungi begin to grow. So why does mold appear in seedling pots?

Causes of mold:

• excessively high humidity, i.e. waterlogging of the soil;
• soil saturation with organic matter. This is especially true for home soils, when unripe compost, bran, and hay are added in excess.
• saturation of the soil with protein compounds when peas and beans are used as fertilizer.

Why does mold appear on peat pots with seedlings?

Recently, planting plants in peat pots has become increasingly popular and it is really convenient. There are two logical explanations for the appearance of mold: peat has high acidity, the soil in such containers dries quickly and requires more frequent watering. The latter circumstance can reduce the immunity of the root system of a plant located in a cool room. A weakened sprout at any stage cannot resist the development of non-septate mycelium.

What are the dangers of mold on plants?

First of all, mold is dangerous for any seedlings because if it is not eliminated in the near future, it will lead to the death of young plants. Therefore, if you notice a white coating on the soil, you must immediately begin to act and take measures to eliminate it. Otherwise, the young shoots will die, because they are not yet as resistant to diseases as they are in adulthood. The reasons for the appearance of a white film could be poor ventilation, frequent watering and lack of sunlight.

How to deal with mold on seedlings

There are several common methods that are invariably listed by plant growers, and they are the most correct answer to the question of what to do if the soil under the seedlings is infected and the fungus has spread to the plants. So, they recommend:

• removing the top layer from the soil along with fungal colonies;
• reducing the amount of moisture, in parallel with drying and loosening the soil in the seedling container;
• ensuring sunlight reaches the ground;
• processing of plants and substrate: chemical, biological and folk remedies are used.

The photo shows many options for chemicals - Fitosporin, Fundazol, Oxychom and others, but you must follow the instructions from the manufacturer, using a solution of the required consistency. Sometimes a separate dosage may be indicated for seedlings of nightshades (tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers), and other cultivated plants. This is explained by their biological characteristics or the duration of growth.

Methods of combating fungus and their features

If mold suddenly appears, how to deal with it? There are several methods and we will look at each of them in a little more detail.

Mechanical

One of the simplest and most common ways to get rid of the first appearance of mold is the mechanical method. It includes:

• Removing the top layer of mold
• Loosening the soil and drying it easily; reducing the frequency of watering
• As a last resort, complete soil replacement

This method is effective only at the initial stage of soil contamination, until the mold has penetrated deeper and infected the remaining areas. Otherwise, the millet plants will die and the soil will be unsuitable for further cultivation.

After completing the above procedures, the following procedures should be done:

• Ventilation and good ventilation
• Sufficient penetration of sunlight
• Watering with settled water
• Loosening the soil.

By following these simple tips, you can save young seedlings at the initial stage.

Chemical

If you missed the moment of initial infection and the mold is already progressing, then it is best to resort to a chemical method of combating it. However, always strictly follow the instructions so as not to harm the seedlings themselves.

The chemical method is one of the most effective, because with its help you can get rid of mold completely. Here are some drugs that can be used:

• Fitosporin
• Fundazol
• Oxyx
• Mikosan
• Vitapo

Fitosporin is a means for removing mold from seedlings.
All these preparations are dissolved in water and watered on the soil. After which they loosen it to dry. It is very important to follow all proportions prescribed in the instructions. Otherwise, the seedlings will also burn.

You can also treat the soil with chemicals before sowing to avoid unpleasant situations that could result in the death of the plants. This is done 1-3 days before sowing.

You can also treat the plants themselves. They are sprayed with a weak solution of special chemicals, which prevents the formation of mold.

Biological

One of the most effective methods in comparison with the two already listed above. What this method includes:

• Disinfection of the soil before treatment with a biological preparation
• Then the disinfected soil is processed
• All this dries out a little, loosened and sown with seeds.
• Shoots that are already 8 to 10 days old can be sprayed with a solution to prevent the appearance of fungus
• Then this processing procedure is carried out in three stages within a period of 10 days, then 15 days and after 20 days
• It is worth continuing these steps until the plant is planted in open ground for independent growth.

It is worth noting that the biological method is not the simplest method; in order to achieve the desired result with its help, it is necessary to carry out processing throughout the entire process. But when using the chemical method, 1-2 times of treatment will be enough.

All these methods may not give a 100% result, but they will be able to preserve the seedlings until they are planted in open ground, and subsequently get a healthy harvest.

How to treat seedlings against plaque

Biological methods require compliance with all the subtleties of agricultural technology and preventive measures - disinfection of seed, soil, and containers for planting. When processing seedlings of cucumbers and other plants, instead of removing the layer of moldy soil, you can sprinkle the soil with crushed activated carbon or wood ash, which have disinfecting properties.

Folk remedies for white mold - solution with:

• Nystatin tablets (sold in pharmacies without a prescription and are inexpensive);
• Miramistin;
• Metronidazole;
• Nitrofungin.

Conditions for the spread of mold fungi

The optimal conditions for active growth and development of mold in seedlings are:

• improperly prepared soil (heavy in composition, non-moisture-holding, causing water stagnation),
• high air humidity (above 95%) and prepared substrate (more than 80%),
• high air temperature (from +22°C),
• lack of air exchange,
• lack of lighting and ultraviolet rays that block window glass.

The soil for seedlings should be light, moisture-absorbing, water- and breathable. Good drainage is necessary to drain excess water when waterlogged. When purchasing, you need to familiarize yourself with the composition of the proposed substrate, and when preparing the soil mixture for seedlings yourself, you need to add humus or vermicompost, sand or high-moor peat to the substrate. Mineral water-soluble fertilizers containing microelements (most likely Kemira) are added to the mixture.

Be sure to check the acidity of the soil, which should be neutral within the pH range of 6.5-7.0. If the soil is acidified, dolomite flour or chalk should be added. Acidified soil creates optimal conditions for the development of mycelium. Its own secretions also have an acidic reaction, which suppresses the growth and development of seedlings in the germination phase.

At high temperatures and air humidity, it is necessary to ventilate, but without draft. Failure to comply with these conditions contributes to the strong growth of mold and causes rotting of seedlings and their death. At high temperatures and dry air, the soil becomes salted out. A whitish film of salts appears on the surface of the substrate. Before it appears, it is necessary to carefully remove and sprinkle the soil with a thin layer of sand (through a sieve).

Mold on seedlings. © Ruby Lee

Remember ! With excessive moisture with insufficient drainage, stagnant air and poor ventilation, high temperature and air humidity, mold fungi germinate faster than sown seeds. Mycelium can germinate into seeds, which die before germination.

Mold prevention

Prevention is an important component, without which it is impossible to avoid the development of the problem. True, it does not give 100% results, but the probability of occurrence is much less. Basic preventive measures:

1. Seed material and soil, even purchased from trusted suppliers, need to be disinfected, just like gardening tools.
2. It is necessary to create optimal conditions for the seedlings - a sufficient amount of sunlight or lighting, suitable humidity, and the presence of drainage holes in the container.
3. The soil must have an optimal acidity level, the exact indicator depends on the crop being grown.
4. Some mineral fertilizers - for example, Vermiculite - are an excellent way to avoid the appearance of white mold or get rid of it in a timely manner.

When faced with moldy soil, a number of new concerns arise. Using all the recommendations given, you can quickly deal with this problem and save the seedlings.

What to do if there is mold on seedlings

If you notice that the surface of the soil with seedlings is beginning to become slightly moldy, then the first steps may be:

• open and ventilate containers;
• thin out the seedlings if the planting is too thick;
• loosen more often so that air gets to the roots;
• remove watering for several days.

These steps will probably help and the mold will go away on its own. In this case, no other methods will be required, only further proper care of the seedlings.

If there is already a lot of mold, then you shouldn’t wait, but start treating it right away. There are many ways to save seedlings from mold; let’s look at the most effective and popular ones:

Ash from mold in pots with seedlings

Stove ash perfectly saves seedlings from mold infection. To do this, you need to sprinkle it on top of the soil.

But there are a number of disadvantages when its use is unacceptable:

• the ash can burn the roots and stem of the plant. To prevent this from happening, you can mix ash with sand 1 to 1;
• ash alkalizes the soil and, if your soil pH is already around 7, then it is better to choose another option for getting rid of mold.

Ash can be replaced with pharmaceutical activated carbon. The effect is slightly weaker and will require more than one-time treatment.

Sand

This method consists of replacing part of the soil with calcined river sand. Suitable for those plants that already grow in individual cups.

Do not use sand that is brought to your dacha. River sand can be purchased at garden centers or aquarium stores. Purchased sand has already been processed and calcined, all you have to do is use it.

Soda against mold on seedlings

Regular baking soda also helps fight mold on seedlings. It is sprinkled on the soil between the seedlings. It is important not to get on the leaves or stems, because soda, like ash, burns the green parts of plants.

Baking soda is effective against green and brown mold because... these two species live in a more acidic environment, and soda changes the acidity towards an alkaline environment.

Preparations for mold on plants

An effective way to get rid of mold on seedlings is to use drugs. Biological products are based on the work of beneficial bacteria, they do not affect the growth and development of seedlings, and do not harm them or the gardeners themselves. And chemicals kill all living things, but reliably.

What biological products can be used:

• Phytosporin in powder mixed with river sand at a ratio of 1 to 1. This mixture can be sprinkled on top of the soil and wait for it to take effect. There is no need to water additionally, because... The soil is already damp.
• Gamair + Alirin-B: combine in equal proportions in a spray bottle and spray the soil. It is also not recommended to water it with the solution until it dries.
• Preparations based on trichoderma: Trichodermin, Trichocin, etc. This is a useful fungus that rids the soil of pathogenic parasites, including mold.

Chemical methods for mold:

• 3% copper sulfate will rid the soil of mold.
• medium solution of potassium permanganate;
• Bordeaux mixture.

Chemical preparations are recommended to be used in cases where biological products cannot cope with a dense growth of mold fungi. If you plan to use biological products after chemotherapy, then only after 7 days, otherwise there will be no effect.

Mold - what is it

This is a microscopic fungus consisting of branching threads - hyphae. Most often, these fungi reproduce by spores. There are a lot of them in the air around us, they are in the soil and on various objects. Mold feeds on organic debris. The best conditions for its development are warmth and high humidity.

Important! Scientists have proven that for most types of mold, the optimal conditions for development are: a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius and air humidity of about 95%.

Mold is surprisingly resilient. It was found in space and on the walls of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl. It is not afraid of frost, so freezing the soil does not rid it of fungal spores. It is extremely difficult to fight mold fungi; it is best to simply not create optimal conditions for them to exist and develop.

Prevention

To prevent mold from appearing on the ground with seedlings, it is necessary not only to destroy fungal spores, but also to create unfavorable conditions for its development. To do this, experienced summer residents, before sowing seeds, subject them to special treatment, like the soil substrate. After preventive measures, the risk of damage is reduced to zero.

Tilling the soil before planting

Preventative measures are easier than combating mold on seedlings. Therefore, before sowing seeds, treat the soil:

• Method 1. Fold a large piece of gauze in half to make a four-layer fabric. Place soil in the middle. Tie the opposite ends of the gauze to make a bag, which must be kept in the double boiler for an hour;
• Method 2. Pour some water into a 10 liter metal bucket and put it on fire. At its bottom is a taganka. And place a 5-liter bucket with a hole in the bottom filled with soil on the taganok. Steam for 1 hour;
• Method 3. Set the oven temperature to 110-120 degrees. Spread the soil in an even layer on the baking sheet and place it in the oven for 30 minutes.

ATTENTION! Sterile soil is of little use for seedlings, as well as for mold spores. Therefore, at least 2 weeks must pass before planting the seeds so that the microbiological properties of the soil are restored. And to avoid infecting it with spores, store the soil in a sterile container. Also boil the cups for young plants.

Seed processing

The second stage of preventing mold on seedlings is processing the seed material. Only large and strong seeds are suitable for sowing, which will produce stocky seedlings with good health. This means that it will be easier for them to resist the fungus. Selected seeds are processed in one of the following ways:

• Scald with boiling water. But it should be quick, and just a little bit of boiling water. Otherwise, you can destroy the seed embryos;
• Soak the seeds for 15-20 minutes in a dark solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 40 degrees.

ATTENTION! To get rid of mold spores on tomato seeds intended for planting, after treating with potassium permanganate, dip them for 10 minutes in a solution of hydrochloric acid diluted with water in a ratio of 1:4. If you are planting cucumber seedlings, it will be useful to soak the seed material in a 0.01% boric acid solution.