How to get rid of mold on peat pots. Peat pots for seedlings with mold. Photo gallery: the main disadvantages of peat containers

Peat pots for seedlings have already been tested for growing flowers and vegetable crops many gardeners. There is no unequivocal opinion, someone likes it, someone starts to shy away from them with fear. After all, plants do not grow well in them, and processing of peat pots from mold is required ... There are many problems. Let's figure it out together.


What is the technology for the production of peat pots for seedlings. Reflections.

It seems that everything is simple, if it is recommended even to do such a thing at home. Of course, this will not develop into a fishery, but it seems that you yourself know what you pushed into them.
It just seems that way. After all, they are correctly called peat-humus pots for seedlings. This means that not only empty peat from lowland swamps is used for production, but also compost, humus.
Peat is considered free from pathogens that can nullify the gardener's efforts. Let's take this as an axiom, although I did not find evidence on the Internet.

After all, those dishes are not made in a swamp pit! The soil is loaded (dump trucks, tractor bucket), driven quite far to the place of molding in an open body, then everything is dumped on a concrete floor, where everyone does not walk in shoe covers, where there is no sterility even in a dressing room. The causative agents of the disease can fly through the air, although they are stored on plant debris and in the soil. This means that there is a possibility that the pathogen will get into one of the components of the future mixture.

Now about compost or humus. Usually Californian red worms are used for its production. The worm can turn manure into its own poop, but it cannot make the compost free of different types mushrooms, which then give fusarium, for example. Here are the links to the article
No mention in technological process that all the pulp, which will then turn into a pot for seedlings, also passes heat treatment. And it must be serious.

We conclude: it is unlikely that the wall or cup will be clean.

Is there a benefit? It will be if you add to peat pots ...

In the soil of vegetable gardens and not only there are many harmful substances, these are, for example, benzopyrenes, heavy metals, residues of mineral fertilizers. Although they write that there are few of them in peat, below the MPC for soil in the field, no one has canceled the additions to peat. Why, then, do they write only about the quality of peat, without mentioning the quality of additives, humus, compost, sawdust, cardboard?

Bale of pressed cardboard boxes. Last spring in my city in a wholesale company cardboard new box almost the smallest cost 10 rubles.

We’ve almost reached it… I don’t think that cardboard is taken absolutely clean from cardboard factories. Rather, it is already used cardboard from boxes. Many have seen machines with bundles of pressed cardboard. He's definitely not clean. I don’t want to think that these dirty boxes with flowery stickers, imprinted with permanent ink or mastic will be recycled into new boxes, and cookies will be put in them in bulk.

But glue is used for the production of cardboard, otherwise a dense sheet will not work. Yes, and glue also goes into the mass for pots. What quality and properties? Who knows? Indeed, sometimes both tablets and pots do not disintegrate in the soil, but remain for years.

Treatment of peat pots for seedlings from mold.

Here are the final chords. I think that now it is clear where the mold on the walls of the pots comes from.

Mold on the wall of a peat pot for seedlings

But the soil also contributes. I was at two enterprises producing peat-humus-compost mixtures for seedlings. None of them treated the finished mass with drugs that would make it free from the pathogen.

You need to first process the dishes themselves before sowing, and the soil too. This is easy to do. The pots should be slightly moistened with a solution of the Fitop-Flora-S preparation and stored for a week in a closed bag. This method is not provided by the manufacturer of the drug, but I decided that it would be useful. And he didn't let me down. Soil cultivation is described in this article "". Everything that is written about compost is true for the soil.

What to do if mold appears, and Preliminary processing was not done? Yes, the same. Only in the solution of Fitop-Flora-S, you just need to dip the pot for light moisturizing and place it in plastic bag, but let the plant itself remain on the "street". The mold should disappear in a few days. Seedlings need to be watered with a solution of the drug in the same way as top dressing is done, once a week or ten days of the month.

There are others chemical methods pot handling. Again, bathe in solution before planting blue vitriol along with soda. Here is another topic: do we need extra copper, do we and plants need it?

Unfortunately, mold is a frequent companion of young seedlings. It can appear both on the plants themselves and on the soil around them. Many gardeners are at a loss as to why indoor flowers standing next to each other on the windowsill do not suffer from mold - there is not even a trace of it, and the growing seedlings nearby simply suffocate from the white mold cover?

The fact is that adult plants with a developed root system can produce special substances that can resist mold. But young growth, which has practically no roots, cannot fight mold spores.

Where does mold come from

Mold spores in the smallest doses are everywhere - in the ground, water, air. There are several ways that mold could get to your seedlings.

There is a lot of fungus in the soil itself. Therefore, before disembarking, it must first be sterilized. This can be done easily by placing the earth for a while in hot oven. You can disinfect the soil by holding it for half an hour in a water bath - this is also very effective.

But even sterilized soil can be contaminated with mold. Where, you ask? The fact is that spores of the fungus can be in the water with which you water the seedlings, and even in the air. However, the growth and development of mold occurs only under certain conditions.

Under what conditions does mold grow?

There are some factors that create favorable living conditions for mold. To defeat mold, it must be deprived of these factors.

  1. Cold. If the room temperature does not rise above 20 degrees, this is at hand mold. Create favorable conditions for seedlings, not for fungus - increase the air temperature in the room.
  2. Dampness. A large amount of water not only favors the development of the fungus, but also destroys crops. Before planting, do not forget about drainage holes that will help excess moisture go outside.
  3. Lack of ultraviolet. Everyone knows that ultraviolet light is a natural antiseptic that can kill mold and mildew spores. But few people know that an ordinary glass window does not let in ultraviolet rays, leaving them outside. From time to time, expose the container with seedlings to the open air to get rid of mold.
  4. Acidity. High acidity or high peat content is favorable environment for mold development. Before planting, reduce the acidity of the soil by watering it with slaked lime.

Often mold develops in unventilated spaces, especially when seedlings are covered with foil. To avoid this, you need to regularly open the "greenhouse" so that air circulates there.

Mold is quite harmful to seedlings - it can penetrate the seed and destroy it from the inside. To cope with the mold that has already appeared on the seedlings and on the soil, you need to carry out a series of resuscitation measures.

  1. First you need to carefully remove the mold from the top of the soil. This can be done with a simple spoon.
  2. After that, you need to make several holes in the soil with a stick or a regular pencil. So the soil dries out faster.
  3. Then the seedling container should be placed in a warm, well-ventilated place.
  4. If there are no drainage holes in the dishes, they must be made immediately. Only everything should be done carefully so as not to damage the seedlings.
  5. After a few days, when the soil dries out, it must be treated with phytosporin. This is special agent, able to protect young plants from decay, bacteriological and fungal diseases.

Subsequently, after the set of measures taken, it must be remembered that the seedlings should not be flooded, they may die.

There are a few more effective ways to help you get rid of mold on seedlings.

  1. As noted, mold is often evidence that the acidity of the soil is increased. You can fix this, even in the process of growing seedlings. Dissolve in a liter hot water a couple of tablespoons of ash and wait next day. After a day, water the ground with the prepared solution.
  2. If there is no ash at hand, you can use it instead baking soda. You will need half a teaspoon per liter of water.
  3. To prevent mold, you can sprinkle the surface of the soil with river pebbles. However, they are pre-calcined in the oven so that no infection remains on them. Instead of pebbles, you can use charcoal - its properties resist the formation of mold.
  4. If you use only home remedies, then instead of charcoal you can safely sprinkle the soil activated carbon.
  5. Ventilate the seedlings regularly - they should be on fresh air at least half of the time.
  6. If you flooded the seedlings, leave it without a film for 3-4 days until it is completely dry.
  7. Loosen the soil regularly to allow air to circulate in it.
  8. Among professional tools the fight against mold on seedlings can be noted Mikosan. This biofungicide can be used on plants grown at home, the main thing is to follow the instructions and proportions. Mikosan not only kills mold, it develops strong immunity from pests in plants. In addition, it is an excellent natural growth stimulant.

If you are just going to plant seedlings, you need to take care of this problem in advance. Pre-determine the acidity of the soil, and if it is increased, reduce it with improvised means. Also, the seeds must be soaked in potassium permanganate or diluted aloe juice before planting. This will protect them from possible spores, bacteria, infections.

Mold on seedlings is not a sentence. And this does not mean at all that the plants can no longer be saved. Although mold is harmful, it is quite possible to get rid of it. The main thing is to act competently and consistently. Take care of your seedlings and get good harvest!

Video: why mold appears on seedlings and what to do about it

Everyone holiday season starts with growing seedlings. Everyone understands why this is done - you can significantly increase the growing season and get not only earlier, but also significantly bigger harvest. On the territory of our country there are regions in which heat-loving vegetables cannot be grown in any other way.

As the first stage of development passes, so the subsequent ones will continue - this is the law of nature. To improve the development of plants, many gardeners and gardeners use peat pots. How to use these little helpers? Should I buy them for growing seedlings? Consider the pros and cons of such glasses.

What are they made of?

Before you buy peat pots for seedlings, find out what they are made of. Such devices are made from peat, to which cardboard or wood is added. Most of all, gardeners praise cups with a ratio of the main substance of 70% and additives of 30%. Beware of low-quality goods, it happens that unscrupulous manufacturers increase the percentage of impurities, or even use only cheap cardboard. Before you buy agricultural machinery, read what is written on the package.

Environmental justifications

Peat products have many advantages over their counterparts made of plastic, paper or ceramics. For plants, this will be a real ecologically clean house. The peat used for the manufacture of containers for growing seedlings does not contain pathogenic microflora, there are no weed seeds. In such products, the content of harmful toxic substances, such as heavy metals, benzopyrene residues and pesticides, is significantly lower. The concentration of such substances will be several times lower than the permissible agriculture norms for growing plants and crops. Peat, light in weight, is safe for use, it does not contain pathogens of various diseases of vegetable and flower crops.

When choosing peat pots for growing seedlings, carefully inspect them. Good quality products the wall thickness should be one and a half millimeters. Such walls will be strong enough to last the entire period of plant development, but at the same time, the roots of the seedlings will be able to develop unhindered. After planting in the soil, a quality pot will begin to quickly disintegrate, thereby facilitating the work of harvesting the fields. The decay period for quality products lasts approximately 27-32 days.

Peat pots for seedlings. Pros of using

  1. Due to the porous walls, the best air-water regime of the root layer is provided. During planting in the ground, plants freely take root through the walls and bottom.
  2. Such containers do not contain pathogens and toxic substances, while they have a large mechanical strength both wet and dry.
  3. When planting seedlings together with a pot in the ground, the survival rate reaches almost 100%. Later, when decomposed, the pot will serve as fertilizer.
  4. Due to the accelerated survival of seedlings, more early harvest, mainly for this, seedlings are planted in peat pots.

How to use? General requirements for the use of peat pots

  1. The containers are pre-filled with slightly moistened nutrient soil, accept a little. After that, it starts in peat pots. You can sow bulbs, cuttings or seedlings.
  2. Place prepared cups on pallets, pesos, polyethylene film, gravel or soil layer.
  3. Seedlings should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist.
  4. We must not allow the peat pots to dry out. How to use them correctly? Wrap each unit with foil - this will help prevent drying out. Otherwise, the salt contained in the ground may crystallize and, in concentrated form, pose a danger to tender seedlings.
  5. When the plants begin to grow, the pots should be spaced more freely to increase light and aeration. In addition, with a more spacious arrangement, the interweaving of the root systems of neighboring plants is prevented.
  6. Growing seedlings in peat pots ends with planting in the ground. You do not need to dig up the plants, plant them directly with the old container.

Seedlings of zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, eggplants, squash

Seedlings of these crops do not like transplantation. In order for the plants to take root, take peat pots for growing. How to use them? What size would be preferable?

For seedlings of cucumbers intended for planting in protected ground, pots with a diameter of 11 cm are suitable. The cultivation period is approximately 30 days. How to plant in peat pots? One germinated seed is sown in one cup.

If vegetables are to be planted in open ground, then for seedlings of zucchini, squash and cucumbers, you should choose containers with a diameter of 8 cm, for pumpkin better fit 11 cm and planted one in each pot. Planting depth 1 cm. Cucumbers can be planted 2 pieces in one container.

On average, pumpkin seedlings will be ready in 20 days, and other vegetables in a month. You can calculate yourself optimal timing landing.

Ready pots are placed on pallets close to each other, watered thoroughly and left in a warm place where the temperature is maintained at 25-30 degrees until germination. When yellow-green sprouts appear, the temperature should be reduced to 20-22 degrees. Such temperature regime supported 2-3 days.

Watering

Cucumber seedlings should be watered with warm water heated to 25-30 degrees. If it will be cold watering plants can get sick or even die.

hardening

To prevent plant diseases after transplanting into the ground, they are hardened - 7-10 days before planting - the premises are often ventilated, the temperature is reduced to 15 degrees, and watered less often.

Landing in open ground

Prepared plants are planted in the soil directly in pots. Some gardeners break the cups before planting or pull out the seedlings along with earthy clod. That's how you can do it too. However, gardeners who used peat pots to grow seedlings leave the following planting reviews - they believe that it is better to make holes in the containers beforehand. Decaying, the cups will nourish the plant, helping to get a big harvest.

cabbage seedling

In March, cabbage is sown in special boxes. After the appearance of seedlings, they swoop down, and planting in peat pots begins. Cups with a diameter of about 7 cm are suitable. You can use round specimens or peat blocks, in which there are 6 cells at once. At the end of April, you can start landing in

lettuce seedling

Lettuce seedlings for planting in protected ground are prepared by picking seedlings into pots. Suitable pots measuring 50x50 mm or, as they are also called, peat cells. In about a month, the seedlings will be ready for planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

The roots of many plants can penetrate the bottom and walls of peat cups. However, most gardeners do not wait for this - they are guided by the size of the aerial part of the seedlings.

Experienced gardeners say that if you immerse peat pots in before planting warm water until the discharge stops. air bubbles from the walls, then in this case the soaked walls and bottom will not create obstacles and will be easily processed by soil inhabitants.

Disadvantages of peat pots

  1. Not all plants tolerate the acidic environment that is inherent in peat. Some manufacturers add special mineral fertilizers, as well as lime and chalk, which reduce acidity.
  2. Requires frequent watering.
  3. Evaporating from the surface of the pots, the water greatly cools the soil, as a result, the root system develops much worse.
  4. Some plants cannot break through the peat walls, they have to be taken out of the containers when transplanting.
  5. Often mold appears on low-quality pots, the walls are destroyed
  6. The high cost of peat cups, especially when growing large volumes seedlings.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers give out pots made from ordinary cardboard as high-quality peat products. Gardeners complain that sometimes in the fall, when digging up a plot, they find undecomposed pots with the remains of roots.

Peat pots are a must organic farming. They make it very easy to grow seedlings. They are easy to use, they quickly decompose in the soil, they do not contain harmful polymers, but there is a real storehouse of trace elements. Peat containers for seedlings have become an indispensable tool in obtaining a future harvest.

The benefits of peat pots

peat pot - universal view planting containers made from a pressed mixture of peat, humus, wood pulp and greasy earth; it serves as a kind of "kindergarten" for the plant, facilitating growth in the initial stages. Having started its “path” in a peat container, the seedlings receive an excellent impetus, which, with due diligence of the gardener, will contribute to an excellent harvest.

Composition of peat pots:

  • peat - a substance formed in low, wetlands from moss, fallen leaves and other organic components as a result of incomplete decomposition. Is an universal fertilizer containing a large number of carbon, which accelerates plant growth;
  • humus is obtained from manure or compost that has been decomposing for more than two years. Representing a loose mass, it serves as an excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and other trace elements;
  • wood pulp is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which, multiplying on the remains of wood, quickly process the organic components of the glass. It also binds moisture: by retaining water, it does not allow it to evaporate. It has no nutritional value for the plant;
  • fatty soil acts as a component that binds the components of the pot.

The evolution of seedling containers

Over time, like everything in the world, even containers for planting seedlings undergo changes. After all, there was a time when gardeners did not hear anything about either plastic or peat dishes for plants.

Wooden boxes

Many gardeners and gardeners still use wooden boxes for sowing seedlings, which are very durable, withstand transportation and any other movements, and serve faithfully for up to ten years.

Most often, the seeds are placed in them by continuous sowing, so that in the future the seedlings will need to be planted. Each season, such boxes must be carefully disinfected with fungicides before new crops, and this is a big minus of this type of seedling containers.

Plastic containers

Plastic products for growing seedlings are much lighter than wooden ones. They are made from plastic different thickness and density.

The thicker the walls and the harder the plastic, the longer the seedling pots last. In addition, many options are available in both volume and shape, which allows you to choose suitable shape and volume for any type of seedlings. A significant disadvantage may be the use of unsafe plastic.

Improvised containers for seedlings

Many summer residents use cups from yoghurts, juices, plastic bottles from milk and other drinks. The advantage is their zero cost, and the disadvantage is the impossibility of complete disinfection after food products.

Peat and cardboard cups and pots

The seedling grows in such cups for the entire period and, together with it, is planted in the ground without damage. earthy coma and root system, which is very important for plants with vulnerable root systems.

Each plant grows individually in them, they are light, and if you install them in a special plastic tray, they are easy to maintain.

The disadvantage is that the walls are breathable and the soil dries out very quickly. If you delay watering, seedlings may die. In addition, sometimes when transplanted into the ground, a cup of peat or cardboard does not dissolve in time and inhibits the growth of the root system.

Table: disadvantages of peat tanks

Danger Causes Effects Fight method Result
Drying out the soil mixtureThe loose walls of the pot pump out moisture from the soil, constantly remaining wet.The plant dries up.Water the seedlings not from above, but add water to the bottom of the container where the pot is installed.Water, getting through the lower holes, evenly impregnates the walls and soil. The plant receives adequate nutrition.
mold formationIt is difficult to control the amount of water.There is mold on the walls.Wall processing
grated garlic,
Fitosporin-M.
The rapid elimination of the source of mold will save the plant from infection with fungal diseases.
Rapid evaporation of moistureLoose walls do not retain moisture.Rapid cooling of the filler leads to supercooling of the roots. The plant grows slowly.Wrap the sides of the pot with cling film.Moisture evaporation will decrease.
Does not decompose in soilPoor quality, cheap fakes made of cardboard. Not to be confused with paper cups, which are sold as a separate product, which is precisely positioned in this wayWithout decomposing, in the soil they become a source of fungal diseases.Buy one pot and soak in water.The paper swells, the peat breaks.
Pot walls too thickThe roots of different plant species have different ability to overcome obstacles.The roots of seedlings cannot penetrate the wall, the plant does not have enough space.For plants with weak roots, use thin-walled pots. First of all, this applies to cucumbers.The plant does not fully develop, withers.

Advice. When buying, you should carefully consider the product. Cardboard is lighter than peat. To the touch it is dense, pressed. Peat is porous and brittle to the touch.

Photo gallery: the main disadvantages of peat containers

Mold from the walls of the pot moved to the soil mixture Seedlings died due to the rapid drying of the earth in the pot The walls of the peat pot were covered with mold

Video: a prerequisite - do not overdry

How to treat peat pots, each gardener decides for himself. When growing heat-loving plants, peat containers should be replaced with plastic containers.

Planting seedlings

You can buy peat pots in specialized gardening stores, on the market, or you can make it yourself. To get good result please adhere to the following guidelines:

  1. At the time of purchase, carefully read what is included in the pot. Such devices are made from peat, to which cardboard or wood is added. Most of all, gardeners praise cups with a ratio of the main substance of 70% and additives of 30%. If the composition is not indicated, you should ask the seller about this. Any doubts left? Buy one pot, soak in water: if it swells, and the walls increase in volume, it is not peat, but cardboard.
  2. If the roots of the plant are fragile, then do not use cups with thick walls. For example, the roots of pumpkin and watermelon will freely pass through a wall 3-4 mm thick, for a cucumber a pot with a wall thickness of 1-2 mm is better suited.
  3. Moisten the soil before filling the pots with substrate.
  4. After filling the cup with soil, lightly tamp it. You should not do this too much, otherwise it will be difficult for the seedlings to push through the ground. In addition, little oxygen will flow to the roots.

    The soil in the cups after sowing should remain loose to make it easier for the seeds to germinate.

  5. Seeds are sown to a depth of 2-3 cm, the bulbs are planted "shoulder-deep".
  6. Pots are placed in a pallet with high walls. For greater convenience and to prevent contact between the walls of the pots, it is better to use a tray with a lid in the form of glass holders.
  7. The soil inside the pot should be moist. It is better to water through the pan. If the earth dries up, then a salt coating forms on the surface of the soil and the walls of the glass, damaging the young growth.
  8. Before planting on the beds, seedlings are watered abundantly with water.
  9. The plant is planted together with a pot, which is dug in so that the upper edge does not protrude above the ground.

Video: check what the pot is made of

The depth and diameter of peat cups and pots is selected based on the size of the future plant. Usually, the packaging indicates for which crops one or another type of universal container can be used.

Growing seedlings with peat pots is easy. Many summer residents fell in love with them because they allow you to save root system plants at planting. And this is very important when planting cucumbers and, especially, flowers that feel great in them from the appearance of cotyledon leaves to mature seedlings. Most importantly, stick to simple rules their use.

Even such spoiled beauties as a miniature Snapdragon, or streptocarpus take root well in peat pots and give excellent shoots.

Video: how to plant strawberry seedlings in peat cups

How to use peat pots

Setting the goal of getting a good harvest, get ready for experiments, one of which may be the use of peat planting containers. If you decide, then follow the advice of experienced people.


Fluconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal drug, especially effective against yeasts and molds that cause "blooming" of peat walls.

Pots are not a guarantee of getting good seedlings. They have great advantages, but there are also significant drawbacks, so to avoid mistakes, analyze the situation, listen to the advice of experienced gardeners.

How to make peat cups at home

The great popularity of peat containers led to the appearance of a mass of fakes. Some craftsmen have adapted to make peat planting containers with their own hands.

For home production you need:

  • sawdust;
  • oily land;
  • azotobacterin;
  • phosphobacterin;
  • mullein;
  • water;
  • peat.

To 5 kg of peat we add 4 kg of mullein and 1 kg of fatty earth, Azotobacterin and Phosphobacterin. Gradually add water and knead a thick solution.

To form pots, we make a simple device consisting of:

  • pallet;
  • steel glass;
  • a pin with an iron circle fixed at the end and a blank.

The diameter of the blank and the circle should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the glass.

We install the glass on the pallet, lower the pin with the iron circle into it from above. We pour a solution on the circle, no more than 15–20 mm, and tamp it with a blank. Thus, gradually pouring and pressing the mixture, fill the glass to the top. Then we take out the blank, and with the help of the pin - the finished glass.

The first products you will get, as they say, lumpy. Do not despair. With a little experimentation, you will find the optimal ratio of ingredients, the required viscosity of the solution, the desired pressing force when tamping.

Consider some of the most common seedling diseases and how to deal with them. Let us remember that in the matter of diseases of seedlings, as well as human diseases, important role prevention plays, so let's pay special attention to how you can prevent these troubles! :)

Blackleg

Signs: the black leg infects seedlings from the beginning of seed germination until the appearance of 2-3 true leaves. The root neck of the plant darkens, a black stripe appears at the bottom of the stem. After a few days, the blackened part of the stem softens and it breaks. Seedlings wither and fall. Therefore, the disease got its name.
The blackleg is a mass, fungal disease, transmitted from plant to plant through spores in the soil, so there is a high probability that ALL plants in a given container will suffer.

Black leg on seedlings.

Causes: over watering, wrong temperature (if the bowl is on a cold windowsill), too heat in low light conditions (seedlings stretch out and then lie down), poor-quality or uncultivated soil.

How to fight: Blackleg is easier to prevent than to fight. If it appeared, the plant can no longer be saved, alas. The affected plant must be removed along with part of the soil under it.
The remaining plants in the bowl can be saved by such measures:
- spray the soil with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (2-3 tablespoons of pharmacy hydrogen peroxide per 0.5 l of warm boiled water);
- add dry warm sand or fine vermiculite;
- dry;
- If the shoots in the bowl are already grown up, and have at least 2 true leaves, you can dive ahead of time, i.e. transfer to others individual containers with new prepared and disinfected soil.

Black leg prevention:

* Moderate watering, avoid waterlogging. The soil should be slightly damp, but not soaking wet. While the seedlings are small, water ONLY with boiled lukewarm water.
* If the bowl is on the windowsill, then lay any heat-insulating layer- thick cardboard, small boards, any sheet wood material (for example, osb, chipboard, plywood), a substrate for a laminate (foamed polystyrene or other types).
* Increase illumination (make backlight).
* Regulate the ambient temperature: hang a thermometer near the bowls with seedlings. Optimum temperature for the growth of seedlings (already hatched) - approximately +23 +25 degrees during the day, and +17 +18 degrees at night. After picking the seedlings and then, as the plants grow, the temperature must be lowered (both day and night).

IMPORTANT! Always carry out pre-planting tillage!

For the treatment and prevention of black leg can be used preparations Glyocladin, Trichodermin, Alirin(use according to the instructions - add to the soil before sowing, or dissolve in water for irrigation).

Vermiculite, hydrogen peroxide 3%, preparations for treatment and prevention.


Vermiculite of different fractions.

Green moss (or algae)

Signs: separate sections the soil is covered with a green coating, and if you look closely, you can see that it is moss. He covers upper layer soil, prevents aeration of the upper layer, contributes to its acidification. Seedlings do not receive enough oxygen, and therefore greatly slow down growth. And new shoots often cannot break through the moss crust. Often occurs on bowls with long-term seeds - strawberries, delphiniums, etc.

Causes: incorrect acid-base balance of the soil, waterlogging, or the soil is very dense, and therefore air exchange is difficult in it. Most often there is a combination of all these factors.

How to fight:
- carefully remove / scrape off and discard the greened top layer;
- loosen the soil well with a toothpick;
- put the bowl in a warm and bright place;
- ventilate every day;
- reduce watering (it is better to stop watering altogether for a few days);

Preventively: when preparing the soil, add medium fraction vermiculite to it.

Green moss on the ground.

white mold

signs: white fluffy mold appears on the soil and on germinating seeds.
Often white mold affects peat pots for seedlings, as well as peat tablets from unverified manufacturers. This is due to the fact that peat has a high acidity. You can preventively treat the pots with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. And it is better to use peat pots to a minimum in general

Causes: acidic soil, lack of ventilation, use of last year's old soil with plant remains.

How to fight:
- Remove mold along with part of the soil;
- Spray the soil with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (2-3 tablespoons of pharmaceutical peroxide per 0.5 l of boiled water);
- Sprinkle the soil with fine vermiculite or crushed activated carbon. They, like sorbents, absorb excess moisture;
- Ventilate every day;
- If we are talking about mold on peat tablets or peat pots, then you still need to rearrange them in another dry container, and take measures to dry them.

White mold on the ground and peat pots.

Black leg + white mold.