Question
I am growing tomato plants from seed in the house and I see a white mold or fungus on top of the soil. Is this harmful to my plants? Is it due to excess moisture? Can I salvage my plants?

Thank you, nellie dailey

Answer
Nellie:
Yes and yes. It is probably "damping off" fungus, from too much moisture. It can quickly kill the seedlings. They may be salvageable, if they are large enough to transplant. If the fungus has just appeared, you may also be able to scrape it off. If you have had a cover over the plants, remove it and leave it off. If possible, remove the seedling from the medium and rinse the roots in clean water. carefully replant it in fresh medium, planting it a little deeper than it was before. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Also, make sure that the plants are getting adequate light - at least 12 hours, if under artificial light it should be 4-6" above the top of the plant.

If the seedlings are still very young, it might be best to just start over.