Question
Hi Tom,
This is only the second year I have put in a garden in my yard and made container gardens. Last year was more a learning experience than a success.
I have started my seeds indoors. I have my seed flats under artificial plant lights. I have a 4 shelf set up with a florescent 75 watt grow light on each shelf that is about 10-12 inches above the seed flats. This is a shelf set up I use for my houseplants that got pressed into seed starting duty.
My problem is after my gypsophila sprouted they did fine for a while and now they are wilting over and dying. 2 flats that had some gypsophila in them did get put on the bottom shelf which has 3 florescent 15 watt grow lights above it and I put a vented high dome cover on them to protect the seedlings from my cats. I wondered if the change in light may have caused this but the other gypsophila still on the upper shelves are doing it too. I have also lost several balsam seedlings as well.
What can I do to save my gypsophila seedlings (and balsam too)? And how can I prevent' damping off' of seedlings? I have lost several other seedlings to this. I have Consan 20 that I use for fungal problems on my houseplants, can I use it on seedlings?
Thanks
Tracy

Answer
Hi Tracy,
Thanx for your question.  The condition you describe sounds like damping off disease which is a type of fungus.  I use milled sphagnum moss.  I plant my seed in damp potting soil and then sprinkle milled sphagnum moss lightly over the entire surface.  This is highly effective in keeping down the fungal disease.  If the plants already have the condition, throw them out and start over.  You still have time.  You can find milled sphagnum moss at most large nurseries and specialty garden centers.

My light set up is a simple 4 shelf unit I bought at Home Depot for $69 a few years ago.  Each shelf comfortably holds 4 10X20" seed flats.  I use one 4 foot long 40watt shoplight I bought at Walmart for about $10.  Some folks say use one warm bulb and one cool bulb.  I use both cool and most of the time, my plants do well.  My okra and a few other flower varieites get a bit leggy sometimes but it works great for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and then quite a variety of perennial and some annual flowers.  I hope this helps.
Tom