Question
Hello Mike!!  Good to know there are experts to ask questions of.
I have planted several hundred Moso bamboo seeds, in 3 different sets, a couple of weeks apart. Each set comes up fine, until the plants are about 7 inches tall. Then they start to die one at a time. I have followed all recommended procedures to the tee and still they die. They are kept indoors.
They have indirect light for several hours a day. I keep them damp but not too wet. I've tried putting them in larger pots at 6 inches tall using the same seed propagation mix. (no soil). No matter what, they die. It is so frustrating watching them die as I feel like they are my babies!!! What to do? I have a few now that still look healthy but they too will probably die if something different isn't done. Any suggestions? I'd be eternally grateful if I could get direction in getting at least a few to live. These are for my use, not to be sold. I just love plants!!! The reason I bought so many seeds is that as they would start to die I would buy more just to try different methods.
Thanks so much for listening!!
Ray Johnson in Atascadero, California 93422

Answer
Ray, the reason the seelings are the reason the seedlings are dying shortly after germination is due to a disease called 揹amping-off?  Damp-off is caused by one of three factors. These include contaminated soil, poor air circulation, or water-logged soil.

I always recommend purchasing sterilized starting medium for seedlings. You can buy this by the bag at most garden centers and nurseries.  This combination of perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss is light and airy, therefore allowing the young seedlings to receive plenty of oxygen through their roots.  But most importantly, it is sterile, virtually eliminating any chance of damping off.

Contamination can also be caused by unclean flats and/or pots.  At the end of every growing season, if you choose to reuse the same flats next year, make sure you sterilize them in a solution of one tsp. of bleach per gallon of warm water.

The other possibility is a lack of air circulation.  Many seed starters cover their flats with a plastic dome to retain moisture and aid germination.  If using this procedure, it is very important to remove the cover once the first seed germinates.  Otherwise, the lack of air can prove fatal to the young seedlings.

If you're not using a covering, you may need to improve the air circulation by utilizing a fan.  Make sure you keep it at least three feet away from the flats and keep the setting on low. The fan must rotate to keep the air moving side to side.

Finally, be careful to not overwater.  Water-logged soil deprives the soil of oxygen and nutrients.  Your flats and pots must have a drainage hole or else the process will fail.

I am attaching a few websites that should prove helpful.  I would also advise you to purchase 揟he New Seed-Starters Handbook?by Nancy Bubel. It has many good ideas and techniques that benefit even experienced gardeners.

http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/starting.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06570.htm
http://echonet.org/shopsite_sc/store/html/SeedStarterHandbook.html

Good luck, and please write again if you have more questions.

Regards,

Mike