Damping Off Saga Continues

[Guest]

You're looking for any product with the Bacillus micro-organisms....put "bacillus" into Amazon or a hydro shop that you can order from and you'll probably get a bunch of results. Hydroguard uses a specific & unique strain of Bacillus, but any strain will likely help you with damping off. Actinovate uses a different micro-organism, and I've heard of people recommending products with Mycorrhizae as well, but I can only speak to Hydroguard personally.

These are living organisms/bacteria, so a year old bottle could have been worthless. That said, Voodoo Juice (or any other AN product) is probably going to be the most expensive option you come across, so that would be the last thing I'd personally buy, but it sounds like you may not have a lot of choice.

Take a look at this PDF from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which tested a bunch of microbial products versus their claims. It might give you the names of several alternative products using Bacillus, and also shows you exactly what brands/products match up with their claims. Some didn't even show any microbes, let alone at the levels their packaging guaranteed (e.g. Advanced Nutrients) It doesn't matter how old the bottle is, if they're not putting anything in there in the first place:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0248/9641/files/micro_2015_BP.pdf

Heh!I can find only AN and GH from those and,guess what ...

But,I found this
http://www.kiposkidea.gr/index.php/el/xomata-lipasmata/viologika-farmaka/%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CE%AE%CE%BA%CF%85%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%82-mycograstis-micosat-wp-100-g-detail


Looking good,I ordered it !

It's got all of the beneficial fungi and bacteria that has been mentioned,(if you scroll down a bit in the link past all that greek nonsense ,you'll see the ingredients) so I think it's a good choice.

So,now will wait and see if it does indeed contain what's on the label

Thanx for the help once again!(that link was a bit...terrifying ! )

Εdit- I'm also gonna have a try with my hps 400 in an a/c room with some seeds ,just to check the development in the first crucial 4-5 days,because i've never had a problem with hps,let alone the havoc I'm experiencing now...

 

[Lester Beans]

You don't need any of the products mentioned to get a seedling to grow. The problem lies with the soil, the water, the genetics, or the light.

First what genetics are these? Bagseed? If so there is a possibility the seed is carrying a virus or some other issue.

Second, are there any fungus gnat larvae in the soil or fungus gnats flying around. They can be harmful to seeds and seedlings.

Third, you state your soil is old batch combined with new? You also stated last three grows you had bugs amongst other issues. These issues could be living in that last run soil.

I think you need to toss out all of your soil. Clean everything, especially containers, bottles, equipment, room, etc.

Then I would try to acquire some cheap seeds. Eliminate that unknown of the bag seed.

When you fire back up run your lights on 18/6 instead of 24. Plants like some darkness to work on roots and such.

Try to pH your water to 6.5-6.8, you can use vinegar if you don't have pH down.

Throwing bottles at it won't solve your problem. A seed should come out of the soil and grow easily.

Keep us posted..

 

[Guest]

You don't need any of the products mentioned to get a seedling to grow. The problem lies with the soil, the water, the genetics, or the light.

First what genetics are these? Bagseed? If so there is a possibility the seed is carrying a virus or some other issue.

Second, are there any fungus gnat larvae in the soil or fungus gnats flying around. They can be harmful to seeds and seedlings.

Third, you state your soil is old batch combined with new? You also stated last three grows you had bugs amongst other issues. These issues could be living in that last run soil.

I think you need to toss out all of your soil. Clean everything, especially containers, bottles, equipment, room, etc.

Then I would try to acquire some cheap seeds. Eliminate that unknown of the bag seed.

When you fire back up run your lights on 18/6 instead of 24. Plants like some darkness to work on roots and such.

Try to pH your water to 6.5-6.8, you can use vinegar if you don't have pH down.

Throwing bottles at it won't solve your problem. A seed should come out of the soil and grow easily.

Keep us posted..

Hi Lester!

I 've used mostly seeds from known seedbanks like ace,paradise,pyramid,female seeds,dutch passion,some gifts from ape origin(that one I don't know) and some bagseed from the U.S.

No insects whatsoever.

I've used an all new bag of biobizz light mix in the last (third) attempt.Also,the soil I mentioned earlier was not used ,just from a not sealed bag ,opened and closed again.

I used new plastic cups for planting,disinfected the room,had them in two separate rooms,too.

I gave a friend yesterday some seeds to do a side by side with my soil and his.

The 18/6 suggestion sounds great!I hadn't used ph down because I've never had ph problems that early, gonna give it a try.

I get what you're saying about just coming out of the soil,that sounds like something I'd say before facing this... I also have a feeling that maybe my climate at this time of season (hot and wet)is greatly responsible for this,too.I'm definately having a run with a/c and Hps 18/6 for a week .

I will keep the thread up to date,because it is a very frustrating matter that's ruining my hobby,not to mention my smoke and if I find a solution,maybe it's gonna help someone else eventually.

Thank you Lester!

 

[TnTLabs]

lester is spot on... you dont need any products!
you are over complicating things here... most probably over watering! dont use the soil just yet..soil can hold too much moisture and can be tricky for a beginner, get some coco.. dead cheap and easy!
check your pm.. we will make this work!

 

[Guest]

lester is spot on... you dont need any products!
you are over complicating things here... most probably over watering! dont use the soil just yet..soil can hold too much moisture and can be tricky for a beginner, get some coco.. dead cheap and easy!
check your pm.. we will make this work!

Hello TnTLabs!

I know man,after so much disappointment I may over complicate things...Getting some coco ASAP!

Thanks for reaching out!

 

[Storm Shadow]

Chitosan will solve your problem

 

[thesloppy]

For whatever it's worth, you can still kill/overwater seedlings in coco (I've done it plenty of times), coco will still need a dry cycle similar to soil until the root system has been established before you can water regularly. If you're going to get some new medium you might also look into specific seedling mixes (or just adding perlite to your coco/soil) for increased drainage/aeration.

 

[TnTLabs]

yes chitosan is good!
but let me just say, once you "sterilize" your grow medium you have to inoculate it with beneficial microbes and bacteria, so i wouldnt do that!
so here is a little magic helper that inoculates your soil and does even more:
earth worm castings!!!
get a bag of earth worm castings when you get your coco bricks,
mix that at 4:1 coco/ewc.. that is your perfect seed starter right there!... just water with ph´ed water at 6.4-6.5... keeping them more on the drier side, letting the top layer nearly dry up and get harder, not dry! nearly dry.. the cups should be a lot lighter than when watered... then its time to water again.. no nutrients till about week 2.. its dead easy!

 

[Guest]

Yes,i've used coco before and I think it needed just a bit earlier watering than my peat/perlite mix ...

I do have some ewc(biobizz)!

TnTLabs,what's your method of germinating?Straight into the dirt,soak in cup,wet paper towels?

 

[TnTLabs]

great! yes the biobizz will do!
I place seeds in a cup (not glass, it has to be dark) with standard bottle water, not the fizzy one...keeping it around 25* C... after 24hrs they go straight into white plastic party cups
Very important is the coco needs to be "charged".. you need to let the coco soak up nutrients, best prepare a bucket with the coco and nutrients at around 0.9-1 EC / 450-500ppm let it soak overnight..
it normally says on the brick you need around 4-5L for one brick.. i do like 7-8 L of nutrient solution, so it can really soak...
then squeez the water out, add the EWC and then when you fill the mix into the cups, give it a good squeeze, so nearly all water goes out. then when you have put in your seed,
you give them like 20 ml of the nutrient solution, thats it, sit and wait... they should all sprout before the cups need watering again...