Why Your Seedlings Fell Over (Damping Off)
Damping off is a fungal disease that kills seedlings at the soil line. It’s caused by wet soil and poor airflow. Remove affected seedlings and improve both.
A seedling that was fine yesterday is suddenly collapsed. That’s damping off.
Confirm It
- Stem pinched at soil line
- Seedling falls over
- Soil surface wet or moldy
- Multiple seedlings affected
Fix It
- Remove affected seedlings. Don’t compost.
- Stop watering. Let surface dry.
- Add airflow. Small fan on low.
- Cinnamon on soil. Natural antifungal.
- Switch to bottom watering.
Prevention
| Factor | Do This |
|---|---|
| Water | Bottom water only |
| Airflow | Fan 6+ hours |
| Soil | Fresh mix |
| Spacing | Thin early |
| Temp | 65-70°F |
Common Questions
Can a collapsed seedling recover? No. Remove it.
Will it spread? Yes. Act quickly.
Does cinnamon work? Helps prevent. Not a cure.
Can I reuse soil? No. Discard.
Why every time? Overwatering + no airflow.
Is it the same as root rot? Related but different.