Asked on Apr 16, 2013

Tomato seedlings losing leaves

Beverly P
by Beverly P
What did I do wrong this time? I usually have no problem starting seeds, but my toato seedlings have all lost their bottom leaves and it looks like they may die altogether. There is all different varieties, they all look sick. I have them in jiffy pots, and have noticed mold growing on the outside of the pots but also right on the top of the soil. I have had them under lights, never missed watering, and they have been warm. Can they be saved or have I lost the fight? They have not been overwatered either, at least I don't think so.
Mold on the pepper pots...
Tomatoes looking pretty bare.
  9 answers
  • Deltagardener Deltagardener on Apr 16, 2013
    Oh my, I would try potting them up in fresh soil and new pots.
  • Deltagardener Deltagardener on Apr 16, 2013
    I had some damping off on my cukes and quickly saved four plants buy transplanting quickly.
  • Patricia W Patricia W on Apr 16, 2013
    Throw the pots out. Plants and all. Start new, and only dampen the soil, don't get the plants wet. Make sure the pots have room between each one and that air can get between them. It looks like the bottoms are extremely wet? I've bottom watered before, but just when using hard plastic plug trays( in my nursery) in watering trays with space under the plugs to dry. Looks like you have them growing on gro racks? Id clean the area with a bit of very diluted bleach water to kill and mold spores. You have plenty of grow time left:}
  • Heather Heather on Apr 16, 2013
    I would replant them into new, a little bit bigger bigger pots with good new potting mixture.
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Apr 16, 2013
    It is probably damping off ( a fungal infection). I agree with @Patricia W , that tossing them would probably be the best course of action. The fungus will remain in the soil regardless of moving the plant into a bigger pot.
  • Beverly P Beverly P on Apr 17, 2013
    Thanks all, I guess they are lost to me this year. I already had transplanted them a few weeks ago into the peat pots, maybe there was something worng with them...I don't know.
  • Caley's Culinaries Caley's Culinaries on Apr 18, 2013
    You could try putting them out in the sun. Solarizing might kill off whatever is on there. PS - Tomatoes don't need peat pots. They love to be transplanted and the peat pots hold a lot of moisture and humidity increasing likelihood of certain diseases.
  • Beverly P Beverly P on Apr 18, 2013
    They all died so off to the farmers market I go...in a few weeks that is.
  • Becky - Clover and Thyme Becky - Clover and Thyme on Apr 19, 2013
    I'm sorry you lost your seedlings. I'm experiencing similar challenges over here. Hoping I've contained it to just a few plants.