Short attention spans in boys?   Get 30 Tips for Parents

Deep Roots at Home

Enriching the Soil of Your Life

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings

By

Share170
Pin82
252 Shares

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots, 

There is one thing many gardeners dread, and it is called damping off.

This is the time of year I am eager to start a few seeds indoors. There really is a certain art to growing seedlings. It took me a while to realize that I needed to observe certain rules to have good success at starting my own garden plants.

Prevent Damping Off In Seedlings

According to Dave’s Garden, “Damping off is a term used for a variety of fungal problems that lead to sudden seedling death. Beginners and experienced gardeners alike are frustrated and disheartened when it strikes.  The pathogens attack the tender stems and roots of the seedlings.  Some seedlings look pinched at the base of the stem, others flop over. Prevention is the best cure.”

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots, 

Healthy tomato seedlings

It Helps To:

  • Use a sterile potting soil (I have had good success using Jiffy peat pellets).
  • Don’t over-water. Keeping your potting mix barely moist rather than soggy is essential to healthy seedlings.
  • Allow for good air circulation.
  • Use natural anti-fungal agents vs. toxic chemical ones.

3 Natural Anti-Fungals

  1. Chamomile Tea: I just read about a gal who worked on an organic farm that grew dried flowers from seed. She was attempting to be as sustainable as possible and did a little test of a chemical fungicide versus chamomile tea, and the chamomile tea prevented seedling stem rot just as well, if not better than the chemical! You can also use chamomile tea as a pre-soak for seeds prior to planting.

Instructions:

Brew a weak batch of chamomile tea, one tea bag to two cups of boiling water. Allow the infusion to cool, then dilute it so that it is a pale yellowish color. Add the cooled, diluted tea to a spray bottle and use as needed. This mixture will be good for about a week. Spray the seedlings regularly until they are planted out into the garden to ensure that you don’t have any problems with damping off.

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots, chamomile herb, dried flowers, German, medicinal

Dried chamomile flowers for making tea

2. Hydrogen Peroxide Mixture: Dave’s Garden states, “Watering or misting seedlings with an anti-fungal solution will also help protect your seedlings. One tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per quart of water is sufficient.”

3. Cinnamon Dusting: A one-time dusting of cinnamon or powdered charcoal on the soil surface can also be used as an anti-fungal agent. If you persist with problems, you may want to use a chemical control, but such measures shouldn’t be necessary for the home gardener.”

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots, 

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots,

Natural, organic prevention is inexpensive and will invariably help your seedlings get off to a healthy start. Happy gardening!

“It was planted in good soil by many waters, to bring forth branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic vine.” ~ Ezekiel 17:8

Pin It! Pin It!

Chamomile Tea & Cinnamon Stop Damping Off In Seedlings, chard seedlings, spring seed starting, natural antifungals, gardening, fungal problems, seedling death, prevention best cure, stems and roots, garden plants, start seeds indoors, sterile potting soil, potting mix, natural prevention, hydrogen peroxide, pre-soak seeds, home gardener, powdered charcoal, cinnamon, Jiffy pellet pots,

If you are blessed or informed by something you have read here at Deep Roots, please consider liking my page on Facebook and subscribing via Feedburner. Thank you! 

Thanks for reading!

Jacqueline
Share170
Pin82
252 Shares

Comments

  1. Thanks! This is so helpful at this time, as I have my seedlings started and had faced this a little and was wondering how to fix it.

  2. Thank you for this timely post. I just lost a couple of watermelon seedlings. Being new to growing things I wasn’t sure what had happened.
    Now I suspect I ignorantly caused this damping off.
    I need to find some chamomile tea now. I have plenty of cinnamon.
    Being totally ignorant though, is Celestial Seasonings a good choice, or do I need to look somewhere else?
    What about store bought cinnamon? Is it safe?

    • LindaG,
      I have not needed to use cinnamon, but would get chamomile teabags at the grocery instead. Make the brew as I have written (and you can read other places, too, to get more knowledge) and use a spray bottle to apply. I would always just Google for more info and read, read, read! Good luck!

  4. Once again, a great example of why I love this blog – every time I visit I come away with some bit of information that I can use. Thank you! I have lots of chamomile from last year so I will definitely use it when the time is right. I need to get my plants started!
    Thanks again!
    Toni

    • Oh, thank YOU! I am always so glad to hear I have helped a little! blessings to you, Toni! Stay warm, dearie!

  5. I loved this post!! I used to grow my seedlings indoors but since we moved 5 years ago we haven’t had a successful garden. I need manure or it just isn’t worth it. Thanks for linking up with me over at WholeHearted Home this week.

    • Oh, I do hope you get to watch the Back To Eden Movie! It will revolutionize your garden and the way we think of gardening!!

  6. Thank you! I will be starting seeds for the first time this year. I just ordered a lb of chamomile tea so I’m all set!

    • I am just about to start our seeds, as well. I think I will sprinkle cinnamon into the soil before I plant and then use a spray of chamomile tea as they germinate. We have a friend who works at a large organic garden nursery and that is what they do.

  7. Can’t thank you enough for this post! Last year I lost almost every seedling I planted to damping off. I ended up having to buy tomato plants. Not good for the budget. I hope that this information will help me avoid that fate for this year!

    • I hope this is the help you are seeking. It is never fun to have to go out and buy…better to have the tomatoes and such of our own choice…Have a lovely spring! Blessings!

    • I’m just so glad there is a way to fix the problem…every year I’d lose 20% of my seedlings. Not tragic, but frustrating 🙂 Have a great spring, Anna!

  9. Hi Jacqui! Thanks for the tip. I was beginning to think I’d have to give up on my parsley this year. I’ve planted three times with the same results. I’ll try again…

  10. I too have the dampening off problem, I got some Chamomile tea at the store to try. I hope that the caffeine free will work as well as the regular.
    Thank You Very Much!

Trackbacks

A Few of Our Favorite Products