Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

OK guys, I've got to nip this at the bud, let's get it right otherwise you'll force me to go nuts - It's "damping off" not "dampening off"

Thanks for the links Scotty, there was some very helpful info there.

Rairdog- is that the only treatment you do for damping?


Thanks for the input everyone. It seems like there's so much to know, but I'm slowly picking up.

Couple of suggestions.

I am not certain at this stage it is 'dampening off'. Gently remove the plant and check the colour of the base of the stem and roots, if they are brown you are screwed, if not replant by digging an angled trench into the pot and bury the whole stem.
The peroxide drench is a good preventative before planting.
Do not let the soil get dry, wet and dry will weaken them.
If it is disease it may be the conditions in your greenhouse at night, cold and damp (or should that be dampening)

It's too late for me to check. I cut them at the pinch and replanted.
A couple made it (so far) and a couple didn't.

I'm saving all of this advice and getting on the prevention train of thought now.

And I'm certain it's not dampening off

I can see this degenerating quickly

That potting mix seems extremely deficient especially in phosphate.. notice the purplish hue on the the entire plant.. tomatoes doesn't need clipping in seedlings state and surely doesn't buckle under its own weight so young.. lack of nutrients and sunlight is your main culprit.

Cookie- I think you're spot on there. I realized I used the same mixture as my seed starting mix.

The purple hue on the stem is characteristic of Tomato seedlings and while i don’t disagree with your diagnosis of lack of phosphate it does not take into account the obvious pinch at the soil level which is a sign of dampening off,easy to prove use the compost again along with a second lot in new compost compare the results.Sorry scotty damping off.
I had this saved in my files.
Pythium Root Rot (Pythium spp.) - Similar to Rhizoctonia in that it causes both damping-off as well as foot rot in plant cuttings. However, infection occurs in cool, wet, poorly-drained soils, and by over-watering. Infection results in a wet odorless rot. Species of Pythium can survive for several years in soil and plant debris.

Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora spp.) - Usually associated with root rots of established plants but are also involved in damping-off in seedlings. These species enter the root tips and cause a water-soaked brown to black rot similar to Pythium. Survives indefinitely in soil and plant debris.

Rhizoctonia Root Rot (Rhizoctonia solani) - A fungi which causes damping-off of seedlings and foot rot of plant cuttings. Infection occurs in soils with warm to hot temperatures and moderate moisture levels. The fungi is found in all natural soils and can survive indefinitely. Infected plants often have slightly sunken lesions on the stem at or below the soil line. Transferring this fungi from nature to your germination area or greenhouse is as simple as using the same tools out of doors as you do in. Do not use your germination area to mix potting soils or transplanting seedlings using soils. Cleanliness is key here.

If you can raise seedling to a larger size using plenty of light so they get short thick stems and good growth, they can usually be transferred in and will not succumb to damping off.

Still not sure they 'damped off', transplanted from seedlings (where it usually happens) then as Stonewall said the soil was dry between waterings would have stressed them.
Its just a pity we did not have a closer look at the stem and roots, the first plant in the pic also seems to have pinching further up the stem.

I was able to dig up the roots of one of the affected plants. It was white with no signs of yellow or brown.

I think I just let them get too leggy and transplanted into an improper potting mix.

I'm about to transplant the next round taking all of this advice into account.

np I'm glad to help.. I love growing tomatoes so I see the signs very ofter... best to use a compost based soil other than potting mix... potting mix is mainly mulch wood chips with little to no nutrients bank to support seedlings like tomatoes. gluck.

I raise tomatoes directly in my GB, and thin out or replant in the right spot when they are big enough. Tomatoes is about all I am good at growing, apart for herbs like basil, parsley and chives.

pretty much what i was going to say, they have not "pinched" or broken at all, it is root rot.
Too much moisture and heat.

hmmm, seems its been sorted and reading the second page before posting would help.
shame we cant delete posts..

Come on Yav; its all about dampening off or damped off what is this root rot thing?