[AmandaLouise]

Hi there

I started some tomato and peppers from seed on my bedroom window sill.  firstly in a tray and now in 3" pots.  There seems to be a very fine white film on the compost.  Its good quality compost and I have been careful not to overwater and provided reasonable ventilation.  The thing is the plants are growing really well and thriving, I removed one of the plants (as I did 10 tomato seeds) so I could check the root and the roots looked healthy. The tomatoes are now nearly 5" high.  So not too sure if damping off or not.  Any advice on what to do next?  I did a search on here for damping off and saw on a previous post they had provided a picture,the picture resembled mine a bit, and the answers provided were to remove the mould and carry on.  It almost looks like the compost has turned slightly white in areas.  I am so confused and not even started planting in the allotment.  Are the plants doomed in the long run or should I carry on?

Many thanks
Amanda

[Ice]

Might not be doomed.  Are you watering from above or below?

[DD.]

It's not damping off. I see it every year with my indoor seeds.

Carry on regardless.

[AmandaLouise]

Gosh thats brilliant news.  I had decided to give up starting seeds at all and felt really disheartened.  Will remove the white stuff and carry on like you suggested.

Cheers

[AmandaLouise]

Hi

I have been spraying the surface with a fine mist from a spray bottle.

Thankyou
amanda

[JayG]

Totally agree - a white mould growth, or sometimes green algal growth on the surface of the compost is common indoors (with damping off all you usually see is seedlings collapsing and dying from soil level.)

[DD.]

I'd leave it be.

It does no harm.

I water with a small watering can in between the seedlings, so as not to get any water directly on them, but I don't see a problem with yours.

[mumofstig]

I'm sure I read somewhere that the white can be a reaction between the fluoride in tap water and the fertilisers added to the compost.

I know I saw it on the allotment soil after all the extra watering that had to be done last year.

[AmandaLouise]

Thanks a lot.  I have not added anything to the compost as thought I would only need to add fertilisers/plant food when they are bigger and in the greenhouse.  I know there are going to be lots of failures, my lettuce seeds never came up, but when I thought these others were doomed i just thought I bet I am going to be useless at this. Cheers everyone

[Ice]

I still say that watering from the bottom up is best and making sure there is good ventilation also helps.

[mumofstig]

I have not added anything to the compost as thought I would only need to add fertilisers/plant food

The compost has fertilisers already added to it when you buy it - enough for about 6 weeks

[AmandaLouise]

So after 6 weeks do I start adding tomato fertiliser to the plants?

Thanks

[Yorkie]

If they're only at seedling stage I wouldn't add anything for quite some time.  They don't need, or want, much nutrition when they are young plants.  The 6 weeks is a good rule of thumb for established plants growing fairly strongly in compost.

Tomato fertiliser shouldn't be used until the first truss has 'set' (little tomatoes visible where the flowers had been).  I'd add a handful of general purpose fertiliser either at, or about 5-6 weeks after, planting out in position in tubs with multipurpose compost.