Dying Seedlings

by Edward Wang
(Canada)

I've started several different batches of seeds and all of them will germinate, grow for a week, and then keel over an die. I've noticed that all of the stems seem to be really thin and spindly. After some research online, I've narrowed it down to either damping off or "leggy seedlings". Only problem is, in all of the pictures I've seen of damping off, the root is very discoloured and shriveled. In my seedlings, the root appears to be fine - just pale white in colour. However, the base of the stem and the beginning of the root seem to be severely thin, almost as if someone had pinched it. The result is all of my seedling falling over and dying. Is this damping off or it something else?

Thanks,
Ed


Doug says it sounds very much like damping off.