my rosemary seedlings have been suffering because of this crust, could it be from fertilizer?? i’ve noticed a lot of seedlings that have died out of dessication. the crust only forms at the top and the soil beneath it is still soft and fluffy
by bbusz
5 Comments
could it be salt buildup from the fertilizer or hard water buildup? that’s my guess. if you have an EC or PPM meter you could test the runnoff when you water. for seedlings EC of 2 is decent. if it’s really high that might be an indicator that’s whats going on. I’m not 100% sure.
Usually this is some sort of algal growth. At least that’s what it is when it happens to me and I don’t use salt fertilizers
Not sure, but watering habits? Shallow watering maybe? Surface drying out from too much airflow?
Algae. Let your seedlings dry out more, and sanitize your irrigation equipment more frequently if possible.
Rosemary in packs like that will be able to form a very good root system, if you manage moisture well. Irrigate early and try to avoid watering until the top is quite dry. Most herbs can tolerate a dry down cycle like that.
Using. Seed starter media on top of more conventional media will help dry it out faster.
You could mix a bit of clean sand with your potting mix, it should stop that happening.