I propagated some ficus auriculata seeds in a medium composed by 75% perlite and 25% soil in a transparent plastic container with a lid, sitting on a heat mat, under grow light as well as next to a north-facing window. They sprouted very fast, about two weeks ago. I had about 30 seedlings within a week. However they keep dying. Yesterday I counted 11 and this morning only 4 have remained. The rest are lying on the soil. I am attaching a photo.
I sprayed with distilled water yesterday (I hadn't warmed it up if it matters). However the medium feels very dry to the finger. Could it be that light spraying isn't enough and they have to be always wet? I thought perlite retains water even if you cannot feel it on your finger..
Temperature is between 19-23C (68-73F) and humidity between 40-60%. Most nights I cover with the lid but last night I didn't. Please help. I worry that by tomorrow they will be all gone!

Roots can't form if you are only misting the tops. Water them.

It looks like you got "Damping off" problem which mostly of fungal problem, but some bacteria can also caused that.

Growing Ficus from seeds for me is quite challenging. It requires moist but not too moist medium at first stage, since most fig's seed are so tiny. I try not to use perlite or large granules materials as it will made seed buried under them, also the base of seedling will be below the granules, this will cause too much humidity and reduce air flow at the base of the seedling stem, lead to rot by damping off fungal.

In my case for fig seeds, I used sterilized soil, just garden soil (we don't have much garden center at my place, I live at rural area, plus I have found garden soil is just fine for most of the time), I bake the soil in oven to kill all the germs, let it cooled, and sieved it into very fine particles. Water it just to moisture and put it in small container, tap it so that the surface is flat, you will need to compact the surface bit, loose surface will made seed buried into the medium (not good for figs). water it again once more, then while it is still moist, spread the seed. "Surface sowing" is needed, do not cover the seed with medium. then the seed pot can be sealed, untill the germination occurred, when the seedling appear, open the plastic sealing gradually to allow air in, too much humidity will cause damping off, too dry will also kill seedling, it is a tricky balance.

Another alternative is to use fungicide, there are many anti-damping off fungicide on the market, I'm not sure what available at your area, it can be used as preventive by spraying the surface of medium before seedling emerge or as treatment when the sign of damping off appear

Exposure to sunlight periodically could also protect seedling from damping off as the sun ray kills fungus and made seedling stronger, but it need to be done carefully as strong sunlight could also burn seedling (this technique is useful for anyone growing seed in tropics maybe, and when you don't have fungicide in hand)

I grow plants in tropics, so you might need adjustment accordingly to my suggestion

If its damping off disease, you would see a narrow, dry spot in the stem just above the soil surface. I don't see that.

Thank you both. I also think it's damping off. Thanfully those 4 remaining seedlings are still alive. I won't water for few days.. and I won't ever use perlite again because I cannot understand when it's dry and when it's wet.

tofitropic said: It looks like you got "Damping off" problem which mostly of fungal problem, but some bacteria can also caused that.

Growing Ficus from seeds for me is quite challenging. It requires moist but not too moist medium at first stage, since most fig's seed are so tiny. I try not to use perlite or large granules materials as it will made seed buried under them, also the base of seedling will be below the granules, this will cause too much humidity and reduce air flow at the base of the seedling stem, lead to rot by damping off fungal.

In my case for fig seeds, I used sterilized soil, just garden soil (we don't have much garden center at my place, I live at rural area, plus I have found garden soil is just fine for most of the time), I bake the soil in oven to kill all the germs, let it cooled, and sieved it into very fine particles. Water it just to moisture and put it in small container, tap it so that the surface is flat, you will need to compact the surface bit, loose surface will made seed buried into the medium (not good for figs). water it again once more, then while it is still moist, spread the seed. "Surface sowing" is needed, do not cover the seed with medium. then the seed pot can be sealed, untill the germination occurred, when the seedling appear, open the plastic sealing gradually to allow air in, too much humidity will cause damping off, too dry will also kill seedling, it is a tricky balance.

Another alternative is to use fungicide, there are many anti-damping off fungicide on the market, I'm not sure what available at your area, it can be used as preventive by spraying the surface of medium before seedling emerge or as treatment when the sign of damping off appear

Exposure to sunlight periodically could also protect seedling from damping off as the sun ray kills fungus and made seedling stronger, but it need to be done carefully as strong sunlight could also burn seedling (this technique is useful for anyone growing seed in tropics maybe, and when you don't have fungicide in hand)

I grow plants in tropics, so you might need adjustment accordingly to my suggestion

Cici, your soil is volcanic which is ideal. Our soil here is really poor, clay full of stones, poor in nutrients and draining. I don't think it's a good idea to use it. However, I do spread the seeds without burrying them as you said.

wandering_ant said: Cici, your soil is volcanic which is ideal. Our soil here is really poor, clay full of stones, poor in nutrients and draining. I don't think it's a good idea to use it. However, I do spread the seeds without burrying them as you said.

Yes indeed, ones need to adjust things accordingly to each climate and conditions, since our climate and soil will be vary. It is a great fun to grow plants from seed, and every success and failure means so much. I my self try many methods and take mind notes to every slightly results or comments from each and every gardener or any source..

Hope you have great gardening

tofitropic said: Yes indeed, ones need to adjust things accordingly to each climate and conditions, since our climate and soil will be vary. It is a great fun to grow plants from seed, and every success and failure means so much. I my self try many methods and take mind notes to every slightly results or comments from each and every gardener or any source..

Hope you have great gardening

Benar sekali. I used to live in Indonesia and gardening there was a piece of cake. Tbh I missed a challenge there haha.
'
The 4 remaining seedlings are OK for now. I decreased the humidity and won't water for few days. Fingers crossed.

After you plant your seeds, spray the soil surface with a fungicide. That will help with damping off. Sterilizing the soil before you plant also helps. I use a biofungicide - its an interesting product of a mix of live good fungus. The fungus inhibit the growth of the bad fungus and also give the seeds a boost. Don't breathe it though - live fungus.

DaisyI said: After you plant your seeds, spray the soil surface with a fungicide. That will help with damping off. Sterilizing the soil before you plant also helps. I use a biofungicide - its an interesting product of a mix of live good fungus. The fungus inhibit the growth of the bad fungus and also give the seeds a boost. Don't breathe it though - live fungus.

You're right. I did spray some hyperoxide yesterday. I hope it helps. I had sterilized the soil but not the perlite. Doesn't sterilization kill all the beneficial microbes that live in the soil and interact with the roots though?

I hope the peroxide reaction had completed before you used it on your plants. I'm not sure why everyone thinks peroxide and plant tissue is a good combination.

DaisyI said: I hope the peroxide reaction had completed before you used it on your plants. I'm not sure why everyone thinks peroxide and plant tissue is a good combination.

What reaction?

Hydrogen Peroxide is an unstable chemical compound - H2O2. Technically, that's water with an extra oxygen molecule. When moisture is added (when you add it to your watering can, laundry or put it on a cut), the HP explodes apart, releasing the extra oxygen molecule. As the HP explodes, it destroys anything biological. This is good if you are using it to clean your laundry but bad if you put it on a plant or a cut.

Once open, the HP in the container has a very short life expectancy so chances are, you watered your plant with expensive water. The bad news is if the chemical reaction is still taking place (its still fizzing) when you put it on a plant, it will destroy healthy plant tissue. The good news is the reaction happens very fast so you are most likely using water with an extra oxygen molecule.

I use a couple drops of HP in water when I am attempting to root cuttings but just a couple drops. It adds an extra oxygen molecule to the water for a while, aiding in rooting.

I see.I didn't know these things. Tbh I have never seen any frizzing. The day before yesterday I just dropped some plain HP drops around the seedlings. The soil around them was wet. They are fine till now so I guess as you said the HP has been open for too long. Or they will die in the next days. We'll see.

They would have died instantly... sizzle, sizzle.