Plant doctor
Small flies around the bags
Identify the insect first. Small flies around wet growing media may be fungus gnats, but appearance and behaviour need checking before choosing a control.
Check with Professor CocoFind your next step →Plant doctor · WITH DR. COCO
Why are seedlings falling over in cocopeat?
Inspect the stem at the media surface. A seedling with a pinched, collapsing stem needs a different response from a tall seedling leaning towards the light.
Teral grower guidance · Updated 27 October 2026
Dr. CocoYour plant doctor guideTHE COCOPEAT CONNECTION
Why the root zone matters
A fine nursery substrate must suit the tray and irrigation system. Persistent wetness and poor hygiene can accompany disease problems; the medium alone is not a diagnosis.
01 / OBSERVE
Three checks before you change anything
- Look closely at the stem base and roots. Compare recently collapsed and healthy seedlings.
- Review tray cleanliness, substrate storage, water delivery and how long cells remain wet.
- Check light and spacing. Long, thin seedlings without a damaged stem base may be stretching.
02 / NARROW IT DOWN
What does the stem base look like?
Choose the closest observation for a suggested next check.
Pinched or collapsing
Remove collapsed plants carefully and arrange diagnosis if losses spread. Review clean trays, fresh media and irrigation hygiene.
Intact, but long and thin
Review light, spacing and growing conditions. Support a suitable nursery environment rather than assuming root rot.
Unclear, with increasing losses
Photograph fresh symptoms and contact a crop adviser or diagnostic service promptly. Keep affected material separate.
03 / TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Leave with something useful
Record when losses began, how they are spreading and what changed in watering or nursery conditions.
Keep in mind
Do not reuse affected media or treat every leaning seedling as the same problem.
Discuss this with Teral →Watch the related Growlab lessons
The written checks above stand on their own. These short lessons add context.
Lesson links selected from Growlab’s supplied transcript and description review.
CONNECTED QUESTIONS
