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Can you help explain this stem narrowing/constriction?

I was wondering if anyone has seen this before and could tell me what caused it and what the prognosis is for my little seedling. It's happened in more than one of my seedlings unfortunately. 
 
Here's the salient info: 
  • Narrowing occurred about 1cm (1/2 inch) above the soil line
  • The roots did look a bit like they might have started to rot 
  • There wasn't the best drainage in the container and the soil was pretty dense
  • I recently moved it outdoors, but was using a plastic tube to protect it from the wind. 
  • The plant itself looks very healthy, with no signs of yellowing, wilting, etc. 
 
The pepper itself is just a plain old cayenne, so not too worried if I lose it. 
 
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Pretty sure it's a type of mold issue. It could because you added the plastic tubing around it, I'm guessing to keep it from flopping over in the wind. However it would seem that the tube provided an area for bacteria to thrive with the increased moisture. 
 
In the future, you're better off staking them.
 
The problem can be solved pretty easily by doing a few things. Less frequent waterings, a better draining soil, and more airflow around the young seedlings like a circulating fan or overhead fan. The airflow will also help your plants get stronger stems and not flop over from wind. Your mix looks pretty dense and I don't see any perlite so I'd add that in the future. Also, bring the light a little closer as the seedling looks a tad bit leggy. 
 
peppamang said:
Pretty sure it's a type of mold issue. It could because you added the plastic tubing around it, I'm guessing to keep it from flopping over in the wind. However it would seem that the tube provided an area for bacteria to thrive with the increased moisture. 
 
In the future, you're better off staking them.
 
The problem can be solved pretty easily by doing a few things. Less frequent waterings, a better draining soil, and more airflow around the young seedlings like a circulating fan or overhead fan. The airflow will also help your plants get stronger stems and not flop over from wind. Your mix looks pretty dense and I don't see any perlite so I'd add that in the future. Also, bring the light a little closer as the seedling looks a tad bit leggy. 
 
Thanks for that! I really did neglect this plant as it was really only an after thought and didn't have the time/space to really care for it until later... 
 
Fortunately I'm using perlite/staking/better lighting with my primary plants, but I could probably afford to resist the urge to water as frequently.
 
BlackFatalii said:
I agree with Hogleg, it looks like damping off. Not too surprising if you had the seedling growing in heavy soil with poor drainage as you said. You can try cutting it off above the damaged spot and rooting it like a cutting. I have had occasional success with that. Otherwise I think it is likely a goner.
 
I've repotted it up to the cotyledons in my usual mix of 1/3 perlite, 1/3 potting mix, 1/3 coco coir, so I'll see how it goes -- as an experiment more than anything I suppose. 
 
 
karoo said:
Yes, damping off.
I have done that too many times myself. :P
 
I'll second that. Mostly I've just noticed it at the root level and lack of plant growth. 
 
Just an update... I think I have another explanation for the stem constriction. So I was starting to harden off some seedlings and was planning on leaving my seedlings out for just 30 minutes because the sun was quite hot today. Stupidly I forgot about them and this exact thing happened, only much more severe in many cases. All my seedlings were in very good shape before, definitely no signs of dampening off, so I think it might be safe to say this might have been what happened last time. 
 

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I've come across this with my hydroponics. I'd soak the rockwool and it add my hooked seedlings in. After a good two inches grown, the stem starts to rot or decrease in size constricting growth. I had to sacrifice most of my sprouts and did as others mentioned. I sprayed hydrogen peroxide and cut off the dying portion then repositioned into a dry piece of rockwool and water lightly. New leaves have developed.
 
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