What is destroying my young plants.

GDNAM

Hi everyone, sorry my first post has to be in the problem section but I need some help / advice.

I have grown some small Echineca plants from seed, most germinated and some are smaller than others, but that is to be expected.  However in the last week what were healthy small plants, are starting to be consumed, I say consumed because I don't consider them to be being actually eaten, more melted away.  There is only what I can describe as a fur on the new growth that gradually consumes the growth.  Hopefully the pics will post and you can see what I mean.....

 

 I thought powdery mildew at first but as you can see no signs on the bigger leaves, any help or advice greatly appreciated.  \thx

Dovefromabove

Are they too wet?  Echinacea like well-drained almost gritty soil - what you're describing sounds as if they're rotting 

By the way, welcome to the forum - hope it's not all disaster, doom and gloom 

Palustris

Botrytis rather than Mildew as said by DFA. Cause is too wet an environment. Bit hard to treat once it is present. Copper sulphate might work as might straight Yellow Sulphur.

GDNAM

Thanks, I thought I was keeping them well drained obv not enough. They are still in my poly greenhouse at the mo as they are still quite small.  Anything non-chemical I can do?

 

And DFA, I too it not all doom and gloom (actually this is the first year in 3 I have had my gardens back, and they needed a complete overhual, but most things are doing ok) Thanks for the welcome.

Dovefromabove

You've got nothing to lose - repot them (gently shaking off most of the compost they're in at the moment)  into some JI No 2 loam based compost to which you've added some grit or vermiculite, then put them outside in a sheltered position (not in full  sun) or in a coldframe with the tops wide open and cross your fingers.  I'll cross mine too 

GDNAM

Dovefromabove wrote (see)

You've got nothing to lose - repot them (gently shaking off most of the compost they're in at the moment)  into some JI No 2 loam based compost to which you've added some grit or vermiculite, then put them outside in a sheltered position (not in full  sun) or in a coldframe with the tops wide open and cross your fingers.  I'll cross mine too 

Thanks will give it a try