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Growing from Seed

Help! Mold On Seedling Pots

16 years ago

..yuk, so there is this bright greenish mold on the peat pots for my cucumber starts. The seed was really old so took SUPER long to germinate, which is why I think the mold was successful. Now I have only three starts out of the lot, and I want to keep them, but this mold is scaring me..

I am worried that it will:

-spread to my other plants..

-infect the plants and interfere with their growth somehow..

someone told me that i should just put them in the sun and it would kill it, but i think that's really laissez-faire if you ask me

what should I do? help!

thank you :)

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Comments (4)

digdirt2
16 years ago
On the soil or on the outside of the pot? Usually you can just scrape most of it off. Some recommend misting the soil surface with a 1:10 dilution of hydrogen peroxide or weak camomille tea. Sprinkle with cinnamon also helps as does brief sun exposure.

But it's cause is too much moisture and not enough air circulation. Cut back on the water and improve the air circulation as much as possible and they will be fine. ;)

Dave
scholl734
16 years ago
A greenish mold...you might be overwatering. I did cucumber seeds and they started in 24 hours..I was quite surprised.
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the link says: A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant. In a mycorrhizal association, the fungus colonizes the host plant's roots, ==>>> as far as i know.. its beneficial.. and encouraged.. as far as peeps buying it.. and adding it to the soil ... panicking and bleaching it all away.. was probably not a good idea ken Here is a link that might be useful: link
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
This seems to be a common experience with those peat pots. You might want to try small plastic containers next year.

It's probably algae rather than mold, but it doesn't make much difference. Whatever the stuff is, it's hindering the evaporation from the peat, exacerbating the whole situation. Green algae commonly grows on surfaces that remain moist, like your peat pots, clay pots and such.

Green algae won't harm your plants, but also won't respond to anti-fungal remedies, either. If it begins growing on the top of the medium surface, keep it broken up with a toothpick (or something) so that moisture can evaporate from the pot like it's supposed to.
jamjam
Original Author
16 years ago
Aw, thanks everyone. I stuck the cucumbers under the light and it practically all faded and disappeared. And today I noticed the first hints of a few of my alpine strawberries germinating. So I'm pleased with the effort overall :)

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