Mold on Seedlings Soil !!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:28 am

Seedlings are about a year or two old.
Potted them into those great 14" tall palm seedling pots from Stuewe in Oregon.
Used the same Sunshine Soil Mix #4 with aggregate that I've used for several years.

Yesterday in the cold building noticed fuzz coating on all of them:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8327348373/" title="015 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8327 ... 62b5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="015"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8327356223/" title="016 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8327 ... 1df1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="016"></a>

Disappears just by passing my finger over the soil.
Why would this occur this year, and never previously?

Oh...and my little baby Bottle Palm looks like it's on its way out:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8327358025/" title="014 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8327 ... dbde_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="014"></a>

Could it be residual moisture/too cold?
Haven't watered them for 5 or 6 weeks.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:38 am

No good Barb, I use a grow light it helps heat the soil and keeps the mold off the soil. I use just one, but I move it around where it is needed.
Mold is what did all but one of my "big mama's" in.

That mold can spead right into your palms.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:31 am

Ugh

Virtually impossible to get a grow light over these guys ... 10 foot finished ceiling in that building.
Might be easier to bring them to the house where it's warm.
But then again, they're supposed to be cold hardy (trachies, princeps, washies, etc.)

Gonna go heat up the car...

Just a Q...so what did I do wrong? putting them into the cold building when soil was too damp?

Thanks Aaron.
Barb

EDIT: So heat alone will kill the mold? or do I have to scrape it off with a knife?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:00 pm

lucky1 wrote:Just a Q...so what did I do wrong? putting them into the cold building when soil was too damp?

Thanks Aaron.
Barb

EDIT: So heat alone will kill the mold? or do I have to scrape it off with a knife?

Yes, I think it is the cold wet.

I don't know if the heat alone will kill the mold. It could be the UV rays? I have a $5 clamp on heat lamp with a screw in grow light bulb. I almost never use it until I had mold growing on my seedlings. I move it around every day or so.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:02 pm

PS. I found the grow bulbs at Wal-Mart in the light bulb section. They have like a blue coating on them.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:51 pm

I've had that mold too Barb.........I usually correlated it to lack of air movement. Can you get the air to move.....like a fan? Strong sun will also help the situation but you won't get that this time of year!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:10 pm

Can you get the air to move.....like a fan?

There are 5 ceiling fans running 24/7

Just too damp when they went inside I guess.
Re the Big Momma seedlings, I've got two in the cold building that are happily still on the right side of the soil.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330514583/" title="051 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8330 ... 589a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="051"></a>

I'll look for those clamp on contraptions and bulbs, thanks, Aaron.

Was going to bring them down to the house.
But no go...too much work moving big heavy plants in the way.
And to squeeze through there with one at a time...

So I scraped mold off with a spoon (yum!), dumped it into a bag and outside.
With a few choice words as it hit the snow.

Fingers crossed they aren't all going to die.

But took a bunch of photos while I was up there.

Cycas debaoensis:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331498576/" title="050 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8331 ... 4183_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="050"></a>

All the little Phoenix started last winter are fine:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330448539/" title="046 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8330 ... c016_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="046"></a>

Spindle palm pushing a spear despite it being too cool:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330451889/" title="044 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8330 ... 88e5_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="044"></a>

The sick Triangles are, well, sick. Can't even find the third one!:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330457207/" title="040 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8330 ... 7ba6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="040"></a>

Worst one:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330450163/" title="045 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8330 ... 4c8b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="045"></a>

A declining Cycas Panzhihuaensis:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331576260/" title="052 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8331 ... a3f4_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="052"></a>

Ugly Avocado:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330441673/" title="047 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8330 ... 943b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="047"></a>

These young Foxtails were sacrificed to see which could survive blazing heat, strong winds all day long.
The survivors, not pretty but they are alive:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331500250/" title="049 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8331 ... 3224_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="049"></a>

Foxtail siblings that were treated better (no direct sun)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330446677/" title="048 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8330 ... 5025_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="048"></a>

Y.rostrata in a tall tub planted 100% gravel, no soil:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331495166/" title="043 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8331 ... 9fcd_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="043"></a>

Another yucca:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331509302/" title="042 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8331 ... 426d_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="042"></a>

Rosemary standard:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330459015/" title="039 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8330 ... 4be0_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="039"></a>

Lavender standard:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330460853/" title="037 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8330 ... ede1_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="037"></a>

Chinese Fan slowly pushing leaf:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331518498/" title="036 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8331 ... 840c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="036"></a>

Grapefruit:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331491160/" title="035 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8331 ... 436d_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="035"></a>

Sabal riverside actually grew a leaf:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331520378/" title="034 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8331 ... 86e0_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="034"></a>

Sabal minor "charleston" tried to grow:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330466247/" title="033 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8330 ... db1a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="033"></a>

This Sabal sort of succeeded in growing one:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331489390/" title="032 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8331 ... 5a01_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="032"></a>

Remember the Brahea armata twins? the ones whose roots I tore apart, dunking into pesticide?
Not dead yet from the rough treatment...but they don't look like twins any more:
The tall one had warm winter until this year, the short one was always in the cold building during winter.
Brahea armata really do prefer to be above 55F with watering all winter long.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331525648/" title="028 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8331 ... e2c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="028"></a>

Some more stuff in there:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330475351/" title="023 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8330 ... c300_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="023"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331485504/" title="021 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8331 ... 1422_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="021"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331457642/" title="020 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8331 ... 7c38_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="020"></a>

Two little pups of what's-his'name:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330406143/" title="018 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8330 ... b601_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="018"></a>

and the tiniest one: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331511232/" title="041 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8331 ... 2987_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="041"></a>

Here's what's-his-name here at top center:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330424593/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8330 ... c13c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="003"></a>

The big jade tree is starting to flower:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331462638/" title="017 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8331 ... 79b6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="017"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330400855/" title="016 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8330 ... c22a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="016"></a>

Never have to buy another geranium:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330409545/" title="015 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8330 ... 581a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="015"></a>

Aloe:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330413095/" title="013 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8330 ... 2566_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="013"></a>

Love these Cordylines Red Star, grateful that Tim said not to treat them as annuals:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330416671/" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8330 ... d2bf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="008"></a>

The fused leaf of BoP means no flower spike...darn: CIDP behind it.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330418737/" title="006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8330 ... 96a6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="006"></a>

Nainital growing all year round:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330422545/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8330 ... cff0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="004"></a>

With mold scraped off the soil, look better already (fingers crossed):
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331527682/" title="025 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8331 ... 38eb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="025"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8330473581/" title="024 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8330 ... 1a07_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="024"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8331487518/" title="026 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8331 ... e713_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="026"></a>

Thanks for visiting!
You might be invited to the seedling funeral if the mold-scraping didn't work.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:33 pm

OMG...........is there a plant you don't have?

The Cycad d. is a beauty.......................wow.

Glad to see the big mamas growing well.

If you have fans going.........then my idea is history.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:27 pm

Nice pics, Barb!

That is too bad regarding the mold and the bottle palm. As far as the palm goes, I think long exposures to lower temps can be really detrimental to these tropical palms.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:48 am

Yup, Tim, the fans are always on...and still mold

long exposures to lower temps can be really detrimental to these tropical palms

I knew it would be risky putting them in that building.
But the fungus gnats in the house were intolerable.

Re the mold scraping...several days later now, it hasn't grown back.
Probably too cold

Barb

RoboCaesar · Post by **RoboCaesar** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 2:40 pm

Would scraping the mold off really work? What you see of mold is typically just the fruiting body (fruiting body). The rest of the fungal structure is deeply embedded throughout the soil. (This is why we don't scrape the mold off of bread and keep it) Could you possibly try washing the soil with hydrogen peroxide solution?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:18 pm

You make a good point about the "depth" of the mold.

Poop.

I'll do some 3% hydrogen peroxide tomorrow.
They won't like being watered though in those chilly temps.

why we don't scrape the mold off of bread and keep it

But routinely done with cheese.

Thanks robocaesar for the warning.
Barb

RoboCaesar · Post by **RoboCaesar** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:19 pm

You bring up a good point about cheese, so I looked into it: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-a ... on/AN01024

Apparently mold on soft cheese can be bad, but it's fine to cut off mold on harder cheeses (like cheddar) since the mold can't penetrate that far into it. There's mold everywhere though, with spores floating around in the air at all times, so you can never truly escape our fungal friends.

Too bad this has to happen in the winter, otherwise it would be so easy to take care of this outside, but I'm guessing it's pretty cold where you are!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 4:27 am

TimMAz6 wrote:OMG...........is there a plant you don't have?

I didnt see any draceana

Barb, looking at your cold room, is like looking into my house in 10 years time.......

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:27 am

Looks like they got a wee touch of the aids-just kidding.

Barbarino

What is the palm,first pic,last row,second from the left?

Looks like a little Tesan

P.S. do you have any window blinds left?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:29 am

What is the palm,first pic,last row,second from the left?
Looks like a little Tesan

Without schlepping up to the building in my slippers

I think it's either a Princeps (seed from Garry) or a Waggie (have only a few of those).
I have only one Tesan seedling so that's not it.

Blinds....

one old set of mini-blinds = zillions of plant labels

Barb

didnt see any draceana

Have a couple

didn't get a pic, 'coz they're pretty ugly. I hate those but H won't let me put them in the compost.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 12:59 pm

What is the palm,first pic,last row,second from the left?
Looks like a little Tesan

Jim, Waggie at left, Tesan beside it:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8355361420/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8355 ... f932_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="003"></a>

didnt see any draceana icon_razz.gif

Here ya go, Jesse:
You can tell they're not my favs (zilch care

)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8354301969/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8354 ... aa99_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="004"></a>

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:25 pm

Barb, it's great to see that the T. "Tesan" is doing well for you!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 7:50 pm

Thanks Cameron; it got a good start at your place

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:45 pm

AH, Marginata is tough as hell anyways! Ive only ever seen one die, and thats because my mom decided to plant it on a huge put, is 2/3 clay 1/3 sand subsoil. I didnt water mine for almost 2 months and it only dropped half its leaves.

Also, I stand corrected. You have an areca palm (dypsis lutescens, formaly chrysalidocarpus)?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:09 am

Like the add says.........

one old set of mini-blinds = zillions of plant labels

.....priceless.........

Thanks Barb-they look great!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:34 am

Thanks folks.
I expect good growth from the Tesan this year.

Jesse....an areca? Nope, don't think I've got one.

Barb

Jim: zillions is right!

but they've probably got lead in them

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:48 am

Seems to have worked just scraping the stuff off with a spoon.
But will keep an eye on the soil.
Cold in there +8C = 46 F.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8388927345/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8388 ... c2a8_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="002"></a>

Oops, missed some on the Phoenix near the camera.

Never did end up getting a heat lamp installed...

Barb

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:46 am

Sometimes I get mold on my soil too. Especially after a few cloudy days in my toasty house even though the plants are in south facing windows. I sometime lightly spray top of soil with anti-bacteria soap and water mixture or Better yet - I periodically water with peroxide and water - keeps the fungus gnats in check too!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:02 pm

Had forgotten that fungus gnats can be minimized with peroxide added to mister.

Worried that mold might be deeper down too, but so far so good.

Thanks!
Barb

RoboCaesar · Post by **RoboCaesar** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:23 pm

Hydrogen peroxide takes care of fungus gnats? It should be obvious, but that explains why my majesty palm doesn't have a gnat problem! (I often water it with some H2O2 mixed in)

I'll have to try that with the rest of my palms

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:50 am

RoboCaesar wrote:Hydrogen peroxide takes care of fungus gnats? It should be obvious, but that explains why my majesty palm doesn't have a gnat problem! (I often water it with some H2O2 mixed in)

I'll have to try that with the rest of my palms

It kills the larvae - so you have to keep watering everything - eventually they are gone

I'm going to keep using it so they won't come back!

Paul

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:12 pm

Mold seems to be gone now:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8415229908/" title="008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8415 ... c38a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="008"></a>

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:20 pm

Whenever I see that hind of crap I just stir the soil up and it goes away.............

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:41 pm

just stir the soil up and it goes away.

that's exactly what I did.
But is it really gone?