Using natural plant pots like peat pots, coconut fiber, or even newspaper pots can seem like a good idea.Īfter all, we all like to use natural biodegradable products or reuse something that would go to waste.īut these types of pots are not always the best for young plants to grow in. Then once they are growing well you can transplant them into larger pots with a richer compost mix. Instead, use a soilless seed starting mix for starting seeds and young seedlings. Often bagged soil mixes contain bacteria and mold spores that can start growing in your seed trays with nothing to fight it off. While these are both wonderful things for plants to grow in when you separate organic matter from the ground it comes out of balance with nature. One of the easiest ways to cause a mold problem with your seedlings is using a seed starter mix that has organic matter like compost or soil. However, I don’t recommend using this mixture until after the seeds have sprouted and grown up a bit. It also works very well as a foliage spray if you have mold growing on the leaves or stems of plants. Always test new treatments on a small sampling of plants to make sure you like the results.Īnother natural fungicide that is easy to make is mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. It’s important to remember that hydrogen peroxide can harm the leaves of plants if the mixture is too strong.īecause of this, I prefer to bottom water only if using this method. Once it’s been cleared up go back to the lower dosage. If you already have a mold problem or root rot then you can increase the peroxide to 1 tablespoon per 1 cup of water for treatment. I’ve found this is a great mold preventative in our seed starting. To make this simply mix 1 teaspoon of 3% peroxide to 1 cup of water and use this to bottom water the seedlings with. The first is to use a mixture of hydrogen peroxided and water, instead of plain water when I water my seedlings. There are two simple recipes that I use with great results. The added benefit of using these is that it can be done at the same time you would water your seedlings. Years ago I started using natural fungicides to help prevent mold and other problems in my seedlings. You do want the soil to stay consistently moist but make sure you let the top of the seed starting mix dry out before you water again. Never let your soil become soggy or let water sit in the tray. So while heat mats are really helpful during the germination stage, make sure to turn them off after the seedlings have started to grow. Keeping the soil to warm can encourage mold growth and hurt your seedlings.
Simply use a long popsicle stick or twig to hold open one end of the plastic dome. If you feel that you need to keep them on because the seeds haven’t sprouted yet then try proving them open for a few hours each day to let some air in. I always remove the lids after the seeds have sprouted as the extra humidity is really only needed during the germination stage. If the lids are still on your seedling trays this can be a big cause of mold growth. You don’t have to get it all, but it does quickly make the soil look much nicer.
Wipe it onto a paper towel or newspaper to dispose of. Take a small object like a popsicle stick, pencil, or knife and gently scrape off as much of the mold from the soil as you can. If you don’t want to remove the mold it’s ok because it will naturally die with the rest of the treatment. Ok, this step is optional but it will speed things up a little bit. You don’t need to buy any harsh chemical sprays either, just use these simple tips to get rid of mold on your soil. The good news is these problems are all easily solved! White fluffy mold starting to grow on the soil in a seed starting tray.
Stop mold on seedlings how to#
How To Get Rid Of White Mold On Seed Starting Soil The main causes of white mold on seed starting soil are overwatering, overcrowded seedlings, keeping them to warm and a lack of airflow. It’s also a sign that something is wrong with your seed starting setup and it needs to be fixed quickly to keep your seedlings healthy. What Causes White Mold In Seed Traysīut even though white mold is pretty harmless to plants it sure doesn’t look nice, does it? I know I don’t want mold growing in my home and I bet you don’t want it either! But you can learn how to treat and prevent damping off. That’s a nasty problem you don’t want to have!ĭamping off is caused by a type of fungus that causes your plants to pinch off and fall over quickly. It’s commonly thought that fuzzy white mold growing in your soil will kill seedlings but this fungus really isn’t harmful to plants.īut if you are finding mold growth happening around your seedlings then that’s a sign that conditions are right for damping off disease. Start Seeds Outdoors Does Mold In Plant Soil Hurt Seedlings?
0 kommentar(er)
