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Greenhouse Mould?

sunitsunit Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hello everyone,

Apologise if this is a mundane/newbie question, I have only really started on my gardening journey (> 1 year a garden enthusiast).
I went in to the greenhouse this morning and on close inspection I noticed that this something that looks like mould starting to appear on the surface of the compost I have used to pot on my seedlings (note the little spherical spore like growths)



The greenhouse is in a relatively sheltered spot that keeps it out of any strong winds and I have a paraffin lamp in there running.

I was wondering if anyone could help identify what this is and if I need to be worried, plus advise on any remedial action I need to take? As you can see in the photo that a leaf is starting to yellow so I am concerned that the several hundred little seedlings I have may wilt and die.

My initial thought is that it is down to damp and warm conditions that have triggered micro organisms in the compost to grow so have opened the door to allow more air to pass through. 

Any help will be appreciated, thank you.   

Posts

  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    I'd say nothing to worry about in that photo. Soil will normally be full of micro-organisms, going about their business of rotting any dead organic matter in the soil. They don't normally affect living plants - the live cells keep them out from doing their 'rotting work' (the plants having lived with these organisms all the time they were evolving). So you've just got some organism which has managed to grow to visible size - maybe those things are its 'fruiting bodies' (like mushrooms).

    The plant looks fine. Don't know when you sowed the seed - last autumn maybe, but it looks like it's come through winter and old outer leaves are getting 'worn out' and new ones are springing from the centre.
  • sunitsunit Posts: 8
    clarke.brunt - I am relieved. 
    I planted those circa late October . I'm glad that it's nothing to worry about. I was a little concerned that I had created an environment that might kill off the plants.

    Thank you for your response
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Paraffin lamps create a lot of moisture which will be making your greenhouse very humid. It is one of the drawbacks of that type of heater.
  • sunitsunit Posts: 8
    steephill, I wasn't aware of that. It's really good to know. I was considering an electric heater but I wasn't super keen on a trailing cable from the shed to the greenhouse. Are they a better option?
    The greenhouse I built was an after thought to fill a dead space so power outlets weren't considered in the original layout. 
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    To much moisture hanging in the air in your greenhouse. You need to ventilate. Get the door wide open as much as you can especially on a sunny day. Your plants will suffer from damping off if you do not ventilate regularly.

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

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