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What's this jelly?

AstraeusAstraeus Posts: 336
in Problem solving
We have mentha requinii running alongside our pond cascade. It's growing well and spreading into the water and along its edge. But there's this weird jelly developing:

 
Any idea of what it is and whether it's a cause for concern?

Thanks,

A.
«1

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    Nostoc.  aka star jelly.  See wikipedia/nostco.

    I get it on limestone chippings on a flat roof.  Difficult to control.  It doesn't respond to the standard fungicides or algicides.  Ferrous suphate solution did the trick on a small test area, but caused a rust discoloration.

    The best I have found is to spray with household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite).  Use thin bleach if you can find it; the thickening makes it more difficult to spray.  I actually bought some 15% commercial bleach on the internet.  10% is recommended.  But be carefull to keep it away from skin, clothes. pets, loved plants ,and especially eyes.

    After spraying you will see no change.  It will be dead but still clings on to moisture and looks unaltered..  It needs a good period to dry and crumble away.  After a March spray, mine has noe completely disappeared.  Probably some spores will remian.




     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Nostoc is a type of algae. It won't harm your plants. In fact it forms a symbiotic relationship with them and helps feed them.
    But I agree it doesn't look great

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • AstraeusAstraeus Posts: 336
    Hmm, thanks both.

    I'll not be able to treat the area with bleach because it runs directly in to a fish pond. Suspect this may be a case of living with it!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I also get some weird stuff growing around the waterfall for my pond. It usually disappears after a while as the weather cools.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    It's horrid, please don't live with it.

    More thinking is needed:

    1.  pick it with your figures.

    2. Spay with bleach very carefully.  perhaps create some sort of dam/barrier.

    3.  Kitchen or painters' flame gun.  Or a proper gardeners' flame thrower if you can borrow one.

    ...
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Why kill something harmless, perhaps even beneficial?

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Aha.  A bit more thinking and I come up with "boiling water".  It works for me on weeds in paving.

    If you are concerned about energy costs, 60ºC should be enough.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Go the whole hog, @bede and use Agent Orange. Why this desperate need to kill harmless flora?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I get all sorts of different types of algae growing on and around my slate waterfall.
    When it starts to look a bit naff I just remove it with my hands or scrape it off with fingernails every couple of weeks - it barely takes a couple of minutes. No need for chemicals, boiling water or agent orange 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    punkdoc said:
    Go the whole hog, @bede and use Agent Orange. Why this desperate need to kill harmless flora?
    Punkdoc

    Please send us some photos of your garden so we can see your interpretation of your comments.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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