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Mouldy compost
Lowey72
Posts: 7
Hi. I have recently started off a variety of seeds in trays of compost. Some in windowsill propagators and some in clear plastic bags (as directed on the packet). Within a week nearly all of them have got white fluffy mould growing on the surface. Is this a sign that the compost is bad and should I start again? Is there any danger? I know that soils can contain nasty mould spores that can make you quite poorly if you breathe them in Thanks
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Posts
I never ever cover the compost when I plant seeds. I've had problems with mould growing when following all the instructions on the seed packets and figured it was easier to just make sure the compost was damp every morning. Seems to work just fine.
I cover mine but only until the seeds are through. I save up those disposable plastic shower caps you get in hotels etc, which will usually cover a seed tray or a large pot.
Oooh no, I'd never pinch the towels! But the toiletrries are meant to be used or taken. We hardly ever used the tea and coffee in the room, so we're quite moderate in our usage.
Here's another tip for potting on plants (no theft involved): before filling a flower pot, I place a scrap of old horticultral fleece at the bottom, or a piece of J-cloth., covering the holes. This prevents the compost being washed out of the holes and making a mess. It also keeps out woodlice and other creep crawlies.
Sorry, no idea about that. I'm not very good with flowers, much as I love them, I'm more of a vegetable grower.
FRANK'S ANSWER: The best compost for Streps is one that is 100% peat if you can get it. I recommend Arthur Bowers Traditional or Clover Potting & Bedding.
I also have white mites on mine but cant see an answer for that. However mine seem to be worse if the plant is in a warm windowsill. Also I sprayed it with weak solution of washing up liquid and water, like you would for greenfly and that seemed to do the trick.
Warm and wet is a breeding ground for mould and all sorts of other pests and diseases Lowey. Like Green Magpie, I don't cover seeds once they've germinated.
Ventilation is often forgotten about when seed sowing - especially when we sow early in the year in a nice heated house! A good air flow is just as important as the compost or seeds involved. Always bear in mind that the seeds have to go outside at some point, so growing them a little more slowly means they're better equipped for that - less leggy and etiolated, and therefore stronger. Keeping compost on the dry side rather than it being too wet helps too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Maybe I should do what Ceres says and not cover at all and just ensure they are sufficiently damp
I'm still convinced that the compost is probably rubbish though!