DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 89 Joined: 11-Feb-2012 Last visit: 14-Mar-2013 Location: Milliways Restaurant at the End of the Universe
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I just bought a small Chacruna plant. A few days ago I noticed fuzzy grey mold growing in the soil, not on the plant (i hope). I attempted to remove the moldy top soil layer and change it's location (all indoors). The mold grew back in a few days. I'm 98% sure it was infected in my house. The plant was sent from California and I live in the damp, moldy window silled Pacific Northwest. So what can I do to remove the mold and not hurt my plant? Neem oil, maybe? Earth: Mostly Harmless... Dont Panic!
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Hyperspace Architect/Doctor
Posts: 1242 Joined: 11-Jul-2010 Last visit: 08-Dec-2012 Location: On this plane
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Well i am not sure what kind of mold you are working with. But maybe i can suggest try getting some worms, stick that in your planter. The worms kinda help the dirt and give it the ability to breathe, and it is possible you have mold because its too wet. I hope it works out, good luck. "You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because our world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. Our world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness." — Terence McKenna
"They Say It helps when you close yours eyes cowboy"
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omnia sunt communia!
Posts: 6024 Joined: 29-Jul-2009 Last visit: 29-Oct-2021
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Perhaps a light misting of the affected area with h2o2 (standard OTC 3% solution)... Wiki • Attitude • FAQThe Nexian • Nexus Research • The OHTIn New York, we wrote the legal number on our arms in marker...To call a lawyer if we were arrested. In Istanbul, People wrote their blood types on their arms. I hear in Egypt, They just write Their names. גם זה יעבור
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bird-brain
Posts: 959 Joined: 26-Apr-2010 Last visit: 30-Oct-2020
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Neem oil works by messing up the molting stage of insects or interfering with their neurological system, not sure which, but either way it wont work. I think tobacco has anti-fungal properties... blooooooOOOOOooP fzzzzzzhm KAPOW! This is shit-brained, this kind of thinking. Grow a plant or something and meditate on that
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 41 Joined: 22-Nov-2009 Last visit: 19-Sep-2015
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Ford Prefect wrote: So what can I do to remove the mold and not hurt my plant? Neem oil, maybe?
If the plant is still healthy, give her a transplant. Discard all the soil, wash the roots in clean distilled water (no tap water with high pH). Prepare a good soil. 1/2 rich potting soil and 1/2 perlite for drainage. Put some expanded clay (hydroton) on the bottom layer for drainage. Since PV loves high humidity levels you MUST have a good soil to avoid mold in the soil!. Neem oil does not work on this problem. Soil does not have to be all wet, It must be able to dry pretty fast... Otherwise with high humidity levels (such as pv needs) it will get nasty quickly.
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 89 Joined: 11-Feb-2012 Last visit: 14-Mar-2013 Location: Milliways Restaurant at the End of the Universe
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Yeah, i've been thinking a good transplant is in order. I would not have thought to wash things with distilled water though. I've been watering vary lightly, if at all. Misting the leaves like a new clone mostly. Now that I have the next node coming up I'm feeling the shock from the trip here is passing and I can transplant now. I would include a pic of the mold, but it's so thin at the moment you wont be able to see it. Ford Prefect attached the following image(s): Picture0325.jpg (23kb) downloaded 100 time(s).Earth: Mostly Harmless... Dont Panic!
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 1925 Joined: 28-Apr-2010 Last visit: 07-Jul-2024
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You may want to just get a cheapish soil ph tester. I'd be willing to bet your soil is a bit acidic which allows mold and bacteria to thrive. The ideal ph is around 6.5 A soil tester won't give you completely accurate readings but you can get a fuzzy notion as to what you're working with. As long as you keep it between 6 and 7 you're good. Not only does this discourage the bad mold and bacteria, it also allows the plant to absorb more nutrients. This link will describe what I'm talking about a bit better. A quick fix is to just toss a little lime on top (not too much) and water it in real good. If/when you transplant it's normally a good practice to throw a little bit of lime into the mix just to sweeten the soil a bit. You don't want to go crazy with it as a little goes a long way. Edit: Just looking at your plant, she seems pretty healthy. You may want to top her soon though to encourage bushing out. If you don't want to top her, you can tie her over and that will make the lower branches spring up as the top part of the plant. Just keep untying and retying her at different angles to make her bush out that much more. It's good for the plant and therapeutic at the same time. Kinda like bonsai but not. I'd still transplant her though and bury some of that long stem down in the soil to give her more support to handle the tying down. Convert a melodic element into a rhythmic element...
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You do not have to see alike, feel alike or even think alike in order spiritually to be alike
Posts: 703 Joined: 24-Aug-2011 Last visit: 10-Jul-2014 Location: USA
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A light chamomile tea solution works well, its a natural anti fungal. I allways spray my seed trays with some. Perfect for an organic gardener. Toadfreak!
Travel like a king Listen to the inner voice A higher wisdom is at work for you Conquering the stumbling blocks come easier When the conqueror is in tune with the infinite Every ending is a new beginning Life is an endless unfoldment Change your mind, and you change your relation to time Free your mind and the rest will follow
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 12340 Joined: 12-Nov-2008 Last visit: 02-Apr-2023 Location: pacific
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^that is good to know..thanks! I find that my tropical plants(other than shade plants like salvia) tend to get more mold in low light situations..mold grows alot better in the shade it seems. Long live the unwoke.
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DMT-Nexus member
Posts: 37 Joined: 10-Mar-2012 Last visit: 22-Jan-2013 Location: Great Lakes
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What works for me to hold down mold and algae is to dust the soil with powdered charcoal. That is a pretty big plant, I don't think that mold will hurt your plant but if you lay a 1/4 inch of powdered charcoal that will sure toast any baddies. Charcoal put on soil this way will be hydrophillic and seem to repel water but eventually it will take it up. You can reapply it as often as necessary too. Let us know what you do and how it works.
Oh yeah, Lump charcoal for BBQing works great, just wear a dust mask and scrape it on some hardware cloth or an old sieve outdoors preferably.
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