Fungus on top layer of soil wtf?

[greenbeats]

Lights: 250W CFL's (2" above seedlings)
Growing Medium: FoxFarm Ocean Forest, ReadyGro Aeration Formula, CoCo
Nutes: B'Cuzz Foliar Spray
Age: 4-8 days old (seedlings)

Notes: I added some Rainbow Mix Grow on the top layer of soil 2 days ago. This morning when I checked on them I noticed that there is fungal growth on the top layer of soil. Its semi-translucent and is very white/clear, reminiscent of a spider web. I don't know what the hell caused this, as I've never had a problem with fungus ever, nor have I ever heard of a report of fungus this early on. I've had them at a friends since starting these, and they told me they've been smoking several cigarettes in the room. At least 4-6 a day. This may be causing it or what? Plus, I've never used the B'Cuzz foliar spray up until a week ago when I purchased it. And I've also never used the Rainbow Mix line from Ancient Organics, however it seems extremely beneficial. Check it out here: http://www.specialty-lights.com/ancient-organics.html

Could this be causing it? Because beyond the above aforementioned, the environment is stable. I've never seen this problem and to remedy it I just repotted the seedlings and placed them in another room at another location all together.

 

[MynameStitch]

Was this mixture kept anywhere else or reused?
Anything else was added before it when it was used the first time, if it was re used?

I can tell you that your keeping your mixture way to wet, and the humidity has to be high,

Do you know the temps and humidity where it is beign kept?
Also it's a HUGE security risk to have someone else know about your grow, I had a friend who I knew for more than 4 years and He narced on me and I got busted and had my grow ripped down by the pigs.
So just because you think you know them, when there ass is in trouble 95% of the time they will rat just to get there ass of the frying pan.
How often is the plants being watered?
How much water?
How big are the pots?

Why did you add Rainbow Mix Grow to the top layer?
It's obvious it has to be that mixture......
I would remove the affected area and try to keep the RH down and stop watering as often.

 

[greenbeats]

They're in small plastic cups. I've only watered them twice, once the day the sprouts were planted into soil and the other time 2 days ago when I added the rainbox mix. I kind of stirred it into the soil while pouring some water.

Rainbow mix wasn't reused or anything. Just bought it straight from retailer, opened it and used it. Temp is is between 74-78temp/48-54% humidity day. 66 at night, 62% humidity night.

each plant/seedling received about 45mL of water.

And as for the other thing you mentioned, i've known by buddy since 3rd grade. And he's been growing for 4 years or so. He and I are the only people that know of each other's hobbys

 

[greenbeats]

Here's what the seedlings' growth looks like:

Black Pearl







Queen Annes Revenge - 8 days



SpaceQueen - 6 days

 

[greenbeats]

I think it's worth mentioned also that these cups don't have drainage holes. I always grow in small cups with no drainage holes for about 2 weeks and then I transfer. I also keep the soil extremely dry on purpose to help prevent root rot. At this stage, the roots are still developing rather rapidly and keeping them thirsty and then watering them, they use everything up very quick so IMO there is no real need for drainage yet. Especially since there are no additives except for pH balanced water about 4 times during a 2 week period.

I Also transplanted 4 out of the 7 seedlings into new containers with FoxFarm Happy Frog *ONLY*. They are also in a separate location under a 1000WHPS now. Updates will be provided as progress/growth continues..

 

[MynameStitch]

bad move, drainage holes are a must, otherwise the mixture sits in soggy soil, this is where you get your fungus from.

I can tell you the ones with brown cotyledons need to be into a seed starter mixture, the mixture is too hot, some strains don't like happy frog due to it being a little hot......

I would remove the ones and put them into a different mixture, otherwise you will have a dead seedling, if not a slow stunted growth the entire time until it gets big enough to handle the mixture.

Drainage holes are a must, even though they use it quickly, this allows air to get down to the bottom of the cups better and airate the soil, it also helps drain out sogginess if any happens and let excess seep out. I would normally not tell you this, but since your soil has fungus growing, I have to tell you that you are wrong about the drainage holes not being needed, fungus can only grow in moist areas and if the mixture has no drainage holes and only seedlings, than the mixture is staying too wet, your seedlings are already starting to show problems of over watering, the one with the yellow leaves, nitrogen is poorly absorbed in soggy soils, so that is another piece of the puzzle that the mixture is staying too wet, not having drainage holes is a bad idea.

Roots are no where near the bottom of those cups, they have a very small tap root and since you don't have drainage holes the water at the bottom is sitting there.

How often are you watering? You never answered that question, you also did not answer what your RH is? It's important to know...... also the grow room temps. what lighting are these plants under?

 

[jaykush]

looks like a mycellium mold to me. shouldn't do any damage to the plant, let the soil dry out and maybe add a little sand on top of the fungus it should go away.

 

[greenbeats]

Hey stitch, thanks for the help. I was never saying that I was right or wrong, I was just stating what I did and the reasons that I did them. This is the first grow in which I've encountered problems. I know drainage holes are crucial, I just never plan on keeping the plants in their containers for very long without drainage holes. I've since transplanted them into new containers with proper drainage. Growth has continued to accelerate so I think the problem has been stabilized for now.


JayKush, I think you're right. Do you know what causes it? I'm sure stitch is right, I'm sure the lack of drainage and excess wetness played a key role. When I was transplanting them I knocked the top layer off and the mold was only on the surface it hadn't spread anywhere else. Nonetheless, I felt a transplant was needed.

Thanks for your help guys

 

[MynameStitch]

Ahh ok, I thought you were saying it does not matter lol.
Well at least ya know, and like pure knowledge has stated; it's important to get rid of it.
At least you know it seems like rainbow mix is prone to molding..... I wonder why...... If you can't find the product pure has listed, try using 1 tsp of 3% h202 per gallon of water.

 

[MynameStitch]

Ewwww!!! lol, I know what ya mean though..... how much is this crap soil? is it cheap or what?

If it is.... the old term sticks well "Ya get what you pay for"!

 

[greenbeats]

That's some bs I I just got like Rainbow Mix Grow, Bloom, Primal Harvest, and Bat Guano from Ancient Organics (the company that they're all from)

Check it out.
http://www.specialty-lights.com/ancient-organics.html

That's what I get for trying something new. It sounds so damn good on paper. I don't know if I should use it or not. I'm scared of fucking up my other plants. Since then I've replanted all of my plants, most are in a humidity dome with 0 probs all are booming with growth.

I'm running
Strawberry Cough (Dutch Passion)
White Berry (Paradise)
Nexus (from Eva seeds)
Queen Anne's Revenge (TGA/Subcool)
Space Queen (TGA/Subcool)
Ozzy (TGA/Subcool)
Black Pearl (HGS)

They're doing fine and they're all in Happy Frog and Ocean Forest with a 30% mix of ReadyGro Aeration Form.

Would mixing the Rainbow Grow completely in with the soil help? Or maybe mixing it in with 1gal of water and watering the plants with it?? What do you guys think?

 

[MynameStitch]

Well, you would have to keep the mixture from being overwatered if you want to use it, but I would not chance it...... I hope you don't have problems in the mixture you are in now though; they are both rich mixtures, though happy frog is good, just watch for browning or twisty leaves and such.

The nutrients are fine to use, the soil is shit though, I would not chance it.
You don't want the roots to get damping off from the fungus growth in the soil...

damping off will kill your seedlings quickly, since they have hardly no defense setup yet, it's like giving the flu to a newborn baby.

Bigger plants you don't have to worry about damping off as bad, they are more protected against it.

Those are some very nice strains; I would not chance it if I were you. Happy frog and FFOF are much better mixtures than rainbow mix.

 

[greenbeats]

I've just finished mixing my soil mix. It's composting right now, just watered it going to let it sit for about 2 weeks then transplanting the babes into this mix so hopefully things will be okay. I'm upset about not being able to use the Rainbow Mix, but I'm like you and I don't want to risk it.

FoxFarm Happy Frog 40%
FoxFarm Ocean Forest 35%
FoxFarm Light Warrior 10%
Botanicare ReadyGro Aeration Formula 10%
Vermiculite 5%
PreMix-4
2 TBS/gal dolomite lime
1 TBS/gal blood meal
2 TBS/gal bone meal
1 TBS/gal kelp meal
1 TBS/gal greensand
1 TBS/gal kelp meal

 

[MynameStitch]

If you mixed all that, I sure hope your not putting those seedlings in that mixture.....
I would use light warrior ONLY for the seedlings, wait 2 weeks and then transplant them into that mixture......

That mixture is hella rich, FFOF is rich as it is and should not had to add much of anything.

How many gallons of soil did you mix together? If you mixed a lot of it, did you mix very well to ensure no hot spots?

 

[Guest]

The mix in your cup should have enough nutrients and preclude the need to add any, and if you transplant to a 1 gallon container a well balanced soil mix should carry the plant another week or so before you begin an earnest nutrient schedule.

You would profit greatly from listening to Stitch's advice because if you KNEW what you were doing you wouldn't be having easily avoidable problems such as these.

Peace and successful growing

Ty-Stik

 

[anikas88]

i have mushrooms growing out of soil..but they die after a day or two but everytime i water new ones pop up...this only has happened in organic soil grows for me..i see it as beneficial as there is life the soil..i dont know what kind of fungus that is but i hope its beneficial

 

[MynameStitch]

Ya, that happens, but it happens when your soil is too moist, so careful with the waterings.