My Greenhouse Construction Thread (picture heavy)

[MoonShadows]

UPDATE:

Good News, Bad News.....

The good news is the plants continue to do well; we are clipping outside leaves for salads; the seedlings are growing too.

The bad news is, while the cinnamon kills off the white mold, it comes back within 24-48 hours. I thought that perhaps sprinkling it wasn't getting it in all the nooks and crannies, so I steeped a few teaspoons, filtered it, and sprayed it all over the soil. Once again, the mold disappeared only to return 24-48 hours later.

While the plants seem to be doing well, I keep thinking at some point this mold will take its toll on them. Also, breathing in mold spores is not all that great. Yes, every house has mold spores, but why add to the ones already present?

I've read baking soda or apple cider vinegar will kill the mold, but my guess is they will be temporary also. I am half thinking of harvesting all the plants, then taking out the top inch or so of compost and replacing it with sterile potting soil. Since the mold only grows on the surface, this might eliminate the problem, or will it delay the regrowth? I don't know.

We'll see.....

 

[lcertuche]

Thanks for the update. Gives us something to think about.

 

[Hinotori]

Vinegar will kill plants as well so be careful with it. I use it for grass elimination on the back steps.

Replacing with sterile soil might be the best bet.

 

[MoonShadows]

I use vinegar for killing weeds in our front brick walkway. Works great.

I am thinking of harvesting the lettuce and spinach we have now, removing the composted soil and replacing it with sterile potting soil. But, will the sterile potting soil have anything that will foster growth?...and/or if I add an organic fertilizer, will the mold grow again?

I am also thinking of not adding water to the bottom waterer, and just watering from the top right around the plants.

 

[Hinotori]

You can sterilize the soil yourself by baking it.

 

[sumi]

But, will the sterile potting soil have anything that will foster growth?...and/or if I add an organic fertilizer, will the mold grow again?

I was wondering the same thing

 

[MoonShadows]

You can sterilize the soil yourself by baking it.

Yup, I know that, and it will kill the mold, but if the soil is rich in organic matter, the mold will start growing again. If I buy sterile potting soil from the store it will be just about devoid of any nutrients the plants can use. To me, it seems like a Catch 22.

 

[Mini Horses]

Think mulch or plastic on soil would help? Just a thought.
Reduced oxygen & light. Don't know.

 

[Hinotori]

Sterile doesn't mean that it has no nutrients. plenty of microbes are in the air and will populate it soon as well. A lot of the store potting soils are peat based, at least here. It doesn't mold easy as it's slightly acidic.


Hmm. on that thought, maybe mulching with peat moss?

 

[MoonShadows]

Think mulch or plastic on soil would help? Just a thought.
Reduced oxygen & light. Don't know.

Everything I read about fluffy white mold says nothing about oxygen and light, just too much moisture and too rich a soil.

Sterile doesn't mean that it has no nutrients. plenty of microbes are in the air and will populate it soon as well. A lot of the store potting soils are peat based, at least here. It doesn't mold easy as it's slightly acidic.


Hmm. on that thought, maybe mulching with peat moss?

When I prepared the soil, I mixed in a ton of peat, but perhaps adding some more to the top might be very helpful. Thanks.


I also have a battery powered fan I keep on the lowest setting during the day to keep the air moving. I usually turn it off at night when I turn the grow lights off. Last night I left it on and this morning there doesn't seem to be as much white mold as there is most mornings. They say air circulation is very important in combating white mold. Air circulation in a house is poor compared to outside.