Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Gardeners Supply - Mail Order Plants - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries Mail Order - Flowering Bulbs - Winter Landscaping

Article: Peat Moss Alternatives: Coconut Coir and Rice Hulls.: Growing in Coir

  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Forum: Article: Peat Moss Alternatives: Coconut Coir and Rice Hulls.Replies: 1, Views: 30
Print -
AuthorContent
oopsiedaisy
Memphis, TN

May 11, 2009
02:36 PM

Post #6534576

I'm trying coir for the first time this year, too. I used a 50/50 blend of coir (originally saturated with an organic seed starting fertilizer) and perlite in a seed starting flat with a terrarium style cover. I noticed that green stuff is invading the top of the flat. It doesn't look like moss, and I'm afraid whatever it is (fungus?) is going to hurt my seedlings as they come up. Any suggestions about WHAT the green stuff is and what to do about it? Will applications of neem oil help?
critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)

May 11, 2009
07:16 PM

Post #6535957

If the top of your potting mix (whatever it's made up of) is too moist, you can get a green algae growing on the surface. It's pretty harmless, although a thick mat of it might smother tiny seedlings. More to the point, if you're seeing the algae, it means your mix is probably too moist, and that invites problems such as damping off. Take the cover off for a few hours until the surface dries out a bit, then water from the bottom only once the seeds germinate.

I don't know if neem will help, but hydrogen peroxide water might be a good spritz (1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide per quart)... but I wouldn't saturate the surface with anything else for now.

If the algae is growing thickly, you may also be able to physically remove some of it from the surface.


Post a reply to this thread:

From:

Your message:

Image:

-

Other Article: Peat Moss Alternatives: Coconut Coir and Rice Hulls. Threads you might be interested in:

SubjectThread StarterRepliesLast Post
cool onewish1 5 May 10, 2009 9:28 PM
The Real Dirt on Peat Moss darius 10 May 13, 2009 8:35 AM
coir gardenglory 1 May 8, 2009 11:24 PM
Alan Summers on Peat Moss.... Gitagal 1 May 8, 2009 11:21 PM
Finally.... Chantell 1 May 8, 2009 11:19 PM


We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2009 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America