white mold while cooking my soil?

[Bennyweed1]

So I lifted the lid on my soil today to turn it over and there was white fuzzy mold on some parts of the surface. I think white is ok but I want to hear from a pro. The soil is still very warm to the touch so I want to believe the mold is just a reaction from the break down of organic matter and what not...... I am new to the organic thing but I like what I have going so far.

This is my soil mix. I would like to hope it will take me from start to finish but I honestly do not know that for sure until I actually get to the finish line. Is this mix to hot for clones? I really need advice because I have a lot riding on this soil and need it to deliver results.

Thanks ICmag.


5 gallons local organic potting soil
5 gallons peat
1 gallon cotton burr
1 gallon EWC
4 gallons perlite


Kelp meal – 2 cup
Bone meal- 2 cup
blood meal- 1 cup
Azomite- 1 cup
Dolomite lime- 2 3/4 cup
Alfalfa- 1 ¾ cup
Bat guanos N&P-1 cup each
Dry molasses – 2 cup
Green sand – 1 cup
Rice Flour – ¾ cup
Bacteria – ½ cup
diatomaceous earth – 2 cup

 

[lipsmcgee]

I'm by no means an expert on this but I have experienced the same type of thing. I use a modified Moonshine Mix recipe and when I get it all mixed together, and it's been a few weeks, I'll find the white mold. I usually just mix it up again and leave the lid off of my container for a few days to try and dry out the soil a little bit. I've used my soil after having the mold and have noticed no difference at all from soil that did not grow the mold. Maybe someone else knows what type of mold or fungus it is, or if it is harmful for our plants(or us!)

 

[maxima32]

while i am definately not the expert i will say that you should be good . I have a compost bin and that fuzzy white stuff appears all the time. i am almost positive that its beneficial fungus that microbes in the soil feed on and break down .

 

[Montana]

It's Mycelium
A fungus
Take it as a good sign, it appears on mixes and compost, it helps with decomposition.

Don't be afraid of a little mold or fungus here and there, all part of the process

 

[jaykush]

mold and fungus are not the same. they look similar at a glance but when you actually look at them they are quite different.

as for the fuzz just turn in the mold or throw some mulch on top.

 

[Bennyweed1]

okay thanks for the replys IC folks! Seriously, that is good stuff.

As for my amendments, do they look like they hold success? Is there anything I should change? Not enough lime, no much lime, to much bone meal ext.....anything information would be awesome!

Keep in mind, what I have is what I have. I cant get any more amendments so please help me work with what I have. Thanks again.

 

[The Wang]

cobweb mold, you don't have enough air exchange in the bin you are "cooking" your soil in. Make more holes or leave the lid off!

 

[Montana]

Since your dealing with just over 10 gal of mix, if I were you I would simplify your measurements to one cup of everything, it looks like you've done your homework and have all nutrients covered, 3/4 cups of this and 1.5 cups of that, just do yourself a favor and put one cup each of all those ammendments.

This is just my method, but my general rule is one cup dry ferts for 10 gal of mix, if it's 10.8 gallons, just round it off to one cup, saves you the hassle and will still work well.


Don't get sidetracked with overly scientific mixes and measurements, if your genetics are good quality, your results will be tops, no matter how fancy a mix is, if the genetics of your strain is garbage, then your results will be garbage as well, take the time to know what your growing and get to know it well.......recommended genetics are not always that good, everyone likes something different, most "growers" grow whats popular like a trend, thinking that if everyone is doing it, it must be good, 10 years ago certain strains were the bomb, and are now considered crap, even if they are still really good.

keep it simple as possible.

Personally I don"t see the need for 2 cups kelp or 2 cups bone, you have guanos added for that extra kick, and some alfalfa, you might be overdoing it with 2 cups of anything with a mix that extensive, plants grown in organic mixes take what they need when they need it, fungus in the soil will move nutrients around and put them where the plant needs them at the time they need them, overusing dry ferts will just use up your supply.......I think your mix will work just fine but try and keep it simple for next time around

 

[Bennyweed1]

Since your dealing with just over 10 gal of mix, if I were you I would simplify your measurements to one cup of everything, it looks like you've done your homework and have all nutrients covered, 3/4 cups of this and 1.5 cups of that, just do yourself a favor and put one cup each of all those ammendments.

This is just my method, but my general rule is one cup dry ferts for 10 gal of mix, if it's 10.8 gallons, just round it off to one cup, saves you the hassle and will still work well.


Don't get sidetracked with overly scientific mixes and measurements, if your genetics are good quality, your results will be tops, no matter how fancy a mix is, if the genetics of your strain is garbage, then your results will be garbage as well, take the time to know what your growing and get to know it well.......recommended genetics are not always that good, everyone likes something different, most "growers" grow whats popular like a trend, thinking that if everyone is doing it, it must be good, 10 years ago certain strains were the bomb, and are now considered crap, even if they are still really good.

keep it simple as possible.

Personally I don"t see the need for 2 cups kelp or 2 cups bone, you have guanos added for that extra kick, and some alfalfa, you might be overdoing it with 2 cups of anything with a mix that extensive, plants grown in organic mixes take what they need when they need it, fungus in the soil will move nutrients around and put them where the plant needs them at the time they need them, overusing dry ferts will just use up your supply.......I think your mix will work just fine but try and keep it simple for next time around

Thats a great response! Thanks you very much and I will use your advise. I felt like I may have been over doing it or using more then I needed. I will drop everything down to 1 cup aside from the amendments that are already under a cup as it is.

Thanks again!!

 

[Montana]

Your welcome, my pleasure good luck!

 

[DU420]

I found this helpful so i thought I'd dig it up....