What follows are tried-and-true methods to prevent the growth of green mold and tips for managing existing populations. 10 ways to prevent green mold from developing:Ī little extra preparation before you even begin to sow seeds will make a world of difference in the success of the season. When you see algae develop on your seedling trays, take steps to adjust the climate to one that is much better suited for your seedlings. What’s more damaging than algae growth is the humid environment that supports it. If left untreated, green mold will take over seedling trays and create a crusty barrier, making it harder for plants to absorb the water and nutrients they need. Green mold doesn’t directly harm seedlings, but it may cause problems when it competes with plants for space, nutrients, and water. Is this green stuff harmful to my seedlings? Seedlings need water, light, heat, and fertilizer – but applying these things too often or too soon will create an environment ripe for algae and other fungal growth.Īlgae prefer some growing mediums over others – if you’re using potting soil high in organic content or a soil block mix high in peat moss, you might be more likely to see algae as these mediums hold excess moisture and nutrients. Green mold thrives in warm, humid conditions. Why is my seedling soil developing green mold? Read on to learn what green mold is, what it might mean for your seedlings, and how to eliminate it. Green mold isn’t a death threat for your seedlings, but its presence signals the existence of another, more sinister pest. Your seeding room or greenhouse may be an ideal environment for algae to grow if you’re overwatering the plants in a room with little airflow. Your seedling soil can be covered with either green mold or algae, a common type of moss-like plants that thrive in warm, humid conditions. As an Amazon Associate earns from qualifying purchases.Ĭongratulations! The precious seeds that you have sown with care have finally sprouted.īut on closer inspection, you notice there’s something else growing in your seedling trays, too.īefore you pat yourself on the back for a job well done, you should probably determine what the slimy green stuff actually is. In beds where white mold has occurred, remove and replace infested soil.This post contains affiliate links. Remove dead leaves, withered flowers and other plant debris. Avoid overwatering and frequent light waterings instead water deeply early in the day. Control weeds as they can be alternate hosts of the white mold fungus and can decrease air circulation. Promote good air circulation with proper plant spacing. How do I avoid problems with white mold in the future? Check seed for presence of sclerotia and remove them before planting. Do not compost these materials because of the risk of spreading the pathogen via long-lived sclerotia. Prune four to five inches below obviously disease tissue or remove entire plants if they are severely affected, and burn them. How do I save plants with white mold? White mold is difficult to manage once infections have occurred. In some plants, seeds can be contaminated by sclerotia or hyphae of the fungus. Infection often begins on dead or decaying plant parts like flowers and leaves, and then spreads to healthy tissue. Spores are dispersed primarily by wind, but also by rainsplash and insects. Either spores or hyphae can infect plant tissue. During periods of cool, wet weather sclerotia germinate to form either hyphae or tiny, mushroom-like spore-producing structures called apothecia. Where does white mold come from? White mold is caused by several species of the fungus Sclerotinia that overwinter as sclerotia in dead plant material or in infested soil. The sclerotia are white at first and then turn dark brown or black when mature. Hard, irregularly-shaped masses called sclerotia develop within or on the surface of infected plants. Cottony masses of fungal threads (hyphae) may appear on stems or on nearby soil. Brown spots can appear on flower petals and buds. Plants affected by white mold can wilt rapidly as a result of stem-girdling cankers at or near the soil line. White mold can lead to crown and stem cankers, root rots, wilts, damping-off of seedlings, and blossom and fruit rots. What does white mold look like? Symptoms of white mold vary with the plant host infected. White mold can also be a serious problem in home vegetable and herbaceous ornamental gardens. It causes severe damage in commercial snap, kidney and lima bean production, as well as commercial sunflower production. What is white mold? White mold is a serious, and often lethal, fungal disease that affects over 374 types of plants in many plant families. Stem cankers, cottony hyphae and sclerotia (see arrows) of white mold on snap beans.Īnn Joy and Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison Plant Pathology
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