How to deal with mould
21.08.2023 - 12:04
/ theunconventionalgardener.com
/ Emma Doughty
Mould (mold) spores are everywhere, they’re inescapable, and moulds love growing in the warm, damp and humid conditions that seedlings need to thrive. If you have biodegradable pots then moulds can rapidly colonize those; but they will happily grow on the surface of compost as well. A lot of the moulds we see won’t do much damage to the seedlings, but some of them will and having mould on the windowsill isn’t much good for us either.
Good hygiene will help prevent mould problems – if you’re using plastic or terracotta pots then give them a good scrub before you fill them. A sterile seed compost gives you a clean head-start, and watering from below means that the surface of the compost remains dry (and unattractive to mould).
Mould problems are worse where air flow is limited, so don’t overcrowd your seedlings and if you’re using a propagator then open the vents as soon as the seeds have germinated (or prop up the lid so that there is some air flow). Don’t overwater your seedlings. There’s more about seedling care in The Peat-Free Diet; if you’re starting to have mould problems then try pricking out your seedlings into a clean home. That’s the way that the Mlllennium Seed Bank deals with the inevitable moulds that colonize their germination tests.
With biodegradable pots, my top tip is to use diluted (cold!) chamomile tea to water your seedlings. It has anti-fungal properties that really reduce mould growth, and can deal with existing mould problems, without hurting the seedlings.
Do you have your own secret weapon against mould?
Unless otherwise stated, © Copyright Emma Doughty 2023. Published on theunconventionalgardener.com.
We were growing some leek seed on kitchen paper in a propagator and little black patches started to
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