Perlite in Soil is Turning Green!
- Thread starter SysKonfig
- Start date
Spanishfly
Well-Known Member
sounds like algae - it will turn the soil sour - can´t do your plants any good.
greasemonkeymann
Well-Known Member
i'm guessing it's only on the top?
in a non-inert medium it isn't that uncommon for algae/moss type growths to form on the top of the soil, it's a reaction from the food (soil) and light, it's not a huge problem, i've never seen any issueswith it, just let it dry out a bit and it'll die. A fan directed to the medium will help also.
the perlite is white so you can see it easier, it forms on all the soil, you just can't see it as easy on darker surfaces.
I'm not familiar with the term "sour" pertaining to the soil, i'm assuming you are talking ph?
If you are, i don't agree algae/moss growth won't affect ph over the course of an indoor grow, maybe over years, not months.
in a non-inert medium it isn't that uncommon for algae/moss type growths to form on the top of the soil, it's a reaction from the food (soil) and light, it's not a huge problem, i've never seen any issueswith it, just let it dry out a bit and it'll die. A fan directed to the medium will help also.
the perlite is white so you can see it easier, it forms on all the soil, you just can't see it as easy on darker surfaces.
I'm not familiar with the term "sour" pertaining to the soil, i'm assuming you are talking ph?
If you are, i don't agree algae/moss growth won't affect ph over the course of an indoor grow, maybe over years, not months.
Nope I don't over water and it's not too humid. I water about once every 3 days (give or take, depending on what's needed), they're definitely not over watered. I've learned from experience the damage over watering can do, and I never make the same mistake twice 
And the humidity is 70%, which I don't think is too high for seedlings.
And the humidity is 70%, which I don't think is too high for seedlings.
CaretakerDad
Well-Known Member
A very light bleach and water mix sprayed on the medium every day or two should get rid of and prevent the algae
DemonTrich
Well-Known Member
ive had a few pots like this. its not deep, only on the surface. i just take a spoon, and scrape the tip 1/4" or less of "green perlite" soil off. then replace with some fresh soil. ive ran into this issue when i had my seedlings in a humidome, and my seedline uppotted to 1 gallon pot (no dome) in my veg tent. after scraping, ive never seen it again in the pot(s). it looks like green algae to me. weather good or not, i scraped it and its gone. my soil is FFOF (1.5cu')+ 1 cup dolomite lime+ great white mycorhizae(sp)+ 1/2 bag perlite. growing in a 4x4x7 tent with 68* lights off and 79* lights on temps and rh from 43% to 65%. it fluctuates in veg.
ASMALLVOICE
Well-Known Member
I don't know about you folks, but I have used AN and it changes the color of perlite, used canna and it also changes the color of the perlite. I think it is a mix of nutes and particulate matter. If there is any algae, it is not going to hurt much of anything in a short term environment( like an indoor grow). My .02
Peace and Great Grows
Asmallvoice
Peace and Great Grows
Asmallvoice
