Like the title says, Ive got a small fungus problem (hoping to stop it from becoming big )Ive got seedlings in pots, some new, some fairly big. The soil on the top of the pot looks like it has mold on it. Ive been told I should just get rid of the seedlings and soil and wash the pots well, but it would hurt to trash my nice, big bean and pumpkin plants Ive done away with the small seedlings that just came up a few days ago. Is there any way I can save the big ones? Also, my 2 miniature roses have spider mites. One seems to be coming through it ok, but the other has pretty much lost all its leaves. Should I just trash that one, or would it grow back? The stems are still a healthy green.
Hi Bip, Well with the mold on the soil, I suggest that you carefully remove the top layer only by sliding a butter knife blade just under the surface. The other fungus on your plants: is it white and cort of cottony-looking? I sometimes get mold on my seedlings, especially if I have germinated them in an incubator or covered them with a plastic bag. The whits, fluffy fungus typically appears at the base of the stems where they go into the soil. I carefully remove it with tweezers and let the soil dry in the open air and the plants usually does ok after that. I have just performed this on about 16 seedlings week before last and they are all surviving. The spider mites you can get rid of by making a solution of spiritus (~2-3 tablespoons), thick liquid soap (~2 glops) and water to make a quart (liter). Stir it all until the soap has disolved, then turn your plant container upside down, holding the soil in place with your fingers (for instance: the plant stem sticking through your middle and ring fingers as all your fingers cover the soil atop the pot) and submerge the foilage into this solution and turn it and shake it about while keeping it submerged for about 2 minutes. Then set the plant upright again and let it air dry. Save the solution and repeat this in two days if you can still see them in creeping their webs. As for your withering little plant, I would have to see it before venturing a guess at removing it or not...but having said that, why not use the 'cure' above and just see if it makes it. They most often do not, but it's worth a try--what do you have to loose? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on this one, but I honestly am optimistic.
Yes, it's white and fuzzy. Ive been trying to get as much off as I can with my fingers. Do you know what may be causing it? And what is spiritus?
Spiritus = booze, Bip. I've tried to get rid of spider mites on several occasions, using different types of remedies, and I've not succeeded so far. Good luck, I hope you manage to save your seedlings and roses.
No, no Droopy...spiritus is not booze here in Nederland. "booze" is ethel alcohol and this is more a methanol-type stuff. It's also called "white spirits" or spirit of...... there?? We use it to wash windows with or burn fondu lamps to cook with. I know you have it there Bip, but I just cannot think of what you folks call it. It is clear or colourless. A sort of methalated spirits, or something like that. They sell it in the supermarkets here. But if you get some detergent-type soap and leave the spiritus out, that will work as well, although you may have to 'baptize' them more than once. You can also use posinous sprays if you want to do that...but you must hold the can more than 12 inches from the tender seedlings. and only give a couple of short bursts.
oh, I think I know what you mean! We do call it spirits, but I too cant think of the proper term. It smells strong/bad
BIP . . . maybe you can have a glass of Droopy's "spiritus" after you use the recipe using Sjoerd's "spiritus" and wait for the spider mites to die. LOL CHEERS!!!!
Yes miz Bip, spirits. It does smell bad to me too. BAH!... but you just use a very small amount in the one quart mixture that I was talking about. I have used that mixture for quite a while and it does work. It works for aphids as well. The mixture biodegrades pretty quickly though, so sometimes with some sorts of aphids you'll need to spray more than once. One dunking seems to do the job with spider mites for me.
