Mold on skewers

[whalloper]

Hi everyone,

I pulled some skewers out of the pots and noticed mold growing on the skewers. All sorts of stuff...white, green, and dark colored as well I have since repotted any where I noticed this growth. I picked all the sphagnum out of the mix, I think it may have been too wet. I then microwaved what was left as an attempt to kill any remaining mold. So now, Im using bark, coco chips, charcoal and perlite. Is there anything else I can do to prevent mold from coming back? Chemicals even? I would like only orchids to be growing in my pots

[katsrevenge]

Mold is going to grow. It's just going to happen. I just wipe it off the skewer when I see it. I also spray a mix of cinnamon extract and dishsoap water (Brooke's Recipe) once every few weeks; it seems to keep it under control. Letting the pots dry down a bit once in a while helps too.

[FLBob]

skewer and sphagnum don't equate. If your using moss to grow your orchids (phals, oncidium, maybe cattlya seedlings) you don't want your moss to dry. So why use skewers?

[whalloper]

Is the cinnamon extract a liquid you would buy at a health food store? Where can I find Brookes recipe? Thanks!

[digitalgate]

put it in natural sunlight for 15 min , strong strong full sunlight will kill any mold and fungus spore.. if the plant cannot handle full sun light . try full sunlight for 15 min or lesser till the leaf get warm to the touch and bring the plant indoor and try again to get rid of any remaining mold.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by FLBob

skewer and sphagnum don't equate. If your using moss to grow your orchids (phals, oncidium, maybe cattlya seedlings) you don't want your moss to dry. So why use skewers?

I took all the moss out of the mix...its just bark, coco chips, charcoal, and perlite.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

put it in natural sunlight for 15 min , strong strong full sunlight will kill any mold and fungus spore.. if the plant cannot handle full sun light . try full sunlight for 15 min or lesser till the leaf get warm to the touch and bring the plant indoor and try again to get rid of any remaining mold.

This mold appeared a few centimeters below surface, I dont think the sunlight could make it that far.

[katsrevenge]

Hmm... her recipe is on here somewhere. The version of it I use is

1/4 tsp cin extract
4-6 drops dishsoap
1 quart room temp water.

dump into spray bottle, squish and use. It can be adjusted as needed. I'm tired and I don't feel like looking for the original post.

You'll still have mold but it really isn't something to worry about too much as long as it isn't crazy-bad. Letting the pot (and bark) get a bit drier then normal will help too.. as long as the orchid can take it.

The mold probably does something for the plant in terms of nutrients as well by breaking the plant matter down in the pot. It's just part of having houseplants. I know I have mold in all my pots but it is not alot, it doesn't bother me or the orchids (or the rest of the houseplants) and as long as it doesn't go crazy I'm willing to just spray it to keep it under control.

Oh, and I get my extract from Walmart in the baking section. Make sure to get the real stuff and not the imitation stuff.

[whalloper]

omg and I just spent $13 online for basically the same thing!! How much could a quart of that cost? $0.10? Well, I paid $12.90 to learn a lesson, but at least I learned a lesson Thanks for the recipe, katsrevenge!!!!

[katsrevenge]

I think the extract I bought was 6-7 dollars? And I've used very little of it too. (I think the cinnamon rolls got most of it! :P)

I'm curious.. what did you buy for that??

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by katsrevenge

I think the extract I bought was 6-7 dollars? And I've used very little of it too. (I think the cinnamon rolls got most of it! :P)

I'm curious.. what did you buy for that??

I bought a premixed liquid which is pretty much the same recipe as above. It is very brown in color, so it seems as if they added very finely ground cinnamon also. I bet it all works the same. Smells good too

[tizzycat]

Just replace them and soak the skewers in some weak bleach then leave them to dry out - good as new and can be used again later.