Algae on my Brick floor of my Greenhouse

[Queen Bee]

Hi Everyone,

I am house-sitting for my friends orchid collection for the next two years. Should I do anything about the green algae on the brick floor of the greenhouse? I didn’t know if it would transfer to the plants in some way.

Also she has an auto mist system that mists them every 15 min. all day and night. From what I read sounds like it should be turned off at night. Any thoughts???

Thanks
Queen Bee

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If she has been using this all along, I would not change it. If it is a very fine mist, and she has fans going 24/7, the mist will probably dry off the leaves very fast, even at night. If the mist is soaking the plants, that would be another thing. Cynthia

[Lucinda Brown]

You can spray the greenhouse with a bleach solution but only the floor,don't get it on plants. But if it's being misted regularly the algae will eventually come back. I don't think it will effect the orchids if it's only on the floor but the experts like Cynthia or Jerry would know more about that then me.

[Maddy]

There's not much you can do to keep it from coming back, as I've learned from keeping fish. I'd suggest taking a good stiff broom to the floor every so often so it doesn't build up enough to get slippery (kind of like the algae brush I use in my goldfish tank.)

a good scrub with pool algecide will keep it down for a while

[Queen Bee]

Thanks everyone for the ideas! All I want to do is keep these beautiful plants alive for my friend.

Queen Bee

[Daniel S. Barrett]

Some orchid flowers can be burned by high concentrations of chlorine gas.
There is a greenhouse disinfectant called Rd20. it's made specifically for alge, bacteria, & fungus problems. the directions say to: "Mix 1 table spoon per gallon of water, spray on the walkways, benches, & greenhouse walls & let it soak in 10 -15 minutes, scrub walkways & greenhouse walls, rinse with water, spray with disinfectant again, & let dry". It will kill the alge & not hurt the plants, <careful not to get it in the flowers at that strength though>you'll need to reapply in 30 to 60 days.