Germination contamination, press on or torch?

[SnzBfields]

Found this fuzzy guy in the corner of one of my germination pots, the seed in that pot had been struggling and hadn't sprouted so I tossed the whole thing, im wondering if I also need to be worried about the other seedling in that germination container. This one is struggling a bit but seems to be recovering, though I don't want to move it to my main grow tent if it might have been infected. There are no fans and the air is pretty stagnant in there, how long should I isolate or is it a burn to be safe situation?

 

[Phyto]

What is the media you're growing in? It looks terrible, rocks, sticks, wood chips. It's probably a soil fungus, most are beneficial.

 

[SnzBfields]

What is the media you're growing in? It looks terrible, rocks, sticks, wood chips. It's probably a soil fungus, most are beneficial.

It's normal bag potting soil from the hardware store nothing fancy or special. I had a great first grow with the same blend, only my second grow though so limited experience with all the many things that can happen/grow wrong.

Keeping that one on its own for a couple days while the new seed soaks before I move it to the main tent, will try to keep it a little isolated for a few more days after that with a plastic cover.

"soil fungus, most are beneficial" - any idea what it is? I'm a little squeamish about fungi so Id rather avoid looking through a bunch of different pictures to identify a match if possible.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

"soil fungus, most are beneficial" - any idea what it is? I'm a little squeamish about fungi so Id rather avoid looking through a bunch of different pictures to identify a match if possible.

No idea as to the exact species. And, yes, they're often beneficial and are essential for organic growing (depending on the species). When I see fungus on the top, I cover it with soil, i.e., top dress over it. Its presence can mean the soil is being watered too frequently, so letting it dry back helps to make the fungus disappear and is also good for the plant. Cannabis doesn't like excessively wet soil.

 

[THC_AeroGrower]

While @LoveGrowingIt is right about most fungi being beneficial, to me that looks like cobweb mold, which is too close to PM in my mind. if you have an outdoor space, I'd let it go out there, otherwise I wouldn't put that into my indoor garden. Molds and mildews can wreak havoc on a once clean grow room

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

While @LoveGrowingIt is right about most fungi being beneficial, to me that looks like cobweb mold, which is too close to PM in my mind. if you have an outdoor space, I'd let it go out there, otherwise I wouldn't put that into my indoor garden. Molds and mildews can wreak havoc on a once clean grow room

Once they start throwing spores, it's a mess in the making.

 

[SnzBfields]

While @LoveGrowingIt is right about most fungi being beneficial, to me that looks like cobweb mold, which is too close to PM in my mind. if you have an outdoor space, I'd let it go out there, otherwise I wouldn't put that into my indoor garden. Molds and mildews can wreak havoc on a once clean grow room

Once they start throwing spores, it's a mess in the making.

Looking at some photos online it could be cobweb mold early on, though I'm not sure at what point spores start getting thrown. Is this the kind of thing that if I hit the pot with some apple cider vinegar or neam oil and don't see anything it is good to move? I was planning on transplanting to a bigger pot in a week or two anyway. I'm thinking I'll wipe down the germination container with alcohol and hit the pot/soil with some of the solutions mentioned online and monitor.

Should I be worried about anything lurking below the surface like a time bomb, or if nothing presents in a week or two I should be clear for repotting into the main tent?

 

[THC_AeroGrower]

Should I be worried about anything lurking below the surface like a time bomb, or if nothing presents in a week or two I should be clear for repotting into the main tent?

First, yes. If you've seen a mold on the surface, 90% chance it came up from the substrate and killing the surface is only delaying the inevitable. This is really a risk vs reward question. Are you willing to risk breaking down your whole grow and going to town with 70% iso? For me, one seedling isn't worth the risk to future crops.

 

[SnzBfields]

First, yes. If you've seen a mold on the surface, 90% chance it came up from the substrate and killing the surface is only delaying the inevitable. This is really a risk vs reward question. Are you willing to risk breaking down your whole grow and going to town with 70% iso? For me, one seedling isn't worth the risk to future crops.

Appreciate your continued advice and engagement! So I did entirely toss the one that presented the mold, im wondering about the other seedling in a separate pot but in the same atmospheric enclosure. Before I toss out the baby with the bathwater, if no mold develops in the next week or two on the second pot that is currently showing no signs, would it then be safe to assume I caught the infection before it spread or is this a total purge burn sanitize start over to be safe. I'm not against tossing the seedling I just don't want to be a hypochondriac.

In fairness its not the most sterile of grows, my main tent is just in my closet and don't have access to filtered air going into the tent its just pulling in air through a dust filter. The propagation container is just on the other side of the room from the growing tent.

@THC_AeroGrower you commented a bunch helping me through the nutrient issues with the end of my last grow, made it through harvest and dry and now have 1/2lbs curing! I think I might have harvested a bit early in the nuet def panic, a bit light on smell, bit more 'planty' than 'weedy' learned a lot though! Had no issues with infections last time so this is something!

 

[Phyto]

"soil fungus, most are beneficial" - any idea what it is? I'm a little squeamish about fungi so Id rather avoid looking through a bunch of different pictures to identify a match if possible.

Without a good microscope and a lot of knowledge, trying to figure the exact type will be difficult, if not impossible.

 

[SnzBfields]

Without a good microscope and a lot of knowledge, trying to figure the exact type will be difficult, if not impossible.

Less the exact type and more the general family and solution. Someone mentioned cobweb mold and it looked kinda like some pictures of that early on. Saw some suggestions about spraying the spoil with apple cider vinegar, and know neem oil to be the general cure all, wondering if either of those could be helpful

 

[Phyto]

Less the exact type and more the general family and solution. Someone mentioned cobweb mold and it looked kinda like some pictures of that early on. Saw some suggestions about spraying the spoil with apple cider vinegar, and know neem oil to be the general cure all, wondering if either of those could be helpful

The laymens way to tell the diffeence is that mycorrhizal is normally more whitish, molds tend to start out white and then turn a dull gray within a day or two. Neem will work, I'd personally avoid the apple cider, just because it can mess with the PH.

 

[THC_AeroGrower]

Always glad to help when I can Since your grow is confined, I'd actually recommend doing a reset between grows anyway. If you're going to be using bag soil from the hardware store, I recommend doing a pasteurization run before putting it into use. It's pretty simple, just soak the soil in hot water for a couple hours then drain. It will help kill unwanted hitchhikers. You can then boost with mycorrhizal fungi to replace any beneficial microbial life that got killed off as well.

But, I recommend learning a non-soil medium for indoors. Drastically reduces your risk of contamination. That's just my own paranoia though plenty of people have nice clean soil grows indoors.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

The best way to prevent mold is to create an environment in which it won't grow. Molds like moisture and high humidity, so let the top of the soil dry and keep the humidity below 60%. Soil dry backs are helpful even when mold isn't an issue.

There's mould on my soil, what is it and is it harmful to my plants?

A closer look at mould and houseplant soil.

www.root-houseplants.com

What to Do About Mold on Houseplant Soil

While it may be unsightly, mold on houseplant soil is usually harmless. Here's how to get rid of it and prevent it in the future.

www.thespruce.com

to me that looks like cobweb mold

Are you sure it's cobweb mold? I've just been researching it, and every reference I found is related to mushrooms.

 

[THC_AeroGrower]

Are you sure it's cobweb mold? I've just been researching it, and every reference I found is related to mushrooms.

No, definitely not sure. Just judging from a photo and my experience from...other hobbies. Could definitely be something else and I am just being an alarmist.