Pink Mold/Slime in Organic Soil Mix

mortyb · Jan 22, 2020

I put together my own soil mix consisting of compost, blood meal, bone meal, worm castings, neem seed, bat guano, and rice hulls. I potted it 30 days ago and have been watering it once a week to keep it damp while it cooks. I may have put a little too much water because when I lifted the pot recently there was a decent pool of water right under the pot & I noticed this red/pink mold or residue.

When it's wet it's fairly bright red like in the picture below, but when it dried up, it started to look rust colored.

Has anybody seen this before & is this something I can just clean up or should I get rid of the whole pot?

oldskol4evr · Jan 22, 2020

mortyb said:
I put together my own soil mix consisting of compost, blood meal, bone meal, worm castings, neem seed, bat guano, and rice hulls. I potted it 30 days ago and have been watering it once a week to keep it damp while it cooks. I may have put a little too much water because when I lifted the pot recently there was a decent pool of water right under the pot & I noticed this red/pink mold or residue.

When it's wet it's fairly bright red like in the picture below, but when it dried up, it started to look rust colored.

Has anybody seen this before & is this something I can just clean up or should I get rid of the whole pot?

can you dump the pot ,were i can see it,you do have drain holes in the bottom right

mortyb · Jan 22, 2020

@oldskol4evr yeah definitely have drain holes! I can for sure dump the pot out & inspect it, but what should I be looking for?

oldskol4evr · Jan 22, 2020

mortyb said:
@oldskol4evr yeah definitely have drain holes! I can for sure dump the pot out & inspect it, but what should I be looking for?

first ,smell it should smell like fresh clean soil,if it rank it is anerobic,did you use peat moss ,if so that were the red color is coming from,next,get a pic for me,i wont to see it,you can still probally salvage it,but i need to see it,last when you TURN the soil once a week dont water it unless it is dry,if you take a handful and squezze in your hand as hard as you can and just a little moisture comebetween your fingers,dont water,the lid to container will condensate from heat in the container and more time than not ,it usally provide enough moisture,KEY here is turning it,empty it out on a tarp once a week ,turn it,put right back in the container

mortyb · Jan 22, 2020

@oldskol4evr going to dump this out when I get home tonight!

Is turning the soil once a week necessary? I've been hearing that once it's fully mixed up & starts cooking, I wouldn't need to turn it anymore. Still a newbie grower here, so just trying to learn!

oldskol4evr · Jan 22, 2020

mortyb said:
@oldskol4evr going to dump this out when I get home tonight!

Is turning the soil once a week necessary? I've been hearing that once it's fully mixed up & starts cooking, I wouldn't need to turn it anymore. Still a newbie grower here, so just trying to learn!

thats up to you and what kind product you want,me think the more you stir it,the quicker it really cooks,not a guess ,it all a guess until you put the tools to work,me i go on amazon buy one them soil test kits,cost around 30 bucks,send in a sample after 30 days,get test results back go from there,i even stir my compost pile once a week,if it in a barrel and you dont wont to dump it and stir,the lazy way ,hint hint,hahahahah take a t post and stick it to bottom of barrel and give it a whirl around,do in couple difrent spots and you are stirring it,bottom line the more you stir ,the better the product,unless you want to buy microscope and do yourself,the kit is way to go,test results come back they send them to your email and you can compare month later,thats how i do it,just finished putting micro nutrients in all 24 containers i have outdoors yesterday,ready for spring veggie planting,the medicine isnt what i like growing hahah but like it too hahah

mortyb · Jan 22, 2020

Haha nice! I may end up running a little test myself and seeing how the soil test results come with no stirring & with stirring. Thanks for the advice!

oldskol4evr · Jan 22, 2020

mortyb said:
Haha nice! I may end up running a little test myself and seeing how the soil test results come with no stirring & with stirring. Thanks for the advice!

mysoilsavvy.com i buy the kit off amazon,comes with test jar,labels and return address sticker,just take and put in the mailbox,about 7 days,they wait 5 days upon arrival and then test,send result and recomendations via email.that simple,
dont lknow about you ,but i dont want to be stuck with my pants down over some lack of this or that come time for fruit or flowers,when 30 bucks tell it all,way i see it,if it take 3 attempt to i get it,when it there it there and just a little quick amend yearly and done,2 or 3 yrs in the bed ,send back for another test,make your neighbor envy you hahahah

mortyb · Jan 22, 2020

Haha great idea. $30 is definitely worth it to really know what's going on!

bunkerking · Jan 22, 2020

*burp* Morty, you gotta flip 'em off. I told them it means 'peace among worlds.' How hilarious is that!

Pink Mold/Slime in Organic Soil Mix

Pink Mold/Slime in Organic Soil Mix

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