Phal. Speciosa with bright green moss

[Gazpacho]

I've had this plant Phal. Speciosa var Alba for a couple of months now and somehow, it is surviving... thriving even ... But the sphagnum moss is going dark green with algae.

It's worse still on a bulb. propinquum I have kept pretty moist. Both plants seem happy and growing... but this green algae? has me concerned. Should I ignore it or am I flirting with a dangerous underlying condition?

Thanks
Gaz.

[greengarden]

I recently replaced the sphagnum moss in a Thunia marshalliana that had gone like this. Underneath it was starting get mould and the sphag felt almost slimey. I also think it reduces air flow through the medium as it gets clogged up.

[terryros]

There may be some moss, but probably most of it is cyanobacteria, which is the slimy, blue-green stuff. It is hard to prevent in a moist area that gets light. However, I have good control (and grow all my orchids in sphagnum moss) by using a dilute spray of activated hydrogen peroxide each time after I water.

I purchased a bottle of concentrated solution (ZeroTol) from First Rays and mix 10 mL of the solution with 490 mL of water to create a final solution of 0.1% hydrogen peroxide that I put in a spray bottle. If you have a very small collection, you can buy a bottle of OxiDate which is already diluted in a spray bottle from Ray.

I have been doing this for at least 6 months and have almost no cyanobacteria growth. The hydrogen peroxide at this concentration is very safe for plants and helps prevent some other kinds of bacterial and fungal infections that might occur.


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