Fuzzy white mold growing on bark mix of repotted Phal

[judith_arquette]

Originally Posted by LizHM

My other question is if I have been watering them wrong? I pour water through the bark 2 or 3 times (it goes straight through) and drain the excess water. I have been doing this once a week. It is difficult for me to tell when the bark is dry.

I can't answer any of your questions because I'm only learning myself but I have started using the skewer method (per many positive testimonials from numerous forum members in different threads) to tell how damp the center of my medium is. It's been an ENORMOUS help for me, I believe it's been a major factor in helping me stop over watering my plants. The skewers develop mold sometimes too but they're so cheap I just toss em and grab a new one...

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by LizHM

The mold is only on the bark, not on the roots or plant (yet), but I only repotted these a month ago. I have not used the Physan20 yet. Yes, I am concerned about it being toxic to the plants. Repot me recommended diluting it and pouring it over the potting mix.... I just repotted these Phals from sphagnum moss to bark, and was hoping the bark would provide better drainage than the moss. Should I be repotting to the clay pellets / hydroton??

I am thinking it may be due to the room temperature, as I have 2 different phals in moss that are in a warm room which gets to 80 degrees, and they have no mold and are growing healthy roots in sphagnum.

Yet these 2 are in 70 degrees with a fan and growing mold.

My other question is if I have been watering them wrong? I pour water through the bark 2 or 3 times (it goes straight through) and drain the excess water. I have been doing this once a week. It is difficult for me to tell when the bark is dry.

That is interesting that your other plants in the warmer room have no mold. My Onc. in bark I checked today and there isn't as much of it anymore but it's also due for a watering soon. A couple of the others have even more mold and it seems to be congregating around the plant base. Same here, these were just repotted less than a month ago. My other mini Phal hasn't had any mold. Like I said, all winter long this was never a problem. I open windows to help circulate air whenever I can and have been but that hasn't helped, unless I need a fan. Then again you said you use a fan... What kind of pot are yours in?

---------- Post added at 11:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 PM ----------

From the sounds of it you're watering alright. I have been letting mine soak in other pots for 20 minutes or so then let the excess drain out. Or I'll do what you stated and run them under water letting it drain out.

Looking at my plants again now, the mold is on plants with moss, coconut coir and some bark. My paphs that are in charcoal/perlite/park mix do not have mold, EXCEPT one that has a chunk of moss on the surface. A couple potted in moss that don't have much if any mold are nearly dry. It seems in my case the moss being on the surface is causing my problem. One of the mini Dtps is rotting, not just mold on the surface anymore.

[LizHM]

I might try the skewer idea to see if they are overwatered. I still have not tried the physan 20 and have been letting them dry out a little, but the mold is still there. Not sure if I should repot again since it has only been 3 weeks and if I should continue with the coconut bark mix from repot me or go back to moss. The pots I have are ceramic with holes on the side for air circulation.

[SRL]

LizHM,
Which repot me mix did you use? I have the Phal Classic Dark Mix. I had to learn to water less often with that mix. It holds a lot more moisture than the bark that the plant was in. I had also over potted and I lost a couple roots when I repotted back into the smaller pot.
Now I don't water until the roots look almost white, so I know the bark is dry. Some people use a skewer to know when the media is dry.

[mimigirl]

LizHM How can you tell with a skewer? Wooden?

[SRL]

A bamboo skewer or something light enough so you can see the difference between dampness and dryness of the skewer. Place in the middle of the pot. Pull it out to see when it is dry enough to water.

[james mickelso]

This mold/fungus is endemic to bark. It comes as spores in the bark and unless the bark is sterilized before it is added to the media you buy, when it is moist, the spores activate. Very common. Shouldn't hurt the plant but cam be unsightly. Sonya has a plan. Do it!!!! Pronto!!!! Any anti fungal from HD or Lowes will work too. Don't blame RePotMe. You couldn't afford the media if they sterilized every batch.