Odd build-up in my container...

[MT-Phal]

Recently I've noticed a strange build up of white, jelly-like stuff in my s/h container. When I water, it will float to the top and then come to rest on the top layer of PA. It washes right off... but does anyone know what this is? I always flush with warm water before I use my fertilizer solution. I've photographed an example of some build up by my resevoir...

[Country Gramma]

That is wierd. I haven't got any of that yet.

[Matilda]

I haven't seen that in any of my S/H pots <runs off to look>

Could it be some kind of slime mold?

[cirillonb]

I have not seen this in orchids and I no longer do S/H however I suspect it is living or a byproduct of something living. I could be what is called a pseudomenbrane which is an accumulation of bacteria held together by a glue they manufacture. Just because it is living doesn't make it bad but I will be interested is hearing from some of the S/H experts.
Nick

[MT-Phal]

wow, all of these suggestions sound pretty gross. i hope it isn't mold! i guess this weekend i'm bleach flushing?

btw, my usual water regimen is; every other day, a couple flushes with warm tap water, followed by a watering with 125ppm solution of MSU. I've stopped using KLN, and haven't used liquid seaweed in a while. I keep my container on a heating pad 24/7, as it's been pretty cool lately. For a stretch it was really cold in California and I didn't have a room heater during that stretch, but it's now getting warm again. And during the day I get OK air circulation from an open window. Not sure if this helps at all, but I'd love to know what's going on and I hope it isn't something bad...

Thanks for the input though!

[Mini Mad]

Originally Posted by cirillonb

I have not seen this in orchids and I no longer do S/H however I suspect it is living or a byproduct of something living. I could be what is called a pseudomenbrane which is an accumulation of bacteria held together by a glue they manufacture. Just because it is living doesn't make it bad but I will be interested is hearing from some of the S/H experts.
Nick

I agree.

If the plant looks fine leave it be! MOPN. Lori
In my strange setup I see lots of weired stuff.

[Ray]

If the "slime" rises to the top when you fill the pot, it suggests you're filling the pot too slowly, which means you're allowing mixing (and retaining some) of the residues with the new solution, rather than "power-flushing" it out with a fast surge of water.

[flyfishdoc]

If that's the case, then why not power flush and over fill. That way the material washes out over the top of the pot, rather than letting it settle back in. I would just do that one time

[MT-Phal]

not flushing fast enough? that's interesting...

well, even if i do let it spill over, most of it is still caked on the bottom along the reservoir so it wouldn't rid of it completely. i flushed with a diluted bleach solution last night and it seemed to have helped a bit. But thanks for the input everyone... i guess it's some sort of algae or bacteria combination.

[lycaonpictus]

Just my two cents -- It sounds like a pseudomembrane to me, too (i.e., bacterial). Even if it's not apparently hurting the plant, I'd feel icky about having it setting up house in my pots!

Is re-potting out of the question? Disinfect the plant well, start with a good, clean pot and PA?