Algae removal in S/H pots

[Ellen H]

Hi,

I have begun to see algae in my S/H pots. I was expecting it and I understand it is not harmful to the plants unless it is clogging the drainage holes.

However, if I wanted to remove the algae what are some of the safest ways to do this?

[Ray]

Repot the plants into clean pots, and put those in the dishwasher.

If you kill the algae in place, your orchids will be sitting in dead, rotting vegetation.

The key is to PREVENT its growth. You can do so by using opaque pots, or by treating once a month or so with an algaecide. However, I noticed that once I stopped overdosing my plants with fertilizer, algae development was essentially nonexistent.

[Ellen H]

Ah, ok. Thanks Ray. I hadn't considered the aspect of dead vegetation in the pots. I do use all clear plastic pots currently, so I suppose I could begin migrating to opaque ones over time.

Maybe I'm also overdosing as you mentioned. Currently using 1/8 tsp/gal MSU 13-3-15 at each watering, using tap water, distilled water, or a combo of both depending on the plant. TDS is in the 130's here. Does that sound like too much fertilizer?

[estación seca]

You could also just ignore it, or even welcome it - the algae may remove minerals and nutrients you don't want there, starving out things that are worse than algae.

[Ray]

I think you're OK with the fert and the algae....

[Ellen H]

I certainly feel better about the algae now. Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.