Big mistake....

Codeman · Jun 2, 2017

Hello all,
So my pepper plants are doing good so far. I actually harvested 1 mammoth jalapeno pepper plant today. I noticed a white mold or white fungus. What i realized was that I need to stop using garden soil. I am planning on swinging by tomorrow to lowes and buying just natural potting soil. I plan on repotting my pepper plants from scratch. I am going to use 1/4 mushroom compost,1/4 vermiculite (Horticultural grade), rest is going to be just natural potting soil. I wonder if my ph will be fine? Also if they don't have just natural potting soil I'll just grab a bag of sta-green potting mix (Non-moisture max as this would be a bad idea in my zone.). I have heard sulfur can make your peppers hotter and taste better. My burpees tomato and veg has 5% calcium would this be enough? My big mistake was taking out half the soil in the container and mixing the ammendments and pouring it back in without repotting. I half assed it if you will. Thanks!

Powelly · Jun 2, 2017

Where was the white fungus?
Shouldn't be anything wrong with using soil

Codeman · Jun 3, 2017

Powelly said:
Where was the white fungus?
Shouldn't be anything wrong with using soil

All over top of the soil.

Powelly · Jun 3, 2017

That's fine / normal

ThatBlondGuy101 · Jun 3, 2017

Powelly said:
That's fine / normal

Really?????

I've been kicking myself all last season because I thought my fertiliser was contaminated; every time I applied it the white fungus stuff appeared....

JDFan · Jun 3, 2017

Powelly said:
That's fine / normal

Have to disagree - it is not really fine or normal -- According to Garden Guides -

White Mold
White mold or Sclerotinia disease is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, according to the North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture website. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum harms a variety of indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, as well as a variety of crops. The fungus causes wilt, rot and blight, which can destroy indoor potted plants quickly without any early symptoms. Symptoms include a dark green greasy appearance of plants, brown to gray lesions on stems and in humid climates, white fluffy mold growth. White mold thrives in poor drainage conditions and humid climates. Common solutions for preventing white mold are to increase water drainage and to place the plant in a nonhumid area, either indoors or outdoors.

So it is not something you want happening - and as mentioned is normally caused by poor drainage and/or too much moisture. So best to either fix the soil drainage or water less.

Powelly · Jun 3, 2017

That grows on the plant itself though, not the top of the soil
Just my 0.02 in the absence of other symptoms

Codeman · Jun 3, 2017

Sooo... Repotted my plants today. i bought some sta-green potting mix (they didn't have just natural potting soil.). So my new mix consists of 1/4 mushroom compost,2 cups vermiculite (horticultural grade.), 1 cup burpees tomato and veg fertilizer 2 tablespoons epsom salts and rest of sta-green potting mix all mixed up. finished off with neptunes tomato and veg formula. Very good drainage.