mold! my seeds and banana are molding!

Cazieman · 02-10-2008, 12:56 AM

i am trying to germinate banana seeds and they are molding. i tried the zip lock baggie method with a paper towel, and also the pre-packaged greminating tray with the soil nuggets by jiffy.... both have resulted in molding seeds. also i have a basjoo that i brought inside to give a head start for spring that the top soil is molding. i keep washing the seeds every few days to keep down the mold. any ideas what i can do? help any imput is good. they are at room temp and the basjoo was dry when i brought it in and then i watered it 2 times, once with about 1 cup of water and then again 2 weeks later with 1/ 4 cup its in a 1 gallon container. the soil is moist on top to date.

bikoro child · 02-10-2008, 03:21 AM

hi,i think you have to treat your soil with anti-fungal (i'm not sure it's the real term)

Lodewijkp · 02-10-2008, 06:56 AM

treat it with a fungicide, one on copper base , or some other less poisoned fungicide.
if you move the seeds alot ( turning, washing etc ) THEY WIL NOT GERMINATE or have a lesser germination rate.

its not a problem when you move them once but if you start moving them 3 weeks later they wil not germinate for a time.

magicgreen · 02-10-2008, 07:30 AM

I sprinkle a lil' powdered cinnamon on top of planting medium and on my tray bottom. It seems to help mine with mold. I read that in another germinating site to combat mold.

jellyfish_sky · 02-10-2008, 11:19 AM

Are your nanas in a warm enough place? My plants tend to mold when it's cold and humid.
The cinnamon works well for a few days, but it doesn't do much. What kind of mold is it? I've had some kind of white fluffy mold on the soil of my pitaya that wouldn't go away until I gave it more sun and heat.

Tropicallvr · 02-10-2008, 02:33 PM

I wouldn't use paper towels. You can use basically any soil but, the soil needs to be sterilized first. You can do that in your oven, or even an old microwave.
If that sounds like too much, I'd use coco peat(made from coconut shells), and perlite, or a seed starting mix from your local nursery.
Try a LARGE zip lock baggy, with a sterile soil. Take your seeds and give then a dilluted hydrogen peroxide rise, and scrub. Also crack open one of the seeds to make sure they are still viable, and not rotten inside. I've had this happen quite a few times when I used regular peat moss.

Cazieman · 02-11-2008, 01:36 AM

one kind of mold is a white cotton looking and the other is long hair strands and also a green alge looking one.

Lodewijkp · 02-11-2008, 05:42 AM

thats the worst type , i always microwave my soil first.

bigdog · 02-11-2008, 04:22 PM

You can try fungicides, or even a weak bleach solution, to spray affected surfaces, but the best method is prevention. Like Kyle mentioned, the best practice is to make sure you have a sterile medium. I bake any medium that isn't sterile already in the oven for an hour at 180F. That will usually take care of any critters or fungus. Sterilize the seeds right before placing them in the medium also. I use a 10% bleach solution for this, for about 10 minutes, stirring (or shaking) frequently.

NanaNut2 · 02-11-2008, 09:57 PM

What great ideas. I've tried just about everything to prevent mold and damp off. I even had sterilized the water. Have sterilized seeds either in 10% bleach or 10% peroxide in sterile water, in sterlized soil, in steralized containers. I've scraped excess material off the seeds and scarified. Finally some will sprout, then they get damp off. There used to be a fungicide called damp off. I couldn't find it when looking a week or two ago. I tried lysol spray. What do you all think of that strategy? I know I've gotten the temp right, but maybe not the light.

I have just about figured that it is naturally occuring molds/mildews in our damp northwest. I let others grow the seeds now. But always optimistic, I bought new seed starting mix and perlite. LOL.

NanaNut2

bigdog · 02-11-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NanaNut2

What great ideas. I've tried just about everything to prevent mold and damp off. I even had sterilized the water. Have sterilized seeds either in 10% bleach or 10% peroxide in sterile water, in sterlized soil, in steralized containers. I've scraped excess material off the seeds and scarified. Finally some will sprout, then they get damp off. There used to be a fungicide called damp off. I couldn't find it when looking a week or two ago. I tried lysol spray. What do you all think of that strategy? I know I've gotten the temp right, but maybe not the light.

I have just about figured that it is naturally occuring molds/mildews in our damp northwest. I let others grow the seeds now. But always optimistic, I bought new seed starting mix and perlite. LOL.

NanaNut2

Damping off is a pretty common problem, and you can use a few different fungicides to attack it. If you have a problem with it, you need to dump that soil in the trash can, sterilize the container or throw it away, and start again fresh. I don't know what to say about using Lysol, lol! Light isn't necessary for germination, but it sure is for seedlings.

jellyfish_sky · 02-12-2008, 01:07 AM

I bought this fungicide called No-Damp from Plant Prod at HD. I haven't used it yet... anybody tried it?

magicgreen · 02-13-2008, 08:36 PM

I read on another site that chamomile tea is good for dampening off. I havent tried it yet.

mskitty38583 · 02-13-2008, 08:57 PM

sprinkle powdered- ground cinnamon on it, or yes magic green you can use camomile tea. one tbsp of strong camomile tea to a gal of water.

jellyfish_sky · 02-13-2008, 09:22 PM

wow, gonna try that chamomile! Organic and natural remedies are so much better than chemicals that might kill you in your sleep

frankthetank · 02-13-2008, 09:27 PM

I once tried sterlizing some soil in the microwave and it start making zapping noises! I think there must have been metal or something in my soil.

mskitty38583 · 02-14-2008, 12:07 AM

the camomile tea thing came off of daves garden weekly newsletter.

Tropicallvr · 02-14-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankthetank

I once tried sterlizing some soil in the microwave and it start making zapping noises! I think there must have been metal or something in my soil.

I've never tried it, just heard second hand. I bet rocks would pop too.

sandy0225 · 02-14-2008, 05:17 PM

I tried putting a couple of those purple pod green beans in the microwave (just laid them on the turntable glass plate whole) to show some kids that they turn green when they get hot, and they caused the microwave to arc! It was quite a show for the kids though...LOL...I thought there must have been something wrong, so I tried it again another time, same thing!

NanaNut2 · 02-14-2008, 08:51 PM

With regards to the lysol treatment, I did spray my alocasia pot and top soil with the lysol as an experiment. No more more mold smell out of that pot. This is important when household members have asthma and allergies. There seems to be no ill effects on the plant. I just don't know about what it would do to delicate seedlings. I'm afraid it would be oily and coat them and kill them. But I have had limited success with the treatment so I thought I'd share.
NanaNut2

02-10-2008, 12:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cazieman Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11 BananaBucks : 18,248 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	mold! my seeds and banana are molding! i am trying to germinate banana seeds and they are molding. i tried the zip lock baggie method with a paper towel, and also the pre-packaged greminating tray with the soil nuggets by jiffy.... both have resulted in molding seeds. also i have a basjoo that i brought inside to give a head start for spring that the top soil is molding. i keep washing the seeds every few days to keep down the mold. any ideas what i can do? help any imput is good. they are at room temp and the basjoo was dry when i brought it in and then i watered it 2 times, once with about 1 cup of water and then again 2 weeks later with 1/ 4 cup its in a 1 gallon container. the soil is moist on top to date.

02-10-2008, 03:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
bikoro child bikoro child's Photo Gallery Location: south-west of France Find me on the map! Zone: zone 8 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,026 BananaBucks : 258,808 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 578 Times in 208 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! hi,i think you have to treat your soil with anti-fungal (i'm not sure it's the real term) __________________ Ivan

02-10-2008, 06:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Lodewijkp Location: the netherlands Zone: 7a 8a Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 149 BananaBucks : 114,090 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 29 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! treat it with a fungicide, one on copper base , or some other less poisoned fungicide. if you move the seeds alot ( turning, washing etc ) THEY WIL NOT GERMINATE or have a lesser germination rate. its not a problem when you move them once but if you start moving them 3 weeks later they wil not germinate for a time. __________________ www.Theorionproject.org

02-10-2008, 07:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,383 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I sprinkle a lil' powdered cinnamon on top of planting medium and on my tray bottom. It seems to help mine with mold. I read that in another germinating site to combat mold. __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

02-10-2008, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
jellyfish_sky jellyfish_sky's Photo Gallery Location: Montreal, QC Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5a Name: Celine Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90 BananaBucks : 7,053 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! Are your nanas in a warm enough place? My plants tend to mold when it's cold and humid. The cinnamon works well for a few days, but it doesn't do much. What kind of mold is it? I've had some kind of white fluffy mold on the soil of my pitaya that wouldn't go away until I gave it more sun and heat. __________________ Celine Bananaddiction~!

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02-10-2008, 02:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,032 BananaBucks : 427,402 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 230 Times Was Thanked 414 Times in 163 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I wouldn't use paper towels. You can use basically any soil but, the soil needs to be sterilized first. You can do that in your oven, or even an old microwave. If that sounds like too much, I'd use coco peat(made from coconut shells), and perlite, or a seed starting mix from your local nursery. Try a LARGE zip lock baggy, with a sterile soil. Take your seeds and give then a dilluted hydrogen peroxide rise, and scrub. Also crack open one of the seeds to make sure they are still viable, and not rotten inside. I've had this happen quite a few times when I used regular peat moss.

02-11-2008, 01:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cazieman Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11 BananaBucks : 18,248 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! one kind of mold is a white cotton looking and the other is long hair strands and also a green alge looking one.

02-11-2008, 05:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lodewijkp Location: the netherlands Zone: 7a 8a Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 149 BananaBucks : 114,090 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 29 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! thats the worst type , i always microwave my soil first. __________________ www.Theorionproject.org

02-11-2008, 04:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,002 BananaBucks : 732,739 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 212 Times Was Thanked 1,787 Times in 502 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! You can try fungicides, or even a weak bleach solution, to spray affected surfaces, but the best method is prevention. Like Kyle mentioned, the best practice is to make sure you have a sterile medium. I bake any medium that isn't sterile already in the oven for an hour at 180F. That will usually take care of any critters or fungus. Sterilize the seeds right before placing them in the medium also. I use a 10% bleach solution for this, for about 10 minutes, stirring (or shaking) frequently.

02-11-2008, 09:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
NanaNut2 Indoor Gardener NanaNut2's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 BananaBucks : 23,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 96 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! What great ideas. I've tried just about everything to prevent mold and damp off. I even had sterilized the water. Have sterilized seeds either in 10% bleach or 10% peroxide in sterile water, in sterlized soil, in steralized containers. I've scraped excess material off the seeds and scarified. Finally some will sprout, then they get damp off. There used to be a fungicide called damp off. I couldn't find it when looking a week or two ago. I tried lysol spray. What do you all think of that strategy? I know I've gotten the temp right, but maybe not the light. I have just about figured that it is naturally occuring molds/mildews in our damp northwest. I let others grow the seeds now. But always optimistic, I bought new seed starting mix and perlite. LOL. NanaNut2 __________________ NanaNut2

02-12-2008, 01:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
jellyfish_sky jellyfish_sky's Photo Gallery Location: Montreal, QC Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5a Name: Celine Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90 BananaBucks : 7,053 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I bought this fungicide called No-Damp from Plant Prod at HD. I haven't used it yet... anybody tried it? __________________ Celine Bananaddiction~!

02-13-2008, 08:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
magicgreen magicgreen's Photo Gallery Location: cincinnati OH. Z6 Find me on the map! Zone: Z6 Name: Lynn Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 840 BananaBucks : 17,383 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 422 Times Was Thanked 208 Times in 141 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 124 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I read on another site that chamomile tea is good for dampening off. I havent tried it yet. __________________ (Started growing bananas July 2007) (Zone 6)

02-13-2008, 08:57 PM	#14 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 189,166 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! sprinkle powdered- ground cinnamon on it, or yes magic green you can use camomile tea. one tbsp of strong camomile tea to a gal of water. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

02-13-2008, 09:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
jellyfish_sky jellyfish_sky's Photo Gallery Location: Montreal, QC Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5a Name: Celine Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 90 BananaBucks : 7,053 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! wow, gonna try that chamomile! Organic and natural remedies are so much better than chemicals that might kill you in your sleep __________________ Celine Bananaddiction~!

02-13-2008, 09:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
frankthetank Member Location: La Crosse, WI Find me on the map! Zone: 4-5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 144 BananaBucks : 42,229 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 119 Times in 41 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I once tried sterlizing some soil in the microwave and it start making zapping noises! I think there must have been metal or something in my soil.

02-14-2008, 12:07 AM	#17 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 189,166 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! the camomile tea thing came off of daves garden weekly newsletter. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

02-14-2008, 05:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 354,882 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! I tried putting a couple of those purple pod green beans in the microwave (just laid them on the turntable glass plate whole) to show some kids that they turn green when they get hot, and they caused the microwave to arc! It was quite a show for the kids though...LOL...I thought there must have been something wrong, so I tried it again another time, same thing! __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

02-14-2008, 08:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
NanaNut2 Indoor Gardener NanaNut2's Photo Gallery Location: Washington Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 101 BananaBucks : 23,161 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 96 Times	Re: mold! my seeds and banana are molding! With regards to the lysol treatment, I did spray my alocasia pot and top soil with the lysol as an experiment. No more more mold smell out of that pot. This is important when household members have asthma and allergies. There seems to be no ill effects on the plant. I just don't know about what it would do to delicate seedlings. I'm afraid it would be oily and coat them and kill them. But I have had limited success with the treatment so I thought I'd share. NanaNut2 __________________ NanaNut2

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