Algae in your Potting Soil | Can You Fix It?

If you're growing seeds indoors, you may have run into green algae growing on top of your potting soil threatening your seedlings. Will it kill your plants? Can you fix the soil? Today I'll go over why you may get algae in your seedling pots and how to prevent it and three ways to fix it if it happens.
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[@freddyfish835]

Another thing worth mentioning is that algae on your soil attracts unwanted pests

[@Thats_Helpful]

amazing how easy it is to get the exact information you need nowadays lol thanks so much man really helped me out

[@oneseedoneworld]

I'm glad you found the information helpful!

[@spencercurtis86]

Omg thank you. New grower here and this happened to my semi rare pepper strains. Big relief knowing I'm ok

[@oneseedoneworld]

You should be good. Hope you get a bumper crop of peppers 🌶 !

[@spencercurtis86]

@@oneseedoneworld thank you! I'm growing Carolina reapers and khang starr lemon starburst. And khang starr peach starrkist

[@oneseedoneworld]

@@spencercurtis86 I'm familiar with the reapers, but not the other two varieties. That's a bit too hot for me! The hottest varieties I've grown is Ring of Fire and Thai Chili.

[@paulbaker4248]

Thank you sir. That was my plan. Just wasn't sure it was 100 % correct. Thanks again

[@debbiehalbrook]

Great video! So full of value! I loved your tips, who knew about cinnamon!!! I'm about to plant the seeds indoors next week, so perfect timing!!!! Fellow VRA Member!!!

[@oneseedoneworld]

Thank you! Yay VRA!

[@GMT439]

@@oneseedoneworld Just cover it with something and leave a hole for the plant to grow through. It's the light that's making the algae grow just like any plant. No light on soil will stop all algae no matter how wet the soil is.. The Algae cannot grow without LIGHT. You video is very bad advice. It's as simple as I am saying it is.

[@oneseedoneworld]

@@GMT439 Easier said then done when you have 100's of plants growing in starting pots. Much easier to sprinkle in cinnamon to mitigate the problem then trying to cover all the pots. Appreciate your feedback.

[@niconico2312]

You don't need to put anything on the soil to get rid of algae. Algae sits only on the top soil where there is light, it doesn't go down to the soil. You only need to soften or loosen the soil to kill algae by scratching the top soil. Kinda like erasing algae. Dead algae is also good for the soil. Just don't over water your seedling too much.

[@oneseedoneworld]

I both agree and disagree with you. You can just scratch the top of the soil to break up the algae, but if it is in a moist environment it will continue to grow back. Being in the small greenhouses, it gets pretty humid in there, and without some additional natural additives, the algae would continue to compete for nutrients with my new seedlings. Adding cinnamon or h202 is a good way to prevent it from coming back and give the seedlings the best chance.

[@pornhub3794]

One seed world is right its happening to me lol, the cinnamon is helping though

[@CopperHueCollectionsChippewa]

It can most certainly go to the bottom. I went away for two months and from all of the rain it went to the bottom.

[@GMT439]

Just cover it with something and leave a hole for the plant to grow through. It's the light that's making the algae grow just like any plant.

[@oneseedoneworld]

That would be easier with just a couple of plants, but when growing 100 plants or more in starting pots, trying to cover them all isn't as efficient. Easier to just sprinkle in some cinnamon across all the soil.

[@juliewestron5260]

Warm humid environment.

[@mukhumor]

Just what my 'crop' likes.

[@Swangels3]

Great information, thank you I needed this.

[@kylemartin832]

Thank you sir, will try the cinnamon or peroxide water mix 👍🙏✌

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Great info on a common problem.

[@oneseedoneworld]

Thanks!

[@freddyfish835]

Great video thanks for the tips

[@freddyfish835]

I wonder if the cinnamon could also be used BEFORE algea occurs to help prevent it??

[@oneseedoneworld]

Yes, putting it on before the algae shows up can help prevent it from starting in the first place.

[@freddyfish835]

@@oneseedoneworld thank you appreciate the response I’m gonna use that tip

[@johnlindell5024]

Thank you! Great video! 👌🏻🌳

[@oneseedoneworld]

Thank you!

[@4everGrowin]

NEW SUBSCRIBER!!! Thank you for the upload

[@oneseedoneworld]

Awesome, thank you!

[@capriaptsrosa]

Thank you

[@erickagonzalez9852]

Hello, thanks for the explanation for that method. By any chance do you have an estimate of how long does it take to act on algae?

[@oneseedoneworld]

The cinnamon will normally work within a couple of days or less. The H202 mixture takes a little longer.

[@homasafavi2775]

Add milk to dirt cause growing algae in dirt

[@JohnPaulGordillo]

Cool tips. Can you show before and after shots?

[@oneseedoneworld]

I should have taken some after shots and I didn't. Good suggestion though, and I will be starting some more plants indoors in the next week or so. If I run into algae again, I'll do an update and add the before and after shots.

[@rxsora25]

My sweet basil finally in a long time growing well and its very dark green. I made a good potting mix with canna Coco and used vermiterra worm poop and use worm vatility. Surprisely those seeds only sprouted one which was the only non dud seed like the rest were. I thought about maybe throwing it away and put more seeds this time since better chances, but decided maybe i should appreciate what i have and take care of of the sweet basil, but it also have a very strong sweet aroma on it and growing really nice. Unfortunately there's alge that grew around the sides of the transparent container and i can kinda see it when i put direct light to it. What should i do to combat that so it dont go on surface or ruin the roots??

[@oneseedoneworld]

Can try adding a little cinnamon to the top of the soil to prevent overgrowth as well as maybe putting a dark container around it. If your sides are transparent and letting light in that may be increasing ability for the algae to grow.

[@rxsora25]

@@oneseedoneworld that's a very good tip. Thank you.

[@marcellabanks7574]

Can I apply these techniques to algae that’s grown on improperly stored potting mix?

[@oneseedoneworld]

Yes I don't see why not. Using it on potting soil around the plant is the same thing as adding direct to the potting soil that you are having an issue with.

[@catherinecarrigan5763]

Can algae be removed from the top of the soil and replaced with fresh soil?

[@oneseedoneworld]

Yes you can scrape the top layer off (just don't dig too deep and damage the seedling roots) and replace with fresh soil.

[@RadioFrequency617]

That you for the short and to the point video. I’m trying the hydrogen peroxide approach to see what happens. I’ll let you know. Thank you!

[@oneseedoneworld]

Best of luck! I used cinnamon this year, but used hydrogen peroxide in previous years with good results. Normally takes 2 to 4 days to take full effect.

[@andreac.6164]

Can you mix the cinnamon in with the h202? Or is that overkill?

[@oneseedoneworld]

That would probably be overkill. The cinnamon does a really good job, but so does the h202. I've used both separately with equal success.

[@GMT439]

It's alGae not alJi

[@oneseedoneworld]

Not sure where you are getting alJi spelling anywhere in the video, but thanks for the comment.