How to FIX / REMEDY Microgreens MOLD (Safe & Fast)

[@DonnyGreens]

What is YOUR solution for taking care of mold?

[@DonnyGreens]

Preventing it in the first place of course!

[@KonigKriegD]

I would say plenty of air flow and good equipment sanitation. We also have a air filter with a UVC light in it

[@DonnyGreens]

Thanks so much for your feedback on this. I agree with your methods for sure! The air filter and UVC light sounds awesome and is something I have yet to implement. I'll have to look into that! Was it expensive?

[@KonigKriegD]

@@DonnyGreens we're just using a Germguardian brand with an integrated UVC light. It dramatically reduces mildew smells and such in our germination room and so far, since we've gotten it, no mold.

[@DonnyGreens]

@@KonigKriegD Wow this is super cool, i'm going to check this out! Thank you 🙏 🌱💚

[@bsunder166]

You have the best teaching of growing a micro greens from scratch am watching it without fail and never skipped or forwarded even one of your video

[@DonnyGreens]

Thank you so much for this feedback, you rock!!

[@RayMak]

Thank you so much for this

[@DonnyGreens]

You got it, my pleasure

[@briannabevins2639]

Your videos are beyond helpful. Thank you so much for helping people in more ways than proper nutrition

[@DonnyGreens]

much love!!

[@richstone2627]

Prevention is the key. If I get mold I just dispose of the whole tray. The soil and seed cost is not worth risking a customer's health. The organic material goes into the compost pile and the tray is washed and sanitized immediately so as not to spread contamination.

[@DonnyGreens]

Definitely. Good idea 👍🏻

[@angelp.537]

Rich Stone, you have the best solution. I agreed with you.

[@lathapauline1063]

What do you do with the waste once the harvesting is done?

[@richstone2627]

@@lathapauline1063 Compost

[@lathapauline1063]

@@richstone2627 👍

[@EricGonya]

One thing I'd add is that if you're conditions are creating a slower time to germination, usually it it's too cold (as I'm finding out w/ my sun shoots), then this can exacerbate the issue as well. I know you mention that if it's too hot then that can cause mold too, but colder temps slows germination and overall seed to harvest time, so the longer they're growing (especially in the germination phase) then the more of a chance they'll have to develop mold growth. The faster you can get them to harvest the less of a chance for mold to appear. Do you find certain types are more prone to it?

[@3quipt077]

Harvesting above the mold I feel is not a safe practice sort of like a small amount of your bread having mold on it discarding that corner isn't enough the entire bag will have spores of mold at that point and is unsafe to eat. It isn't the mold itself that is unsafe it is the bacteria formed from mold ecoli salmonella pytho listeriosis etc etc none of which are worth taking a risk on. I know many growers will still eat trays of micros from moldy trays and likely will be just fine doing so for their entire life, me personally I wont do it without cooking them really well first mostly for my own peace of mind. Thanks for the pointers ima order me some of that solution tomorrow

[@calebc4982]

Hi Donny, awsome info thank you. Was hoping you could do short vid about your grow racks? From what I can see your only using 1 light per shelf and your micros look amazing.

[@DonnyGreens]

Yes! One light per shelf is all thats needed because the lights I use are so good! There is a link to these lights and all the equipment I use in the descriptions of my videos. I will be sure to make a video specifically about my grow racks, I;m actually super excited to make it. Maybe I can post a video that in June/July!

[@tanis1111]

I spray small amount of food grade hydrogen peroxide/water before I start germination. Works well. Thanks for all you do. I appreciate your information. Grow on 💜😃🌱

[@DonnyGreens]

🌱💚

[@Dhhtyu4566]

Spray it where ? On the tray ? On the seeds ?

[@greggreg2263]

Thanks for the video I’m using the hire trays which may be my issue but I usually spray the mold with water and hydrogen peroxide mix but doesn’t work super well

[@pawelkapica5363]

What concentration does the solution need to be?

[@bsunder166]

But I do have a question, once you fill your trays with the substrate and grow the micro greens, after that is it possible to use the same substrate to grow the next batch of micro greens?

[@DonnyGreens]

I compost it after each use and then use the compost for outdoor veggies. You want to start with fresh substrate each time for the highest quality produce and the least chance of mold growth. Does this make sense?

[@Section_230]

The root growth usually makes this not possible to immediately use them. The new plants won't have enough room to grow while still reaching water And air. If you were to sift the unwanted material out, aside from nutrient needs the substrate might lack, you could use the sifted substrate again I suppose. Many compost it, which inevitably makes its way back into the main mix. Good luck.

[@NicholsKT]

01:15 - 04:16 for exact info

[@Gusttafa]

Hydrogen peroxide worked fine for me. I put it in spray bottle and sprayed over mold when I found it

[@Mickimoss]

2:11 that is exactly what happened to my spinach the other day, the tray was bald in center, and I noticed some spinach were lying down mixed with soil and it spread everyday, in the end I considered that a fail attempt and ditched it. What percentage of H2O2 should I use ? I see 3% and 35% at the store, and should I dilute it before use ?

[@DonnyGreens]

I use Zerotol and I dilute it in a spray bottle 20mL zerotol in 2L water

[@Section_230]

3% and Dilute it for sure.

[@EricaBergere-rk3em]

When you see a seed hull molding is that a sing you have to trash the tray?

[@DonnyGreens]

no, not typically, it generally dissappears

[@KB-if8qu]

Why recommend 2.0 and then link to HC?

[@margauxthomas6284]

Awesome video thank you !!! I am about to get a dehumidifier and fan so it has been a challenge with mould. Until now I have been hand picking the mouldy seeds or patches and filling in with some soil. And I use a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide as you say. which did bien me once so I learnt my lesson .. The most challenging crop so far has been Alfa Alfa. The learning curve has been very steep as It has been very prone to mouldy or dampen off. I have seen some improvements but still learning!

[@DonnyGreens]

Sorry to hear about your mold problems, I think a fan and a dehumidifier will be a great help! Thanks for watching 🌱💚 Picking moldy seeds out by hand must take forever!

[@TheMichelleLeah]

How much do I mix in a 16oz spray bottle? A drop?

[@ericmbt4288]

can you use baking soda instead of hydrogen peroxide against mold?

[@tomwall2361]

Great info man! Thank you so much for sharing. Subscribed!

[@DonnyGreens]

Hey Thomas thanks for subscribing and your kind words! I look forward to hanging out here on KZbin 🌱🚀

[@Windowsinthewater]

I'm growing my first batch and I'm on day # 7. Everything looked great until today - I turned off the grow light during the day and when I got home tonight there's a lot of mold - the grow medium is pretty wet from bottom watering. Also, I noticed that there are a lot of seed hulls that fell down between the growing sprouts. How do I stop that from happening or does it matter if the hulls fall inside the tray with the medium?

[@DonnyGreens]

youre probably overwatering. you should probably take my challenge to learn: www.onetrayaway.com/

[@douglasstratz8583]

How do you keep the grow room clean

[@DonnyGreens]

sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing all get the job done ✅

[@ebscott1983]

I haven't figured out how to control the mold. My first few batches were beautiful. Then, the supplier stop selling the pure hemp mats and we went with another supplier. I thought it could be the mats. Our trays with the new supplier mats, the entire batch is moldy. All the seeds, covering the entire mat is mold. We are spraying on top, like we did our first few batches, so maybe that COULD be it, so we try water on the bottom. Could the seeds be bad? Do I need to refrigerate them after opening? They're completely sealed. We are in FL, and we have our AC set to 75-77 F on auto, so that could be an issue, but we had beautiful sprouts before; which is why I'm wondering if it's the mats or seeds? Thank you for your videos!

[@DonnyGreens]

Temp is a little high. Try some different growing mediums and watch my video on climate

[@lianetgomez7433]

Mine didn’t fall over, I used the hydrogen peroxide to spray them while they were sprouting and still got mold! 😢 help!

[@DonnyGreens]

i dont spray wile they are sprouting. you should probably take my challenge and get a full education!! www.onetrayaway.com/

[@Zombiechef77]

You links take you to incorrect product for the zerotol 2.0

[@DonnyGreens]

thank you

[@kathrinedeakin6053]

What microgreen are you growing in the tray to your left between shoulder and elbow??

[@stephanielees1562]

Thanks Donny - this was super helpful!

[@DonnyGreens]

Thanks so much for your response!! Do you currently use any of these methods?

[@grccalk]

Hi, you are doing good job and thanks a lot. I am really curious that can we use any regular seed or it must be produced some special seeds? Also whats the ideal humidity rate and tempature?

[@DonnyGreens]

Thanks for your kind words 😊You should really use seeds meant for microgreens because they will have high germination rates and are safe to use. I like my temperature around 73-75 F and I try to keep the humidity under 50%. Do you plan on growing for personal use or as a business?

[@grccalk]

I will try to set up my business. I did many researches but still I am at the begining of this way :( I am really openmind for people ideas like you. In my country seeds production proceses still need to be develop and it is not allowed to import. I am really confused that what kind of seed I should use. For example there are regular radish seeds which are reasonable, but at the same time there are some radish seeds which is double price sales as of mikrogreen seeds. When I talk to shop they said that except mikrogreen seeds may inculudes pesticides. So its hard to decide

[@zero9376]

@DonnyGreens @Donny What is your dosage rate for Zerotol 2.0 when using to control mold?

[@laxd488]

Can we grow coriander using hydroponics

[@DonnyGreens]

Im sure you can figure out anything! I typically grow cilantro in soil. Brickhouse growers grows them hydroponically i believe and their product is great

[@jorgevargas6177]

Does Hydroguard work?

[@DonnyGreens]

not sure what that is

[@davidfr924]

ZeroTol is a combination of high-grade hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid mixed to specific standards. That would explain why many videos suggest white vinegar (which is very diluted acetic acid). I also noticed that on AMAZON that their information on this product does NOT give any warnings or NFPA codes (colored numbers diamond used on all chemical trucks). AMAZON does not ship it correctly to the public. I would suggest checking with local gardening supply places to buy it from. Nasty stuff when concentrated. Johnny Seeds is an approved seller. GREAT VIDEO!!! GOD Bless

[@DonnyGreens]

Thanks David

[@brigittemadrid3739]

Have you experienced trouble with mold on varieties like brassica blends or lettuce mixes?

[@nehaabhijeet8574]

Hi, could you help me by telling how much percentage of hydrogen peroxide should I dilute with water. Say for 500ml of water how much of hydrogen peroxide should I add? Thank u.

[@DonnyGreens]

Depends on what you are using so I cannot advise. I use Zerotol and add 20mL to 56 oz water

[@timothystonebarger3808]

Aye Donny! I have a question...how do you dilute i need help

[@DonnyGreens]

Mix it with water. I put 20 mL into my spray bottle and then fill with water

[@prajaktabankar821]

Hey.. Your videos are very informative. I am looking forward to growing microgreens at home. I stay at a very humid place so mold problem is very common here. I wanted to know if hydrogen peroxide is safe to consume if frequently used?

[@DonnyGreens]

If you need to use food grade hydrogen peroxide, yes your plants will be safe to consume. But I recommend never getting mold in the first place by controlling your environment and growing process. Does this make sense?

[@prajaktabankar821]

@@DonnyGreens Yeah it does. For that I am gonna watch your latest video and let you know if I have any doubts. :)

[@prajaktabankar821]

@@DonnyGreens Please post a light specification video. Your videos are very helpful and informative. Thank you so much.

[@dewsky8647]

That looks like Fungi growth due to the Mycos in the soil you use which is only a good thing.. Am I missing something?

[@DonnyGreens]

dont think so

[@ronaldjones1274]

I clicked on your ZeroTol link and ZeroTol HC popped up and I bought it, but you have 2.0 in the video so now I have the wrong stuff, will it work the same?

[@DonnyGreens]

Both work, Im not sure 2.0 exists anymore

[@uthsarajayatunga1807]

Hi Donny, I am just a beginner at growing microgreens and my interest in them was created by watching your videos - they are concise and packed with information - thank you very much. My question is you suggested in the above video that taking seeds off germination as quickly as possible and putting them under lights is also a good way to prevent mold build up. But if one puts the seedlings under lights before they have reached the desired height, wouldn't they not be tall enough to harvest (as growth height-wise is less when directly under lights)? Thank you.

[@DonnyGreens]

Thanks for your kind words! The plants keep growing under the lights!

[@RajmahendraR]

Once you harvest will you reuse the soil ?

[@DonnyGreens]

Nope, new potting mix every time!

[@pjanoo6973]

You can but you have to compost it you cant just immediately re use it or it will rot and mold very quickly

[@myphamchamsoctocorzen2732]

Hi Donny! How to use zerotol or same product?

[@DonnyGreens]

yes i use zerotol. dilute and spray

[@jeremyarbitaljacoby7155]

Hello Donny! Thanks for the experienced tips and info! Last week you did a video class at my sons school. I had some questions to ask, but could not get the chat connection? If possible, is there a way to talk for a few mins? Or what is your preferred way to reach you? Thanks J

[@DonnyGreens]

Hey Jeremy, thanks for watching! You can email me at [e-mail] 🌱

[@danielhorst4459]

I'm shocked by your top watering of sunflower... that is a ton of water! Do you bottom water sunflower at all? I've been top watering with just a super light mist on my sunflower to try to help remove some of the seed hulls while continuing to bottom water, but I figured that volume of top watering would exacerbate mold issues. Interesting that you find it breaks up the colonies.

[@DonnyGreens]

Depends on your grow room, air flow, etc. I top water for the first 3 days they are under lights for the same reason you are misting. Then i switch to bottom watering until they are ready for harvest. My next 4 videos will be all about sunflower microgreens so there's a ton more I'll share with you soon but I hope this response was helpful in the meantime!

[@KonigKriegD]

Hey, great video. Question, where are your fans in your facility? I don't see any so I assume you use bigger ones and have them placed behind where the camera is. You probably turn them off for filming though. Just curious.

[@DonnyGreens]

Hey Andrew thanks a lot! You are absolutely correct, my fans are just outside of the frame 🌱

[@veronicahaits5233]

@@DonnyGreens hey, I'm a big fan and I'm not just outside the frame, in fact, I'm not even anywhere near your microgreen growing facility. 🤣

[@eljefetx]

What is the difference between Zerotol 2.0 and Zerotol HC?

[@DonnyGreens]

Not sure Jeff, Ive always used the 2.0 but I'm sure you can research that!

[@jasonkazakoff3012]

what soil are you using

[@DonnyGreens]

promix mp organik

[@DAVIDMARTINEZ-ez6sp]

Hi Donny! I just watched your 3 mold videos. I have only two doubts: Could you tell me what kind of mold are those that grow in microgreens? Are they somehow toxic for human consumption? Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@DonnyGreens]

It's just common mold that is found in the air. You can do some research on this. Mold isn't ideal for human consumption so it's something you want to control and at the very least, harvest above. Mold poisoning is real but isn't typically caused by food mold. You can find the answers to these questions with some research, I hope this helps 🌱💚

[@DAVIDMARTINEZ-ez6sp]

@@DonnyGreens Thanks so much. I'll keep searching. I think that there are only a few things you need to control mold: good substrate, not overwatering, air flow, temperature and low ambient humidity. If you are able to control all of these, you will succeed.

[@powaowa1]

@@DAVIDMARTINEZ-ez6sp I think most of the time it is cobweb mold and nothing dangerous about from what I hear, possibly make someone get an upset stomach, but to cautious you could cook the microgreens a bit if they were from a moldy spot. just my opinion I am not an expert on this

[@DAVIDMARTINEZ-ez6sp]

@@powaowa1 Thanks so much! It usually happened with some kind of seeds. Sanitizing them was the solution.

[@powaowa1]

@@DAVIDMARTINEZ-ez6sp you sanitize your seeds? Which seeds and how do you sanitize And if they are small seeds like radish or broccoli don't you find the are all clumped up and hard to plant if you soak them ahead of time

[@pjanoo6973]

Number one tip is to not water from the top, No matter how little I water if I spray the microgreens from the top they always have too much moisture and rot and mold

[@djjoel1]

Do you have a discord? I don't have social media and I'm starting a microgreens operation. I could use some people to chat with who are experienced. (I keep getting mold, although I just learned about prevention/remedies from your videos.)

[@DonnyGreens]

Glad by videos are helping. I strongly suggest getting on social media....

[@Shreyas816]

I just use 25 drops of lemon in water and then spray it

[@SpearChuck777]

$1625 a gallon!

[@gillianyong]

I wish I watched this 15 minutes ago :(

[@DonnyGreens]

haha sorry

[@ErwinvanHolten]

'food grade' hydrogen peroxide? ... also certified for organic growing? ... are you for real?

[@DonnyGreens]

Yes... its OMRI listed

[@abdelrahmansaidaliahmed6834]

Hey what's the problem? I want to understand

[@ErwinvanHolten]

@@abdelrahmansaidaliahmed6834 Well, does spraying hydrogen peroxide on top of greens and/or its medium seems natural to you? If it works it works and I would consider using it, but to call this growing method 'certified organic' is ludacris and totally inappropriate. (But then again, my first attempt wasn't a success. Personally I stopped before even having begun as I didn't find customers within the first two months. I might have used it and i still may at experimenting as a hobby.)

[@DonnyGreens]

Gotcha

[@hikarychan3997]

mmmmmmm water down the mold then put it on your salad

[@DonnyGreens]

you ok?

[@hikarychan3997]

@@DonnyGreens lolz I'm much better thank you lolz How about yourself?😁

[@fernwehchronicle]

YOUR LINK TOOK ME TO ZEROTOL HC - WHICH I BOUGHT. SHOULD I RETURN IT AND GET 2.0????

[@RovingPunster]

I just looked up the ingredients of ZeroTol HC, and its just 5.34% Hydrogen Peroxide & 1.36% peroxyacetic acid. Recommended foliar use is 0.85 fl oz per gal. Stuff is EXPENSIVE too. I suspect you can approximate it by just mixing a 1qt spray bottle of H2O2/Vin prophylactic solution as needed: 2 tbsp household Hydrogen Peroxide 3%, then fill with cool filtered water. EDIT: I'd previously hypothesized that adding 1-2 tsp distilled white vinegar might mimic the peroxyacetic acid content if the ZeroTol, but upon further reading this looks unwise and potentially unsafe, so definitely use either Peroxide or Vinegar, but NOT TOGETHER. I find the things most prone to mold, from most to least, are sunflower shoots, popcorn shoots, pea shoots, radish sprouts, and mustard seeds, in that order. For the first 3, after the usual soak in plain water, I also do a preventative mini soak for 15 mins in the solution I described before sowing, and for all 5 I mist with the solution at the start of weighted blackout, then mist again for unweighted backout, then a final time when transitioning to light & airflow. If you can implement airflow during blackout it helps a lot too, as does an hour or two of direct sunlight at the start of lighted growth (sunlight contains a lot more uv than grow lights, and uv kills mold). That's all the tips I got. Speaking of UV, i'm surprised pro growers dont include some form of weak UV into their timed lighting, if only for the h8ghly prone crops I cited. seems worth experimenting with.

[@RovingPunster]

Updated to withdraw earlier suggestion to mix peroxide with vinegar (potentially dangerous).