Small green blobs on compost

[Maccabee]

Hi,

I've noticed in a couple of pots small green blobs have started to develop on the surface of the compost. One of the pots has been outside in the rain for a couple of months (still waiting for the seed i sowed in it to come up!!!) while the other has been indoors for the same amount of time and planted up with an Aloe. They're both filled with the same compost (New Horizon, which was on offer at the same time so i'm guessing left over from last year?). Anyone any ideas? I'm guessing it's some fungal thing.



Cheers

[super trowel]

Strange.
As you said I think, but no expert

[Creemteez]

Hi Maccabee, Not sure what it is - probably the start of some sort of mossy growth - it happens on damp, undisturbed compost.
What seeds did you plant last year that you are still waiting for???? I've got to tell ya, hunny, I think you may be waiting in vain. Interestingly you say you are using New Horizon compost - I assume its a peat free variety looking at your photo- and only this morning I was reading in Which? Gardening that in tests these peat free varieties didn't do very well! They actually say DON'T buy the New Horizon Organic and Peat Free Seed and Cutting Compost as germination results were so bad - and those things that did germinate grew very poorly!
I'd be tempted to invest in some different compost (you can shoot me down in flames- but I cannot abide peat free stuff) and try again.

[Pa Snips]

It's an alien invasion!

Sorry, I'll get me coat.

[Maccabee]

It certainly looks alien

@ Creamteez - you may be on to something there. I might leave it and see what becomes of it. The seeds were aruncus dioicus (Goat's beard). As i say, i'd left them outside to their own devices, i assumed they just wouldn't germinate until they were ready in spring. I did get them off eBay though, so that could be another reason for them still hiding away.

It would appear i'm not having much luck with peat-free, the last stuff i used (B&Q) dried as hard as stone, but i'm gonna persist for now and see how my other sowings get on. I've already sown a few things in the New Horizon and planted up some containers with it now so i don't have much choice anyway. Thanks for your comment

[Two_Sheds]

only this morning I was reading in Which? Gardening that in tests these peat free varieties didn't do very well! They actually say DON'T buy the New Horizon Organic

That's strange.
NH was "Awarded Which Best Buy Container Compost in 2010 and 2011"
The Green & Organic Range | William Sinclair | Gardening advice, tips, J Arthur Bower, New Horizons, plant foods, fertilisers, soil products

[chris]

Are those blobs growing? Or just there, staying the same size/colour?

[Maccabee]

That's strange.
NH was "Awarded Which Best Buy Container Compost in 2010 and 2011"
The Green & Organic Range | William Sinclair | Gardening advice, tips, J Arthur Bower, New Horizons, plant foods, fertilisers, soil products

"New Horizon Organic & Peat-Free Growbag
Peat-free compost struggles in seed-sowing trials (it does better in trials for container compost). But germination rates for basil were on a par with the Best Buy peat-based compost, and rates for petunia were reasonable."

Choose the best compost for healthy plants - Telegraph

Are those blobs growing? Or just there, staying the same size/colour?

I couldn't say just yet. I've taken some pictures and i'll be keeping my eye on them.

[Creemteez]

That's strange.
NH was "Awarded Which Best Buy Container Compost in 2010 and 2011"
The Green & Organic Range | William Sinclair | Gardening advice, tips, J Arthur Bower, New Horizons, plant foods, fertilisers, soil products

They were very specific that the NH Organic Peat free Seed and Cutting compost was the "Don't Buy" one, where the NH Organic and Peat Free Vegetable Compost was voted best Peat free.
It is odd that one should be "the best" and one carp!

The B and Q peat free stuff I bought last year is AWFUL! Huge lumps of wood and bark, smelling of soot, dried to a rock hard crust which my sweet pea seeds were totally unable to push through! I'm going to keep it for earthingup my spuds - It's fit for nothing else imho!





personally

[Florence Fennel]

Interesting. When you said green blobs I assumed it was the beginning of moss growth, but it just goes to show, it's never safe to assume. Not seen that before, so can't help.

[lottie dolly]

it does look from another planet,if it were a mouldy thing surely it would be a darker green,it certainly looks like little plants of some description,i had a google at your plants,and is not like them,have you googled fungie to see if you recognise it,or could it be from the fleshy type plants like caccti,just a thought

[taff]

we have a possible winner
Olive green mold. Mushroom growing technology

or not, you make up your minds

[lottie dolly]

we have a possible winner
Olive green mold. Mushroom growing technology

or not, you make up your minds

You clever lad,looks identical,what an advert for the compost ahem

[Potstubsdustbins]

Taff that certainly looks like a winner take the cigar.

Colin

[taff]

You clever lad,looks identical,what an advert for the compost ahem

*curtsies* [in a female fashion ]