Slug pellet mould?

[ItsEssexRob]

I bought a cannister of organic slug pellets ( the ones containing Ferric Phosphate) and put them in various places outside and in my greenhouse. I noticed the other day after being down for about a week they had a layer of mould white fur around them. I decided to take them out as I was worried this could be that Botryis (sp?) mould.

Anyone else found their pellets getting a coating of mould?

[Drea]

I get this too, I usually just take them out and replace them

[rustylady]

It's a sign that everything is too wet!

[bearded bloke]

I thought it was a sign that they were degrading as they should do,and just ignore them until almost gone & then scatter a few more rain will probably accelerate the process though

[cazp]

I have seen the same happen to some pelleted plant food over the last day or so, I try to work them in to the soil but those above ground have gone white and furry.....

Is it harmful to leave them? it will be a pain to remove them as they are dotted all over

[rustylady]

I have seen the same happen to some pelleted plant food over the last day or so, I try to work them in to the soil but those above ground have gone white and furry.....

Is it harmful to leave them? it will be a pain to remove them as they are dotted all over

Plant food should always be mixed into the soil, either by raking or forking. It won't work on the surface.

[Two_Sheds]

after being down for about a week they had a layer of mould

I'm going to tell you off now.

If they're down for a week without being eaten, you're using too many. They should be used SPARINGLY (!)
and only around vulnerable plants (young seedlings, hostas etc).

[ItsEssexRob]

I am not letting my mate Phil in the back Garden again. Without asking me he put pellets EVERYWHERE. he has poured 3/4 of a tub over everything, despite my protests you only needed a few its saturated in them. Luckily theyre the organic ones, but I am still concerned by the mould as they have moulded on areas where theres plenty of air and not ridiculous amounts of water. Mate and the enviroment aside for one minute. Can this mould cause damage to my plants? Or is it just the organic pellets decomposing? There arent enough slugs in the world to eat this many pellets and I cant pick out this many

Will plants be ok?

[Jeanied]

Moulds are very specific things. They don't usually affect other things around them, unless they start on a plant. I wouldn't worry - my pellets have gone mouldy too. Too wet.

[salome2001]

I'm going to tell you off now.

If they're down for a week without being eaten, you're using too many. They should be used SPARINGLY (!)
and only around vulnerable plants (young seedlings, hostas etc).

Thanks TS. I had been wondering why the pellets I put down seemed to be disappearing... must be working! The blighters have chomped all my new beetroot seedlings though. Going to bring out the nemaslug now that the rain is back (again)

[ItsEssexRob]

Removed some pellets today, the mould on the pellets isn't the botryis mould though is it thats what I am worried about!

[rustylady]

No Rob, it's not Botrytris. So glad your "mate" is not "helping" you any more. You will do much better on your own