am i over watering??

[Mich]

HELLO, everyone, i have noticed over the last couple of weeks that my soil in the greenhouse has gone green in most pots and especially in trays of spring onions, could this be over watering? its not the soil coz the pots outside are ok. CHEERS MICH P.S PLEASE excuse me for asking a probably daft and obvious question, but i have to learn somewhere cheers

[Waffler]

Not a daft question at all; in fact I'd like to tag along with your question, as many of mine in the GH have turned a bit green. However, I haven't noticed any adverse effects, so presumed it must be ok.

[SimonCole]

I think it's quite normal for a bit of algae to be growing over the surface.

[Flummery]

I'd tap out the contents of one of the pots. Quite often when you've got green growth (we all do sometimes) you'll find that the compost is dripping! When I water with a hose I find that the cells in the centre of a module get soaked while the outsides ones can still be fairly dry. Don't know how to get around this - the attempt sees me swinging the watering can or hose in strange arcs to try to equalise the watering!

[Cutecumber]

It has a lot to do with air flow, not just water - outside there is more air flow and its very unusual to get the algae problem. I have more of it on pots in the greenhouse than in previous years, which I put down to environmental conditions this Spring.

It shouldn't cause you a problem but try watering from the bottom for a while if you can - sit a pot (which feels light and in need of a drink!) in a saucer of water for an hour or two. Don't leave it much longer - plants in fairly small pots should be able to drink what they need in this time and you can chuck the rest.

Some composts, particularly used in small cells, have such good capillary action that you will see the surface get wet within a few seconds. Coir-based sowing mixtures seem to do this - you can almost hear them sucking

[Hazel at the Hill]

Not sure about in a greenhouse as I don't have one (yet....!) but for all my seedling pots on the patio, they are in various trays so I can water the tray, plants can take up what they want, and if I've over watered I can just tip the tray to empty (bit dodgy, that last bit!).

Saves having to go sychonised can swinging, Flum!

[Flummery]

Gotta get your exercise where you can at my age, Hazel!

[moggssue]

Hmm, now I have visions of syncronised watering can swinging, one per arm! Practical as well as healthy haha!

[Mich]

Thanx all, will try that. Im not to worried as all my plants are healthy looking. CHEERS MICH

[Cutecumber]

If you realise that things are sopping wet, you can remove some of the water by placing several layers of (decent) kitchen roll, or an old tea towel under the cells or pots. This will draw out a fair amount excesss moisture. It's useful if you've over-watered, the plants and small and the weather is cold and damp - i.e. there's no sign of drying out in the near future!

[rustylady]

I know the object of having a greenhouse is to keep things warm so they grow well, but you really must have some air circulation too. Lack of this not only causes the green algae on the surface of compost, but also lots of other disease problems. Always try to leave a ventilator open during the day unless it's freezing outside.