Mould on Newspaper/toilet roll pots

[Braceandy]

Hi all and happy Easter.

I read that you can use the card out of toilet roll or rolled up newspaper as pots for sweetcorn. Tried it this year and the seedlings are all looking great but the pots and the compost are all covered in hairy mould.

Anyone experience this before and have an opinion on how to stop the mould and/or whether it will be an issue for the plants??

[Kleftiwallah]

The mould not looking very nice and the 'pots' collapsing in my hand has stopped me using this method.

Cheers, Tony.

[marchogaeth]

I think you may have things a bit too wet. Any way you can get some air round the tubes? I've had it a bit on loo rolls but never enough to worry me.

[Jungle Jane]

Isn't the mould there because it's decomposing,can you get it all planted into a bigger pots,the roots are going to get quite long between now & planting out. I haven't sown mine yet because it's not warm enough here till May/June for them to be planted out. To avoid the mould if you sow them nearer to planting out time maybe? I made newspaper pots once,had them in the house,a slug appeared from nowhere on the paper (I was using good seed compost) that baffled me & put me off,but I think if the seed/seedlings in the paper for limited time it would help

[Scarlet]

If you give the loo rolls a quick blast in the microwave before you plant up in them it ensure the mould holds off for a while...though try not to overwater. They are good for beans as the time from sowing to planting out is very short.

[Bren In Pots]

Mine tend to get a bit of it but its never harmed the seedling.

[Kristen]

The mould is due, I believe, to the glue in the loo roll. Its harmless to plants / people, just looks a bit unsightly.