What is this white powdery substance on top of my coco??

[newbie187]

Hi RIU,


Recently I've noticed this white powdery substance on the top of my medium, coco.


I don't understand, humidity is around 50/60 hitting 70/80 at times when lights are off.


I've had another tent with 70% humidity but never got this white stuff.


Have a look at these pictures and see if it helps guys.







One thing I should add is that I have been told it could be spidermites.



I thought it was the beginning of mold so I scooped of the first inch and put some fresh coco.



It didn't help and I am seeing this white stuff return.



Any help would be great guys.

Thank You

 

[Bucees]

That's either mold or powdery mildew. Can't tell from the pictures. Once the spores are in your grow area it will be virtually impossible to remove them given the humidity levels present.

Your humidity is just too high to grow without these problems cropping up. Anything over 65% is inviting disaster in my opinion.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Powdery mildew is my bet. It loves acidic environments. Eagle 20 should stop it.

 

[nittygrittydirt]

Could be fungi which isn't bad

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Rollitup mobile app

 

[newbie187]

see I thought it was powdery mildew myself. but I don't know for sure, its like white specks.

fungi? trichormeda is it?

 

[newbie187]

after researching I made an assumption powdery mildew grows on leaves itself and not on the medium.

 

[Hazydat620]

salt buildup.

 

[nittygrittydirt]

salt buildup.

Now that you mention it, yeah that

 

[Ace Yonder]

What texture is it when you look at it under magnification? If you have hard water it could just be mineral deposits. If it is like a hard crusty layer that's probably what it is, most mold and mildew will have a pretty distinctive look, almost cobwebby, same thing with spidermites.

 

[LIBERTYCHICKEN]

salt buildup.

likely from hard water

 

[brissel]

when was last water cause i had that same pro8lem then i waterd and it went away

 

[newbie187]

What texture is it when you look at it under magnification? If you have hard water it could just be mineral deposits. If it is like a hard crusty layer that's probably what it is, most mold and mildew will have a pretty distinctive look, almost cobwebby, same thing with spidermites.

It's not hard or anything, it is soft there still. I will need to have another look under magnification but it just breaks up in my hand when I touch it.

I do have hard water though.

Now that you mention it, yeah that

I have seen salt build up from nutes before and that is more like a crystally texture isn't it?

likely from hard water

Possibly mate I do have hard water here but the thing is my other grow with the same water does not have this.

The only difference is now I am using an inch of hydroton at the bottom of each pot whereas before it was 100% coco.

when was last water cause i had that same pro8lem then i waterd and it went away

It's on an automated dripper system, twice a day for a few mins. It floods it.

 

[K J]

I get the same looking stuff on my dirt and it's definitely not mold, at least not in my case, I assume it's salt build up.

 

[Think difrent]

Ther are yust nutrients drying on the top no problem no need to flush i had that in my two grows back trust me noting rong do noting abaut it sory for my eanglish

 

[AimAim]

Another vote for salt buildup. I've got a hundred houseplants and they all get a bit this time of year. Mostly calcium I would bet.