Medium turning black

M

MrGrowthSpurt

Member
Sup fellow growers! I'm new to this, I mean new new as in got all my equipment and planted seeds 18 days ago (laws changed here in VA) I used 85% coco coir and mixed in 15% miracle grow potting mix. I am noticing there are parts of the surface of the coco coir that is turning a dark green/black color, is it the pre signs of mold? anything new know what it could be?
 

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Not sure it was good to mix coco with miracle gro. Not saying they can’t be mixed, but I’ve never heard of it before. Coco needs to be watered daily with nutrients, sometimes more than once a day-coco medium should never dry out. Miraclegro is a soil loaded with nutrients that are to be watered once dried out. Not exactly sure what’s happening with your situation, but it could be from the two mixed together or your watering practices.
How often do you water? Does your cup have drain holes in the bottom?
 
MrGrowthSpurt said:
Sup fellow growers! I'm new to this, I mean new new as in got all my equipment and planted seeds 18 days ago (laws changed here in VA) I used 85% coco coir and mixed in 15% miracle grow potting mix. I am noticing there are parts of the surface of the coco coir that is turning a dark green/black color, is it the pre signs of mold? anything new know what it could be?
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Looks kinda purple'ish pink to me
 
I was just thinking I really don't see why you couldn't cut soil with coco...you cut it with perlite vermiculite pine bark etc etc...
 
Thanks for the responses, I think I may have messed my babies up. I paniced and sprayed a homemade concoction diluted with water onto the soil (Castile peppermint oil/tea tree oil 70% iso alcohol 1% peroxide) now my Afghan is wilting looking super sad, my White Rhino is drooping my Blueberry (the one in small cup is doing ok a minor droop and the caramelicious doesnt seem impacted) I'm not sure if it's the spray or the fact that it was colder than usual today. Since planting them the temperature has been between 76 and 86 in the grow tent with 59 to 76% humidity. Today the temp dropped to 71.8 and the humidity got down to 39% could that be the reason? I've adjusted the temperature to make it at the levels they should be used to and I gave them a good watering and will see what happens.

Before you rip me a new one, lol. I know I probably screwed up, but hey you live and you learn, I'll plant more and avoid the same mistakes.
 
MrGrowthSpurt said:
Thanks for the responses, I think I may have messed my babies up. I paniced and sprayed a homemade concoction diluted with water onto the soil (Castile peppermint oil/tea tree oil 70% iso alcohol 1% peroxide) now my Afghan is wilting looking super sad, my White Rhino is drooping my Blueberry (the one in small cup is doing ok a minor droop and the caramelicious doesnt seem impacted) I'm not sure if it's the spray or the fact that it was colder than usual today. Since planting them the temperature has been between 76 and 86 in the grow tent with 59 to 76% humidity. Today the temp dropped to 71.8 and the humidity got down to 39% could that be the reason? I've adjusted the temperature to make it at the levels they should be used to and I gave them a good watering and will see what happens.

Before you rip me a new one, lol. I know I probably screwed up, but hey you live and you learn, I'll plant more and avoid the same mistakes.
Click to expand...
I regularly grow in the low 70s...at times high 60s...and that's lights on...tends to drop to low 60s lights out sometimes....season depending...I like these temps...I keep a cool house bc I like it cool and low night temps will bring out some cool colors on the plants which I like
 
MrGrowthSpurt said:
Sup fellow growers! I'm new to this, I mean new new as in got all my equipment and planted seeds 18 days ago (laws changed here in VA) I used 85% coco coir and mixed in 15% miracle grow potting mix. I am noticing there are parts of the surface of the coco coir that is turning a dark green/black color, is it the pre signs of mold? anything new know what it could be?
Click to expand...
They look like they've been really dry at some point...hence the cracked medium and it separating itself from sides of pot
 
Turns out the "black/Green" stuff growing on the surface is algae due to me overwatering, surprised none of the more seasoned people who weighed in didn't mention it? I sprinkled a little bit of cinnamon on top of the soil and wha-la the algae is gone. Also my plants bounced back lovely after spraying them with the home made 3 in 1 natural pesticide. They are doing really well.
 
MrGrowthSpurt said:
Turns out the "black/Green" stuff growing on the surface is algae due to me overwatering, surprised none of the more seasoned people who weighed in didn't mention it? I sprinkled a little bit of cinnamon on top of the soil and wha-la the algae is gone. Also my plants bounced back lovely after spraying them with the home made 3 in 1 natural pesticide. They are doing really well.
Click to expand...
Maybe if your pictures had been in normal light someone would have seen it. Algae growth on medium is not something most people deal with.
 
Coco coir is regularly mixed with peat based potting mixes the world over in the horticultural industry. This whole "you can't mix Coco with soil or potting mix idea is strange.

Coco is great for aerating heavy peat soils, and great to add as a pH buffer..there is no reason to constantly think in absolutes when it comes to mediums.

Depending on what qualities you want from your medium, you mix and match, and adapt your feeding schedule to boot.

I know many people who mix peat moss, Coco coir and worm castings for amazing super soils, and many skip the peat altogether and go organic with Coco, castings and compost. To say that you plain can't mix Coco and soil is bizarre, and a perfect display of black and white thought patterns.
 
Take a soup spoon and run it under the tap. Let the water drip a bit but don't shake the excess water off. Put the spoon on a white plate and wait for it to dry.

I'm on well water and it will stain a spot grey/black (depending on the time of year) because of the mineral/iron content. That could be it.
 
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