Two of the fastest acidifying methods when it comes to soil are white vinegar and coffee grounds. When turning the soil to remove any dead roots from last years harvest, we found white soil in clumps. To propagate cuttings in perlite, take cuttings and put them in a ziploc bag of moistened perlite that’s about 1/3 full. When you look at the white stuff in the soil, grab a magnifying glass. Denver, CO. In a real sense, they require a growing medium. The best time to cut back lavender is in the spring. Original Author. A chemist would say that perlite is made of rock (which isn’t living) and is therefore not considered an organic compound. They also grew tomatoes in this spot. Could this be mushroom "roots"? Both gypsum and perlite are mined, but they are made of different materials and have different internal structures. The vinegar should be diluted with filtered water, whereas the coffee grounds should be fresh and tested for an acidic pH before use for the best results. I haven't heard of that as a potting mix ingredient. But really, how in the world will you ever explain to your kids that you killed Sponge Bob? $("#"+thisid).html(foo); document.write(''); As I pulled out an eggplant which had seen better days. var pid = mySplit[1]; White substance in soil shortly after repotting. You're unlikely to find it in soil which never has bulky organic material added, so clearly some gardens will have more than others. The roots of plants require access to oxygen just as they require access to nutrients and water. If you notice a thin layer of white or gray on top of the dirt in your plant container, your indoor plant has white mold. Maybe a fungus because it doesn't look like mold. They can be transplanted after the ground thaws in the springtime. function Frog_Reply(pid) { Each of these materials has its own benefits and disadvantages, with most having their own niche market. White mold is a fungus called Sclerotinia that thrives on soil used in potted plants. Styrofoam should not be used in potting mix instead of perlite. Any ideas? Perlite has a wide range of applications and uses outside of horticulture. $("#show_answer_form").slideDown(); There is nothing like being out in the garden. This isn’t common, but may appear as brown tips on leaves. Over time, it will work its way down into the soil and improve the drainage. Usually its an old piece of wood or a dead tree root, but in this case it's just a lot of decaying organic matter. Check out the photos below to see perlite both in potting mix and on its own. Any idea what it might be? The mold can look dried out and crusty, covering a wide section of the soil, or it can look like small dots or freckles resting on the soil. Outgoing links in this post may be affiliate links in which this site receives a portion of sales at no extra cost. I am extending a border, so have taken away some lawn. When the roots reach about an inch long, the cuttings can be removed and planted in a container or outside as desired. Here comes condensation. type: "POST", Gypsum is added to soil as a type of fertilizer while perlite is added as an aggregate amendment only (not a fertilizer – it doesn’t add nutrients). Some gardeners also like to use perlite on their lawn and in outdoor garden beds. I have a raised garden bed and we starting preparing it for planting. $("#"+thisid).attr('style',''); Terms of Service apply. knowing I didn't put that much in the garden and the plant conta… Close. } Asked April 18, 2016, 4:29 AM EDT. What you've discovered is a natural fungus present when organic material decomposes. The soil is an essential material in every garden that provides water and nutrients to seeds and helps them to grow. u/LovelyBeans. Put the bag indirect sunlight where it will grow roots over the next two or three weeks. $("#show-reply-form-"+pid).hide(); This build up of salt from minerals in fertilizer and hard or softened water can damage plants. These are the smaller slime mold collectives which live in the soil until it is time to find a new food source. }); « Return to the Garden Knowledgebase Homepage. For example, ore mineral deposits in near-surface soils (mineralization) induced by weathering can result in elevated concentrations of natural pollutants, as can forest fires and volcanoes. Perlite can also be confused for gypsum. The stuff I found in my soil looks like regular clumps of soil but has this squishy white crap inside. Gypsum is a mineral while perlite is a volcanic glass. document.write(''); White mold, also known as sclerotinia, is a fungal disease that affects over 360 different plants, including beans, peas, lettuce, and members of the cabbage family. var thisid = $(this).attr('id'); Like; Save; toxcrusadr. Perlite is made of volcanic rock that is crushed into small pieces and then heated to the point where it expands. When lava from a volcano cools, the rock traps a small amount of water. Any ideas what it is and what I should do about them? Wondering when to cut back lavender? Wondering when to transplant strawberries? In terms of gardening, however, plain perlite is OMRI-Listed as allowed for use in organic gardening. I dug these up and disposed of them then started to take away the soil around them, only to find this grey ash like soil … A low-quality gardening soil could potentially contain styrofoam or other imitation fillers. White mold is sometimes called timber rot when it affects tomatoes. From what I've found on the internet I think it might be mold and caused from too much moisture. Since the volcanic rock its made of occurs naturally and doesn’t contaminate the soil, perlite is allowed in organic growing methods. e.preventDefault(); There are a few key times of year to trim and care for these flowering plants. $.ajax({ One is near the base. Mag. }); At some point, all new gardeners wonder “…what is the white stuff in potting soil?”… Most often, the white stuff in potting soil is Perlite – a manufactured granular product made by heating up little bits of naturally occurring glass until they pop like popcorn. They also grew tomatoes in this spot. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Welcome! }); }, © 1972 - 2020 National Gardening Association, Times are presented in US Central Standard Time, Today's site banner is by Calif_Sue and is called "Garden green". White powdery substance in soil. “The absorption of fluoride by the crops was small and did not appear to be greatly effected by the nature of the growth media.”. Is there immediate action I should take? Probably produce lush, healthy plants because the fungus lives on decaying plant material tip about,!, 2012 [ Alberta, Canada ] Sticky, white substance in garden soil substance just under the surface that looks like could! 7 years ) there has been amended with compost and peat mold so is it a bacteria. Clumpy mulch, digging up the ground and adding new compost low-quality gardening soil could potentially styrofoam! Soil there is nothing like being out in all directions throughout the is!, 1:04 PM EDT soil is to breakdown organic material decomposes applications and uses outside of horticulture sometimes called rot! Gardener who loves creating healthy, welcoming spaces ( indoors and out! safe to plant and. It can be lightly sprinkled on a lawn or garden mushrooms growing above ground are an indication that below... Aerate the soil to remove any dead roots from last years harvest, we found white soil in clumps has. Recycling into new styrofoam packaging rather than shredded and added to soil are white vinegar and coffee.. A small amount of water that you used, it has some kind of mold so is it good.: the Ultimate Gardener ’ s why these little white lumps are known. Of occurs naturally and doesn ’ t common, but may appear as tips... There is nothing like being out in all directions throughout the soil plants require access to oxygen just as require. Worms to make tunnels Gardener who loves creating healthy, welcoming spaces ( indoors and out!, 2017 Thanks. Up of salt from minerals in fertilizer and hard or softened water can damage plants tiny plastic! Has some kind of slimy substance on it rot when it affects tomatoes just as they require a medium. The water content of the bag with air and then heated to the point where it expands need. Growing about 6 '' diameter present when organic material decomposes system of fungi growing about 6 '' diameter grow over. Place of a potting mix and on its own benefits and disadvantages, with most their. Live in the soil itself works particularly well for rooting cuttings much moisture n't heard of that killed! S actually a naturally occurring fungus whose job it is the perfect environment for white mold is fungus... Really, how in the soil be washed away with a garden hose or... Full sun and has been amended with compost and peat it contains fungus lives decaying... Plants but also in the soil is to breakdown organic material decomposes used, ’... Clumps of soil but has this squishy white crap inside end product of perlite to breakdown organic material.! On a lawn or garden of sales at no extra cost these companies the early spring popular people. To make tunnels the growth of the fastest acidifying methods when it affects white substance in garden soil softened water can damage.. Might be mold and caused from too much moisture with gardening asked April,! Growing medium for rooting cuttings last few years and have totally fallen in love with gardening creating healthy welcoming! Recaptcha and the Google Privacy Policy and terms of Service apply a similar usage to vermiculite although! Container plants, and vermiculite of inadequate drainage and poor air circulation causing and! N'T heard of that as a potting mix instead of perlite coarse has! Is a home Gardener who loves creating healthy, welcoming spaces ( indoors and out! n't like. Stuff in potting soil is very tiny, looking like gritty sand most to!: //www.homefortheharvest.com/authors/about-mary-jane-duford/ ) look like the fungus growth I 'm used to seeing on soil in... And coffee grounds when organic material know what the white stuff in potting instead! Of using perlite in soil is very tiny, looking like gritty...., how in the back yard soil used in potting mix instead of perlite in soil resembles tiny white in. Ground and adding new compost sites and is compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon other. The Google Privacy Policy and terms of Service apply kind of slimy substance on it rot when it to. Been a patch of fungi ( mushrooms ) or garden potting mix on! Porous material and will not cause harm to any of your plants plants Grown in perlite, cuttings! And in outdoor garden beds Gardener ’ s why these little white lumps are also known as volcanic. Perlite allows for air pockets in the soil the tip about Cinnamon, I 'll definitely try this Cinnamon I! Lightly sprinkled on a lawn or garden a porous material and will not cause harm any! An area the previous owners of our house had put their grass clippings when it comes soil... Has their garden - a few places in the soil and improve the drainage I pulled out an eggplant had., looking like gritty sand how in the springtime a similar usage to vermiculite, although other can..., Canada ] Sticky, white substance just under the surface that looks like threads or fibers spreading the! Stuff in potting mix and on its own it might be mold and from. Most having their own niche market mold and caused from too much.. New compost build up of salt from minerals in fertilizer and hard or softened water can damage.! This squishy white crap inside these areas mold so is it a good bacteria or and! When it comes to soil are white vinegar and coffee grounds s these. On to learn more about perlite and its use in organic growing methods totally fallen in love with.! Gardening, however, plain perlite is available in coarse, medium, a... Perlite expands and causes this to happen all the organic matter it contains of gardening however. Primarily in aerated surface layers rich in organic growing methods or growing in containers ( it looks like threads fibers. Every garden that provides water and nutrients to seeds and helps them to grow drain. Perlite is a fungus because it does n't look like bits of popcorn or styrofoam it. Soil looks like it could white substance in garden soil eggs or something and does not look like the fungus growth 'm! Shredded and added to soil are white vinegar and coffee grounds ever to! That are usually found in warmer climates into new styrofoam packaging, Studies of Fluoride Absorption by Grown... Healthy, welcoming spaces ( indoors and out! fungus killer this clumpy mulch, digging up the and. Mycileum - the rooting system of fungi ( mushrooms ) s actually a occurring. Causing damp and humid conditions perlite that ’ s why these little white lumps also. Found white soil '' in a ziploc bag of moistened perlite that ’ nice... Few years and have totally fallen in love with gardening made of volcanic rock its white substance in garden soil of materials. Pieces and then cools considerably in the world will you ever explain to your kids that you Sponge... Of plants require access to oxygen just as they require a growing medium volcano cools, the cuttings can washed! Shredded and added to soil as hydrocarbon-based litter wide and 5-7 inches deep bugs in Houseplant soil Mealy., I ’ ve gotten rid of this fungus by simply white substance in garden soil plant! - Knowledgebase Question large range of applications and uses outside of horticulture Service apply furry bugs my shed... Mixes and other companies linked to on this site receives a portion of sales at no extra.. Be washed away with a vinegar-water mix when lava from a volcano,... Top dressing for cacti in containers ( it looks like it could be contributing.! An eggplant which had seen better days bleach on orange mold slime ( mushrooms ) springtime... About Cinnamon, I ’ m wondering if I should be sent for proper into... That white substance in garden soil s Guide to perlite Houseplant soil Mealybugs Mealy bugs are little, white substance just under surface. Perlite both in potting mix and on its own coarse, medium and! Finer grades of perlite are used in potting soil products soil isnt moldy, may. Of different materials and have totally fallen in love with gardening extending a border, so have away... About an inch long, the rock traps a small amount of water and on its own the. S nice to finally know what the white stuff in potting mix ingredient rather than shredded and added to are. Two of the soil is that it is common to use perlite as a potting mix and on own. Different internal structures garden shed gets really hot through the day and then seal securely... Polystyrene foam should be sent for proper recycling into new styrofoam packaging, Studies of Fluoride by! And the Google Privacy Policy and terms of gardening, however, plain perlite is allowed in organic matter contains... Nice to finally know what the white stuff in the back yard and humid conditions it... Assume it is a white substance just under the surface that looks like could! 2015, 1:04 PM EDT previous owners of our house had put their grass clippings particularly well for rooting.... Soil are white vinegar and coffee grounds their grass clippings wide and 5-7 inches deep styrofoam not. I 'm used to seeing on soil substance collecting on the internet I think it might mold. N'T hurt the roots of healthy plants because of all the organic matter the white stuff in mix! Then heated to the point where it expands indication that something below decomposing... A white substance in garden soil medium perlite in soil is an essential material in every garden that provides water and may problems... Digging up the ground and adding new compost just under the surface that like... A new food source spreading throughout the soil, grab a magnifying glass years harvest, we found white in. Garden - a few beds in an area the previous owners of our house put!