Mould growing on top of the soil...

SonicBoom

I'm fairly new to bonsai, having had one for 1 year now. Mould keeps appearing on top of the soil of my bonsai. After a month or so of removing it the mould is back again. I am worried that it could end up affecting my bonsai...

Any tips on how to get rid of it, and what I might be doing wrong for it to come along in the first place?

Thanks

Advertisement

Mcspeed

If it's actually mold, it's probably a situation where the soil is staying wet. If thats the case and your tree doesn't like to be wet you are heading for trouble.

Can you post a picture so we can see what you have, and what is the soil composed of, and what is your watering routine like. In some cases ( depends on the type of tree, it maybe a symbiotic fungus that actually helps the tree thrive.

Air Force?

__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you.


Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

jjeter

Mould is generally a product of low light, high moisture and organic material. As far as if it affecting your bonsai, we need more info. What kind of tree do you have? What is the soil mix? How often do you water? Is the soil constantly wet? What type of fertilizer do you use? How often? Where is the tree located? Full Sun? Part Sun? Inside? Outside?

I have had some mould on my soil, but it was directly tied to the organic fertilizer I was using. It was not a problem with the the trees I was using it on. Let us know more about your tree and we can see if we can help.

__________________
Jeff

Student of Bonsai

BriDesmond

I had a mould problem last winter on a non bonsai Meyer Lemon. My soil was heavy peat based. It retained more moisture than could be used by the tree. That combined with lousy ventalation and you've got yourself a mould farm.

A quick fix is add a little denatured alcohol to your spray bottle, but the source of the mould needs to be found.

SonicBoom

Here's a pic of my bonsai... I believe it's a Chinese Privet


And here's a pic of the mold growing on top of the soil


I do also need to prune the tree and sort out the soil. I think some of it has been washed away through over watering.

The mold might be a combination of the soil staying too wet on occasion, and dead leaves I've not cleared away.

The bonsai is at the back of my living room, not in direct sunlight. I realise that it could benefit from being outside, but I don't know how long it'd last before someone ran off with it... !

Thanks

Mcspeed

Somewhat hard to tell, but it looks like you soil is heavy on organics, and probably staying wet to long, add in being inside with no real air circulation.

Have to say it though, if you don't get it out I believe you will lose it anyway. If for no other reasons sun, air, and the weather are hard to duplicate inside. Geesh Bill how many other reasons are there - DOh!

A bandaid approach would be to put a small fan blowing in it's direction for air circulation.

__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you.


Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

SonicBoom

So, you think it would be best to put it outside? During the winter should it stay outside too?

jjeter

Outside would be best. At least a window with some direct sun. Does the pot have drain holes and does water run out when you water? Try to cut back on the water a little. I don't know much about privets, but generally less water is better than too much. Very nice bonsai though.

__________________
Jeff

Student of Bonsai

SonicBoom

Thanks very much. I still think the bonsai is due a pruning

Yeah, the pot has drainage holes, and I water it a little until the water runs through the bottom. I don't think there is any problem there, other than I have sometimes watered it a bit too much or used more water than I should.