Mold on soil prior to repotting.

edro

I had some soil mix stored in a plastic container for a few months.
It is lava rock, haydite, fir bark, etc.
When I opened it to repot a few trees yesterday, it had a layer of grey mold on the entire surface.

I know certain fungii can kill plants by attacking the roots.

I mixed the soild up well, and repotted my trees with it anyway.

Should it be ok?

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Mcspeed

Guess you will know soon enough.

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edro

I doubt it. It will probably take a few months before I know if the tree is dead.

PatArizona

G'day Edro...


"...I mixed the soild up well, and repotted my trees with it anyway...Should it be ok?"

A little late to be asking...N'est-ce pas?

Pat

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apisto

If you are going to use any more of the soil in question, you should maybe consider microwaving it to kill off any residual spores.

It may have been an even better idea before you repotted a tree in it?

Was the tree of little significance? or is it a treasured specimen?

edro

Ah, well... I am a beginner... so none of my trees are treasured specimens.
I repotted two trees with the soil, and both trees are treasured by me... but not a major loss if they die.

Only time will tell.

I just don't know what kind of fungus kills trees after repotting.
I know many root hormone powders have anti-fungal properties added to them.

I just wish I knew if the same types of fungus create mold, are the ones that kill trees.

I honestly doubt it.

BTW, I have some root hormone powder with fungicide built in... but I forgot to use it.

ALDEVAUX

Don't be worried, there is absolutely no problem for your tree to be infected with a fungus pathogen.
What you have done with your soil mixture in a closed container with 100% humidity, is to give it the most favorable environment for rapid development of saprophytic fungi (which we call molds) and which were already in the soil in small amounts.
In fact, they are common soil fungi that are beneficial for root development of your trees, since a good soil is a "living soil" that must contain different microorganisms that help maintain activity in the root rhyzosphere for good root development.
Fungus pathogens that cause root diseases are more often found in soils that are not well drained and with plants that are not very healthy.