Algae in my soil? Bad thing?

[jsn9333]

I have a few 2-liter bottles filled a little more then half-way with soil with 2-week old plants growing in them. A couple of the bottles have some algae looking green stuff growing in the soil. Is this bad? The plants look very healthy.

Think the two liters may trap moisture since they are only half-filled... so as water evaporates from the soil some of it condenses on the sides and drips back down back into the soil. I did this on purpose, to give the seedlings extra humidity outside and to protect the little plants from rabbits and squirrles and other animals (they can't reacy the plants down in the two liters bottles).

However, I'm wondering now if this is a bad idea since algae or mold or something is growing in the soil. I plan on transplanting in 2-3 weeks anyway, but I'm wondering if you think I should go ahead and get the plants into larger pots with fresh soil.

jsn9333 Reviewed by jsn9333 on 06-19-2007. Algae in my soil? Bad thing? I have a few 2-liter bottles filled a little more then half-way with soil with 2-week old plants growing in them. A couple of the bottles have some algae looking green stuff growing in the soil. Is this bad? The plants look very healthy. Think the two liters may trap moisture since they are only half-filled... so as water evaporates from the soil some of it condenses on the sides and drips back down back into the soil. I did this on purpose, to give the seedlings extra humidity outside Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

You are absolutely right about the soil level being too low- you are giving yourself a bit of extra humidity and less air flow around the base of the plant. Indoors, this would be disastrous, but if your plant is still alive, then great.

Algae is not a problem. Mold could be depending on what it is- there are beneficial fungi in soil too. But the bottles are clear, right? Light to the soil is letting algae grow, and when the roots get to the light the plant can get stressed.

Wrap the bottles in tinfoil to keep light away from the roots, and once you think you are safe from rabbits, cut the bottles down to 1 inch above the soil surface. There are other ways to prevent rabbit damage... like a chicken wire tent, or a cage around each plant.

[jsn9333]

You are absolutely right about the soil level being too low- you are giving yourself a bit of extra humidity and less air flow around the base of the plant. Indoors, this would be disastrous, but if your plant is still alive, then great.

Algae is not a problem. Mold could be depending on what it is- there are beneficial fungi in soil too. But the bottles are clear, right? Light to the soil is letting algae grow, and when the roots get to the light the plant can get stressed.

Wrap the bottles in tinfoil to keep light away from the roots, and once you think you are safe from rabbits, cut the bottles down to 1 inch above the soil surface. There are other ways to prevent rabbit damage... like a chicken wire tent, or a cage around each plant.

Thanks. The bottles are clear, so I'll spraypaint the base under the soil line or something. Or, I'll just transplant soon to be safest. The plants are about big enough to sit above many of the pests anyway.

I would've done chicken wire or something like that, but the 2-liters are in some bushes on some powerlines down my street. I wanted to draw as little attention to that area as possible. I need to just start sprouting inside and be done with all this hiding shit.