Weird white stuff in my greenhouse!

[knbsallotment]

I have a problem with the soil in my inherited greenhouse - the soil has a white lumpy/chalky substance growing all over it. This strange stuff spreads onto anything placed in the greenhouse - even the seed trays full of seeds - which I have on two trestles. It prevented the seeds from germinating. The soil on top was incredibly dry, while underneath, it was soaked. I have made make-shift bubblewrap houses since then, which have worked remarkably well - but, obviously, I would quite like to use my green house again as soon as possible. Does anyone have any idea what this could be, and how to get rid of it? Organically if possible, because I feel this problem might be due to years of chemical abuse on the site, and I do grow organically on my other plots. If there are no organic remedies, I guess I will have to use a chemical of some kind. HELP! PLEASE!

[knbsallotment]

[saddad]

 ??? Totally baffled...

[knbsallotment]

So very helpful! lol. Well, at least I'm not the only one that's totally confuzzled by this!  ???

[davyw1]

When was the last time you changed your soil in the greenhouse.

[knbsallotment]

I think it was year before last - not entirely sure as I inherited this plot this year, as the little lady that had it was moving away, and decided I would do a good job of looking after it, and it was already next door to my existing plots. Can't remember exactly what she said, but am fairly sure it was year before last.

[davyw1]

There are a number of things that come to mind. Can you take a photo.

[legendaryone]

If you haven't changed the soil then do it, don't trust the memory of an old lady  ;)

[knbsallotment]

Will take a piccie tomorrow morning - will try to post it tomorrow night, not quite sure how to post piccies on here yet though!

[davyw1]

this comes in many forms its bacterial Canker It can grow like fingers coming out of the soil its brittle and pale yellow inside ( i think)  The top of the soil is dry but around the roots is moist

[Deb P]

Ghostly ectoplasm I think...call Ghostbusters! ;D

[davyw1]

Any way regardless until you find out what it is and what treatment to use my advice would be to get that soil out of the greenhouse AND don,t put it on your garden.

[knbsallotment]

It does'nt look particularly like your pic davy - it looks almost like a powdery/crumbly substance, spreading across the top of the soil, rather than growing out of it. I will definitely have to post a pic I think.

[knbsallotment]

Yep, will defeinitely get it moved, and guess I'll have to clean my shelving etc also, as the stuff seems to creep onto anything I have on the shelving (which, obviously is a fair way off the floor).

[davyw1]

Just as a thought you didnt notice a number of small small insects that resemble Gnats did you

[knbsallotment]

Nope, no insects. It's definitely not white fly.

[saddad]

If you are ready to do battle I'd douse everything with Jeyes fluid...
:-\

[Jeannine]

Is it white mould

[knbsallotment]

I guess it does look a little mould like. It is a very strange substance. Keep meaning to take a pic, but keep forgetting to take my camera to the allotment!!! D'OH!!!

[jollyroger123]

Does it look like this.

This happened when i went green and used B&Q peat free compost.  I think the compost was needing a couple of more weeks to break down.



It hasn't spread anywhere but then i haven't moved it into the greenhouse.

[Tee Gee]

Are you in a hard water area?

If so it might just be a build up of limescale