Green mold on compost?

[Gobby]

Hi i've been reading alot on this site for a while now and thought it was about time to ask a question of my own...

I've got a few peppers in pots inside my plastic greenhouse, but i've noticed a mold/fungus thats starting to develop on the compost in the pots, i havent noticed any on any of the plants but it "is" spreading to the other pots as when i water i see the cloud of spore puff up, any idea what this is or do i need to try and get a picture on here? Any help is very much appreciated as it's alittle worrying to stand in a cloud of spore while giving everything a nice water  :-\
If it's any help it looks alittle like powdered  Verdi Gris off a copper pipe...
Cheers!

[Gobby]

[tonybloke]

sounds like a mould on the compost, usually from rainwater butts. Images can be posted via several ways, see the 'Photo Talk'  section of the boards.

[vegmandan]

I think it might be that you're perhaps keeping the compost a little too moist or using water butt water.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the green mould,It's more likely to be an algae or moss type thingy.

I've just taken  a pic of one of my peppers soil that I overwatered recently and as it's been so wet and cold lately the soil hasn't had chance to dry out and hence the green.

If it looks anything like this then dont worry.

[manicscousers]

Hi, Gobby, welcome to the site  ;D
we sink either a piece of pipe or a 2 ltr pop bottle, upended with the bottom cut off, buried next to the plant, we water into this as the water goes to the roots, also, this weather, they don't need as much water as when it's warm  :)

[cornykev]

Welcome to the madhouse Gobby.  :P :P :P      ;D ;D ;D

[Tee Gee]

I agree with the comments on watering but I also think that the compost can sometimes play a part in this i.e. it might have a high percentage of fine dust like particles in it which float to the top when watering and form a skin on top of the compost.

All I do is use an old dinner fork I keep at hand for things such as this and just rake/scrape it of and generally the compost below is OK.

Be a bit careful on shallow rooted plants if you uncover some roots just cover them with a little new compost.

[organicandy]

Hi, it sounds very much that you are overwatering your plant, common problem, nothing to worry about,  you can try a little experiment though to prove the point,  very very lightly scrape off the green so your back to compost colour then cut down on watering quite drastictly, your plant will let you know if its thirsty by wilting leaves, let us know how you get on, regards Andy