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- Q.Hard Yellow Gunk On Pot Plant?? - A few of my pot plants are getting this hard yellow residue building up around the rim of the pot ...
- Q.Very Soggy Clay Back Yard How To Fix - We have heavy clay soil in our yard, front and back. The back yard is heavily compacted over the years, ...
- Q.Indoor Plants - What is the "white" stuff on the soil?
- Q.I Planted Some Seeds Indoors Using Seed Starter Soil. Why Does The Water Repel? Is There A Trick To Watering So The Seeds Don’t - The starter soil seems like it repels the water. Is there a trick to watering starter seeds in this soil? ...
- Q.Soil Tests Are Conflicting - I have assorted raised bed boxes, last year was terrible so I tested my soil with a luster leaf test ...
- Q.Small Yellow ‘beads’ In The Soil - Some of my soil, especially in pots, has lots of small (1mm diameter approx) yellow 'beads'. These are organic and ...
- Q.Do I Have To Use Sand Under A Pond Mould? - I had to dig up my pond recently because of invasive roots underneath. With the lockdown I am unable to ...
Asked by
angie91 on
January 12, 2020
AucklandQ.Hard Yellow Gunk On Pot Plant??
A few of my pot plants are getting this hard yellow residue building up around the rim of the pot plant. There is none on the soil and the plants are otherwise healthy. Any clue what this could be?
Answered by
BushDoctor on
January 13, 2020
Certified ExpertA.That appears bacterial! This can happen when the soil is left too wet, for too long. Depending on the type of plant, most need to be completely dry down to about 2 inches or so between waterings to avoid infection. If the container has no drainage holes to allow extra water out, then you will want to wait until it is almost completely dry down to the very bottom between waterings.
You can try treating with a fungicide, but usually correct watering practices will resolve minor issues like this. As long as you aren't seeing any other symptoms, then it can usually be corrected with watering habit change.
This article will help you with fungicide use: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
February 8, 2020Q.very soggy clay back yard how to fix
We have heavy clay soil in our yard, front and back. The back yard is heavily compacted over the years, and collects water with rain and spring like weather. What is a good way to fix this problem
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
February 9, 2020
Certified ExpertA.You have your work cut out for you. You can try to amend the soil yourself, or you may want to go with raised beds and add new soil. A soil analysis will help determine how to amend. Here are some articles with details:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/yard-drainage-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
March 23, 2020Q.Indoor plants
What is the "white" stuff on the soil?
- Answered by
MichiganDot on
March 23, 2020A.A picture would surely be helpful but I'll give this a try. If you are growing indoors, white fungus on the soil often indicates that you may be over-watering. A houseplant that has been in the same pot for several years may show fertilizer minerals that have accumulated. It's a good indicator that it is time to repot with fresh potting mix. If you are talking about thread-like white strands in mulch or the top of outdoor soil, this is usually beneficial fungi. The following link goes to an article on white fungus on seed starting soils: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/preventing-white-fluffy-fungus-on-seed-starting-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
NancyJD on
March 24, 2020
Markesan, WI 53946Q.I Planted Some Seeds Indoors Using Seed Starter Soil. Why Does The Water Repel? Is There A Trick To Watering So The Seeds Don’t
The starter soil seems like it repels the water. Is there a trick to watering starter seeds in this soil? Thank you!
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
March 25, 2020
Certified ExpertA.This happens with Peat based mixes, once it dries out fully. It is very difficult to wet, once it has dried. Adding a drop of dish soap to a gallon of water can help, as can coconut oil, or wetting agents.
Alternatively, using coco coir based seedling mixes instead of Peat will be a good work-around. It is, naturally, full of wetting agents, and holds water far better.
These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-dries-too-fast.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/using-coconut-coir-mulch.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/planting-in-coco-peat-media.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
KEhleer on
March 30, 2020
27958-9302Q.Soil Tests Are Conflicting
I have assorted raised bed boxes, last year was terrible so I tested my soil with a luster leaf test and my results are confusing to me I did 5 boxes 4 had Depleted Nitrogen almost the same 4 had surplus Phosphorus 3 had surplus Potash 3 boxes have pH 6.0 2 had 6.5. Im looking everywhere for help can you help me figure this out.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
March 31, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Sounds like you will need to add nitrogen. Too much phosphorus and potassium will need to be balanced out with nitrogen. After, you can adjust the pH back to around 6-7 in pH
If you can test for the EC of the soil, it will give you a good idea of how "hot" it is. If the results are high, then it could be that the nutrients are locked out in salt form. This can happen when mixing different nutrients that aren't designed to be mixed, or using multiple plant foods without testing, or chelating them out of the soil, first.
Usually, adding nitrogen will correct the issue that you are seeing.
if it doesn't, then you will want to plant things that take up the nutrients that are in excess. Tomatoes and peppers will consume extra phosphorus and potassium, for example.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizer-numbers-npk.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
April 11, 2020Q.Small yellow ‘beads’ in the soil
Some of my soil, especially in pots, has lots of small (1mm diameter approx) yellow 'beads'. These are organic and look like some sort of eggs. My questions are (a) what are they? (b) are they harmful? (c) what should I do about them if they are harmful? Many thanks.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 12, 2020
Certified ExpertA.This sounds very much like fertilizer since you're finding it in pots. However, if you're sure it's not, it may be the eggs of a weevil. Here's an article that may help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/black-vine-weevil-control.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Southgate on
April 13, 2020
NottinghamshireQ.Do I Have To Use Sand Under A Pond Mould?
I had to dig up my pond recently because of invasive roots underneath. With the lockdown I am unable to buy sand. I do have Sandy soil. Thanks Julie
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 14, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Sandy soil is fine, too! The idea is to create a pocket underneath to keep it level, and from shifting so much.
Sandy soil will be a close second to sand, especially for these circumstances.
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