Sanity Check: White Stuff on Fabric Pot

[olegren]

I know this gets asked all the time, and I've seen salt deposits/buildup on every fabric pot I've ever used. Since this is my first run with autopots, I am just wanting to make sure this looks like the same thing to other growers. Please see below details.

Problem: One of my Springpot XL (fabric autopot) has some white growth on it. The salt deposits I've seen in the past are typically kind of milky - like stains - with crusty chalk buildup. What I'm seeing here looks more like little splotches, is very evenly spread out, and it's almost powdery - Wipes away/down fairly easily with just a hand.

Medium/grow method: Coco coir + perilite (70/30%) - Mother earth compressed brick & espoma perilite

Feed: and supplements used: Prescription Blend nutrients to vendor recommendations in autopot res. Feeding at half dose.

water source: RO water

Strain/age: Mephisto Strawberry Nuggets / 40 days

light used: 260W HLG QB V1 24x7 on for temperature control.

Climate: 74.8F & 52.7% RH (last 7 day average) (indoor tent) Have an oscillating fan blowing at half power 24/7. Exhaust also running 24/7. Passive intake.

Additional info: Attaching a few photos. (Just embedding the one since it's clearest -- but others are on post at bottom) I've been googling this and have seen others comment that it could be a beneficial fungus or still potentially salt deposits. It just looks/feels different from the salt buildup I've encountered in the past. (Maybe I'm simply noticing it earlier since I happened to be flushing yesterday)



Thanks in advance for any insights. Just want to make sure that, if this is some kind of mold or other organism, I don't need to get this plant out of its pot. For what it's worth, its neighbor (mephisto double grape - same age) is showing more traditional staining that I associate with salt buildup - But it's also a fair bit smaller and behind the Strawberry plant.

I am probably just being paranoid, but having no experience with autopots, I am not totally sure if the extra moisture of constant bottom watering might introduce additional opportunities for mold issues.

 

[Waira]

:smoking: Hey mate!
So, I'm not hip to this fabric+Autopot gig, is it literally an Autopot system with fabric pots nested inside, or is it some sort of bottom feed system like Autopots?
Either way, fabric pot sides are lovely places for various fungal, even bacterial colonies to roost-up,.... The constant moisture, abundant foods, etc. make the sides like a damn petri dish! Could be that it's a beneficial 'crobe as well,...
If it's soft, spongy, goopy or something like that it's living stuff,....salt residues you already know how that feels in texture....
I'm not sure what to blast it with though, that won't either stink, leave oily residue (neem), potentially screw with pH by leaching into the soil (potassium carbonate) or otherwise harm the roots... most products are meant to treat leave surfaces, that's the rub!
Unless it becomes out of control, I'd just let it be... manual removal to keep it knocked down at least,... only other thing that comes to mind is a Cu based spray...

 

[Saven]

The "white stuff" around the fabric pots from what I've seen around the internet could be salt build up. There's a lot of more experienced growers here who will chime in as well. I'm more of a newbie.

 

[olegren]

Hey, @Waira - Thank you for once again sharing your wisdom!

This is indeed an Autopot system with fabric pots inside. (Manufacturer link) I've not seen a 'traditional' autopot in person; but I think it's the same deal -- just round-based trays, fabric pots, and some little sleeves for the bottoms that are supposed to help keep roots from growing out of the pot. (That bit doesn't entirely work.... hehehe)



I can see what you mean. These pots stay pretty moist, so I think you are right in that it would basically be a petri dish. My temps were on the lower end of OK for the first several weeks while I was trying to get my light strength ramped up, so that probably didn't help.

To your point: This is definitely soft; almost like a powder. I think I will do as you suggested and simply wipe down with a wet cloth or something; then monitor. If it doesn't hurt anything, I really don't mind. I just saw the white, and noticed how powdery it felt, and - well - you can probably imagine where my mind went. No signs of anything awry on my leaves; aside from the issue (high root zone pH) I was treating with that aforementioned flush.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I'm not 100 percent sure. But if it's anything bad I'd be adding some good bennies just in case. I use real growers recharge cuz it's easy and it works. Affordable easy way to make benificial bacteria tea. No brewing necessary. Mix half tsp to full tsp per gallon of water. Shake and feed to plants. Can get a smaller bag that lasts me quite a while from amazon for a fair price. Like 30 to 40 bucks if I remember right. If it fungal or bad bacteria I'd be adding good fungi and bacteria to combat the bad stuff if thats what it is. Keep the roots healthy. Recharge works in hydro soil and coco.

 

[olegren]

I'm not 100 percent sure. But if it's anything bad I'd be adding some good bennies just in case. I use real growers recharge cuz it's easy and it works. Affordable easy way to make benificial bacteria tea. No brewing necessary. Mix half tsp to full tsp per gallon of water. Shake and feed to plants. Can get a smaller bag that lasts me quite a while from amazon for a fair price. Like 30 to 40 bucks if I remember right. If it fungal or bad bacteria I'd be adding good fungi and bacteria to combat the bad stuff if thats what it is. Keep the roots healthy. Recharge works in hydro soil and coco.

Thanks. Starting out, I didn't realize you could use beneficial fungi/bacteria with coco - and the whole concept of bottom watering threw me for a loop in terms of problems I thought it might introduce. I'll look into these though. I have some great white myco on hand (haven't used with this grow); but would really like to incorporate more good stuff for healthier roots.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Thanks. Starting out, I didn't realize you could use beneficial fungi/bacteria with coco - and the whole concept of bottom watering threw me for a loop in terms of problems I thought it might introduce. I'll look into these though. I have some great white myco on hand (haven't used with this grow); but would really like to incorporate more good stuff for healthier roots.

Bennies is the way to go with growing weed. Do some research on bennies and weed. And real growers recharge is a easy to use and everyone who uses it loves it.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I've only used in hydro and now soil but I know it's for coco too. In hydro I top fed my roots thru the clay pebbles. Wait a hour so the water runs down into the res then I would do a res change since you cant leave recharge in a hydro res or it can create problems. Other than that I'm about to start my first coco grow soon so I will be using recharge also then.

 

[olegren]

I've only used in hydro and now soil but I know it's for coco too. In hydro I top fed my roots thru the clay pebbles. Wait a hour so the water runs down into the res then I would do a res change since you cant leave recharge in a hydro res or it can create problems. Other than that I'm about to start my first coco grow soon so I will be using recharge also then.

found some real good threads on utilizing them with coco and even auto pots. Looks like my great white has most of the same stuff as recharge, so I’m letting the pots drink what’s in the trays now — in anticipation of dosing them with a great white charge. Once I run out of this I’m gonna check out recharge. Have seen many people mention it. Thanks!

 

[Waira]

Hey, @Waira - Thank you for once again sharing your wisdom!

This is indeed an Autopot system with fabric pots inside. (Manufacturer link) I've not seen a 'traditional' autopot in person; but I think it's the same deal -- just round-based trays, fabric pots, and some little sleeves for the bottoms that are supposed to help keep roots from growing out of the pot. (That bit doesn't entirely work.... hehehe)

View attachment 1271098

I can see what you mean. These pots stay pretty moist, so I think you are right in that it would basically be a petri dish. My temps were on the lower end of OK for the first several weeks while I was trying to get my light strength ramped up, so that probably didn't help.

To your point: This is definitely soft; almost like a powder. I think I will do as you suggested and simply wipe down with a wet cloth or something; then monitor. If it doesn't hurt anything, I really don't mind. I just saw the white, and noticed how powdery it felt, and - well - you can probably imagine where my mind went. No signs of anything awry on my leaves; aside from the issue (high root zone pH) I was treating with that aforementioned flush.

Ah, I see, that's a new system! I was thinking you had fitted fabric pots into the plastic ones,...
Right then!....a brush may serve better for knocking down the gunk....