Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- houseplant junction

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Date Posted: 12:52:25 12/25/01 Tue
Author: talon5
Subject: Terra Cotta Fungus???

Hi all.....Happy Christmas!
Just wondering if any of you have encountered this, before.
I bought an 8" terra cotta pot, to repot a badly rootbound new plant in, with new soil, and within weeks, some sort of "white" appeared on the outer surface of it. Then, the white coloring turned to fuzz. I took the pot and washed off the outside, using fairly warm water, and only a few days later, it looks like the fuzz is coming back. What is this stuff??? Is there a way to kill it?
I'm beginning to wish I'd bought the imitation clay, PLASTIC pot, instead!

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Replies:

[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- Liz, 06:01:31 12/26/01 Wed [1]

The white stuff just sounds like the mineral deposits clay pots acquire but the fuzz, I dunno. You might try wiping it down with alcohol or white vinegar. Either should take care of fungus. If that doesn't work, you might unpot the plant and soak the pot in a bleach solution. I'd let it air a while to have the bleach dissipate before repotting in the same pot.

If you decide it is a fungus or something, avoiding buying clay pots from that store might be a good idea. Who knows how they're stored before they're put out for sale.

Another thought: maybe whatever is growing was actually in the potting mix. Was it a new bag? How was it stored, things like that.

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[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- Cena, 05:45:54 12/28/01 Fri [1]

If this looks like teeny, tiny miniature cotton balls, and furry, it is a natural soil fungus.

I am sorry, I cannot remember the name. But I have it on good authority that it is one of the natural breakdown components of soil.

I noticed this stuff In Side the pot after I moved to So Ca. It can be radient yellow, or odd green, as well as cream white. Aside from being moderately unattractive, there is no harm in it. Vinegar or alcohol should do the job.

TC will also exude a crystaline structure that could appear 'fuzzy' from excess fert or salt in the water. You can leave fingerprints in it, but it will not feel like velvet or mold. It will feel gritty.

There are lots of reasons why TC is way better than Plastic, but some folks have their minds made up before they enter the game. There are also some plants that do much better in plastic, I just don't grow them.

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[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- talon5, 23:14:19 12/28/01 Fri [1]

Thanks Liz, Cena. For the time being, the Fuzz seems to be under control, and I hate to disturb the plant again, so soon....but at the slightest hint, I'll definitely employ your suggestions! Any new TC's will get some pre-conditioning, too!

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[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- lizzie, 22:41:36 05/06/03 Tue [1]

I am having the same "pot fungus" problem. It started on one plant, and now another plant in a seperate room seems to have contracted the fungus. I did the same thing, washed..waited..and repotted with new soil, and with in days, it was back. So I was just curious if the vinigar/alcohol control worked.
Thanks.

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[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- Marie, 02:27:48 05/14/03 Wed [1]

Those of you with the white fuzz (I have it too--in pots only a few weeks old!!), where did you get your terra cotta pots from?

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[> Re: Terra Cotta Fungus??? -- maggie, 19:11:05 05/24/03 Sat [1]

Believe it or not, some people strive to have this grow on the pots, to give them a natural look, particularly in the garden. I know it's not harmful to the plants, anyway, because I get it on pots myself! If you really hate it, you could varnish the outside of the pots with a clear varnish and allow to dry; but part of the advantage of terra-cotta is that it's porous and let's oxygen into the soil. I love the look of them myself though I know they mean more watering.

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