Need help on soil and fungus problem (and yes I read the sticky)

So basically I went out this morning to look at my babies (less than 2 weeks old) and noticed that once again this damned organic potting soil from Home Depot has mushrooms growing in it.

This is the second solo cup I've had with mushrooms and this time the cannabis is covered in a thick, black oil.

I was going to throw it out to prevent cross-contamination but realized at the last minute I could just isolate it from the others and see what happens.

Oh, and I do not grow indoors. Though I am working on a project to set up a Gorilla Grow Tent with an LED panel outdoors (I can't set it up indoors and the tent is waterproof).

As for my soil issue I am wondering if anyone has a *specific* recommendation for a non fertilized potting soil available at Home Depot that doesn't have any issues with mushrooms tending to grow it.

I would use coco-coir as such soilless mediums are supposed to provide the nutrient neutrality I seek (I want my feedings to come from my Dyna-Gro) but that is very wasteful when it comes to water and we are suffering the worst drought in history.

your home depot should stock promix.. use that especially if your feeding chemicals. the issues your having is just normal with those soil mixes.. even ocean forest produces mushroom.. its part of compost..

I had a feeling about that. Thanks man.

You could also, if feasible bake your soil to kill what's in it. That's what I love about coco. None of that stuff to worry about.

researching said:

You could also, if feasible bake your soil to kill what's in it. That's what I love about coco. None of that stuff to worry about.

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no thats not the same at all.. your sterilizing soil n a kiln or oven... some of the amendments have super low vapor points you can burn them ... the whole oven thing is really only for people that want to RE-USE their soil and ned to kill any bacteria or anything like that... you don't want to "bake" your new soil.. letting the chemicals cook off in a bucket is completely different.

in a bucket the chemicals they don't actually "cook off" .. the get hot release some waste but more they leech nd spread to other soil your cutting with the soil you generally cut with is nutrient free or low nutrients.. and soaks up more making the spread more even instead of concentrated pockets

phil k said:

no thats not the same at all.. your sterilizing soil n a kiln or oven... some of the amendments have super low vapor points you can burn them ... the whole oven thing is really only for people that want to RE-USE their soil and ned to kill any bacteria or anything like that... you don't want to "bake" your new soil.. letting the chemicals cook off in a bucket is completely different.

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I am aware of why most people bake/sterlize soil. It will kill the fungus problem he has that exists in the soil. That is why I suggested it.

researching said:

I am aware of why most people bake/sterlize soil. It will kill the fungus problem he has that exists in the soil. That is why I suggested it.

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right but you don't want to bake new soil that contains mycos or anything... I'm sorry if i misunderstood you i got from it that your telling him if feasible bake the soil he was buying to sterilize it..the new soil out of the bag... thats why i said you don't want to do that. you'll kill beneficial bacteria mycos and other nutrients like nitrogen has a low vapor point...I'm not trying to argue .. . i am just saying the whole bake your soil thing came in for people REUSING their old soil they already have grown with.

Dont bake soil. It kills everything not just fungi.
If you take w/e you're using and cut it with peat moss that should should end the shroom problem.
From the depot I always used composted cow manure and mixed it with peat and perlite for a lightener. Its cheaper than any store bought mix and the only thing you need is a little lime. But if you want to get fancy there are other amendments you can add. Just ask and I'll give you a list of them.

The Pro Mix 2 that they have at Home Depot is peat based. My issue with that is how often I have to water because I would 100% be on-board with coco coir but like I said: we are in the middle of the biggest drought in California history (yes I'm legal so I don't give a shit).

How many days can you go safely without watering a peat-based mixture? I'm currently going 5 days with organic potting soil and I'm quite happy with the results.

Edit: Some damned clones I bought had shitty root systems and had me watering every 2 days. I didn't know to extend that watering schedule once the roots took hold and wound up with a real fungus gnat infestation.

Diatomaceous earth scatters them like flies and hydrogen peroxide/SM-90 diluted in water is supposed to kill the larvae in the dirt.

While diatomaceous earth is wonderull shit! Hydrogen peroxide will kill of alot of beneficial organic compounds in soil.

Yeppers. So will the SM-90 they say. Call me ignorant but I do not concern myself with beneficial bacteria because I am more interested in the root expanding properties in SM-90 when applied to nutrient water.

Bigger roots = bigger plants right???

Edit: also sm-90 protects the roots from various diseases. In case you don't know it's allegedly a powerful non-toxic pesticide when sprayed on the leaves.

Grow Weed Easy.com claims you can safely spray buds with it but please don't attack me for saying it!

My plan is to spray the whole plant in SM-90 up to the last two weeks before harvest when I will flush. I want to rinse the plant with high ph water (avoiding mold issues) and have been told that the plant oils in the product won't wash off but I read that there is an emulsifier in SM-90 that allows things that normally do not mix to mix so theoretically with that chemical in play the solution should respond and dilute with water right?

Edit: I want to mention that the company (Nutrilife Plant Products out of Canada) told me specifically I could spray edible plants up to a week before harvest.

Forgive me. For some reason i thought you were growing organically.

phil k said:

right but you don't want to bake new soil that contains mycos or anything... I'm sorry if i misunderstood you i got from it that your telling him if feasible bake the soil he was buying to sterilize it..the new soil out of the bag... thats why i said you don't want to do that. you'll kill beneficial bacteria mycos and other nutrients like nitrogen has a low vapor point...I'm not trying to argue .. . i am just saying the whole bake your soil thing came in for people REUSING their old soil they already have grown with.

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I may not have been clear. Yeah, I was talking about his existing soil. Not the new stuff.

Lit_Reflex said:

The Pro Mix 2 that they have at Home Depot is peat based. My issue with that is how often I have to water because I would 100% be on-board with coco coir but like I said: we are in the middle of the biggest drought in California history (yes I'm legal so I don't give a shit).

How many days can you go safely without watering a peat-based mixture? I'm currently going 5 days with organic potting soil and I'm quite happy with the results.

Edit: Some damned clones I bought had shitty root systems and had me watering every 2 days. I didn't know to extend that watering schedule once the roots took hold and wound up with a real fungus gnat infestation.

Diatomaceous earth scatters them like flies and hydrogen peroxide/SM-90 diluted in water is supposed to kill the larvae in the dirt.

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You're thinking about it all wrong...pplants don't work on your schedule. . Use whatever you want .water as needed not when you think it's going to need it . in California it's a hundred 10 degrees sometimes . No matter what you use if your growing in containers plan on watering daily fool. take temperature humidity and plant size into consideration at all times..

As for your fungus gnats water less. Only , water as needed... bigger roots need more water... water as needed!

researching said:

I may not have been clear. Yeah, I was talking about his existing soil. Not the new stuff.

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Bullshit.. it doesn't matter at all BUT it's pretty obvious that you are Lying your ass off right now...there's nothing wrong with being wrong bro. Don't trip!!

mr sunshine said:

in California it's a hundred 10 degrees sometimes . No matter what you use if your growing in containers plan on watering daily fool. take temperature humidity and plant size into consideration at all times..

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I'm sorry but the fool is the person who treats soil as if it's a soilless hydroponic medium. If you water even every 3 days here you WILL have fungus gnats and you WILL end up watering something like every 5 days as I do.

Furthermore I lack expertise in this area but isn't it important to let your medium dry out so the roots can breathe and expand? Unless it's a hydroponic medium...

Mr. Sunshine is aptly named.

Lit_Reflex said:

I'm sorry but the fool is the person who treats soil as if it's a soilless hydroponic medium. If you water even every 3 days here you WILL have fungus gnats and you WILL end up watering something like every 5 days as I do.

Furthermore I lack expertise in this area but isn't it important to let your medium dry out so the roots can breathe and expand? Unless it's a hydroponic medium...

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Summers in California will dry them out daily. Till then water according. . Meaning, when they need it.. but to answer your question no its never good to let the roots dry out. Besides hurting the roots it can cause major ph fluctuations. So water accordingly.