It’s the mould melodrama all over again! Our Woolworths Discovery Garden collection is almost complete and there are even a few teeny green shoots sprouting from the soil.

BUT…along with some signs of life on the inside of the pot, there are also signs of life on the outside of the cardboard pot. Yes, mould is infiltrating our mini garden and it looks like it’s winning.

During the last season of Discovery Garden we had the exact same issue. My hubbie is mould-phobic so as soon as he saw traces of the spores, we had no choice but toss the whole shebang out. So sad.

The Mould Is Back!

This time, I’ve been on alert and it’s with a heavy heart that I can report that the mould is back. I tried to wipe away the mould with a tissue, as Woolworths suggests, but it wasn’t budging. So it looks like the days of our Discovery Garden are numbered.

But it seems we are definitely not the only ones reporting the mould mischief. There are many other keen gardeners who are bemoaning the mouldy problem, reporting that white patches are appearing on the soil as well as on the pot itself.

“Yep mine are in the tray and they have all got mould less than a week after planting,” said one disgruntled gardener.

What Is Causing This Pesky Mould?

More experienced gardeners are suggesting that the cause of this may be that we are adding too much water to the soil, making the soil too mushy.

Others are convinced that the green tray restricts airflow to the seedlings and could be the cause of the mould.
Gardeners should perhaps place the soil on an open dish instead.

“Incorrect watering/insufficient sunlight/insufficient airflow = mould,” said one commenter.

“It’s normal, just repot in a well drained pot and give more sunlight,” suggested one.

“They need sunlight and to be watered, but not drowned. If they’re kept in a darker area and watered they’ll grow mold of course,” said another.

“Only do it enough so the dirt is moist, not enough to soak the whole thing. Keep it in a well ventilated area. This will be an issue no matter where you got them from. Not woolies fault.”

“Mould spores are in the air. You’ll get this if moisten cardboard. We didn’t bother with the cardboard for most of ours, and got some very healthy plants in our veggie patch! When you do any gardening, you’re dealing with an ecosystem – healthy soil is alive! Just wash your hands after handling plants and associated materials, and you will be fine.”

Mouldy Debate

This whole issue of mould has ignited some debate on social media as some gardeners maintain that people are making a mountain out of a molehill and should just ignore the fungi growth and that the mould can actually be beneficial for the plant’s growth.

“Gosh folks! They’re a FREE give away! Don’t like them? Don’t take them! Don’t like the outcomes, throw them away,” said one.

Are you having a mould issue on your Discovery Garden? Tell us in the comments below.

Photo credits: Facebook

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