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Ask questions about how to grow and care for Venus Flytraps

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By Caleb
Posts:  76
Joined:  Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:05 am
#373851
This is my second go around repotting these guys because of this. I've got peat moss and perlite with peat moss top dressing. Seems like I'm making some moss really happy and I dont know if it can live with my plants. The mold I'm pretty sure shouldn't be there, but I'm not sure if it's mold or not. I think it started happening when I took them out of the cold window sill and put them under an led grow light. I wanted them to come out of dormancy. Does anyone know if I should be preventing this?

Thanks!
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By Matt
Location: 
Posts:  22523
Joined:  Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm
#373852
The flytraps look happy, so that's good!

I don't see the "moss" you're referring to in the photos, so I'm guessing you're seeing algae and mold? The greenish hue of color on the surface of the peat moss is an algae bloom. I do see some whitish looking stuff in the 2nd and 3rd photos that also looks like it could be the start of mold.

Neither is anything to be concerned about in the immediate future. If the algae gets too significant, you might need to repot again. But in most cases, both algae and mold are a sign that growing conditions are not ideal.

Lack of air movement and full natural sunlight typically leads to this sort of undesirable growth you're seeing on the surface of your soil. What are your current growing conditions? If you're growing indoors, you'll want to change your setup to get the plants outside if at all possible. I know most of the US is freezing right now, but that will pass soon enough.
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By Apollyon
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Posts:  1663
Joined:  Tue May 05, 2020 2:49 am
#373853
Agreed. Honestly, even with airflow, problems can still occur. If you have the means to grow them outside they will be better for it. You don't contend with algae or a lot of moss when you're growing outside. Save the LED for Sundews and Cephalotus
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By tommyr
Location: 
Posts:  1748
Joined:  Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:38 am
#373948
Whenever I re-pot I always hit mine with a little sulfur based fungicide. Mixed about half strength. Because mine spend winter in the fridge they always have a little gray mold. The fungicide kills it immediately. Never had any issues.
By Caleb
Posts:  76
Joined:  Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:05 am
#374010
Thanks for all the help guys. Yes, I was growing these guys outdoors, but took them in late November when it hit 34 degrees at night. I now have them on my counter with an awful purple led grow light. I wish I could put them outside, but it is too freezing like was suggested. Thanks Matt for pointing out that it is algae bloom instead of moss, I'm no botanist and I just like my flytraps. Once this snow goes away and I'm able to get some nice vinyl to close in my porch they should be much happier. Thanks for the fungicide suggestion tommyr, I'll try that.

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