What's growing in my containers?

[GFTL]

I dumped the soil from some strawberry containers today. Most of the containers had normal looking soil but a few with bottom trays looked like the were 50/50 with large perlite. It appears the 1" bottom trays retained enough water to cause this problem. My question is what the hell is it?

 

[DiggersJo]

It looks like small perlite, some kind of fungus or mineral build up?

 

[GFTL]

It looks like small perlite, some kind of fungus or mineral build up?

More like medium to large perlite. My guess is some sort of salts build up since those containers didn't drain completely like the others without bottoms.

 

[Sluggy]

Rub some between your fingers. If it feels gritty it is probably perlite. If it breaks up and still feels gritty it could be salt and if completely breaks up easily it could be fungus. Wash your hands afterwards.

 

[GFTL]

My big concern is should I throw it away?

 

[DiggersJo]

Most gardener's I know never throw much away... I would put it on an unused bed for a while, forget it, and at some point mix it back in the bed!

 

[GFTL]

I might send a sample off for testing just because I'm curious. I wonder if a regular soil lab could do this?

 

[Sluggy]

I would check out the full cost of doing this before going ahead. I would go along with DJ suggestion.

 

[cpp gardener]

Did it have perlite in it originally? If so, that's what it is. If not, take some to a local independent nursery and see if they know what it is.

 

[GFTL]

Did it have perlite in it originally? If so, that's what it is. If not, take some to a local independent nursery and see if they know what it is.

There was perlite in it originally but smaller pieces and not in that quantity. The containers without trays showed no sign of this problem.

 

[Sheal]

It appears the 1" bottom trays retained enough water to cause this problem.

Thinking water, I'm thinking slug or snail eggs.

Leave it where birds can get to it for a few days. If they are eggs birds will eat them.

 

[MiTmite9]

Most gardener's I know never throw much away... I would put it on an unused bed for a while, forget it, and at some point mix it back in the bed!

***There you go. Spoken like a true gardener. ***

 

[MiTmite9]

I dumped the soil from some strawberry containers today. Most of the containers had normal looking soil but a few with bottom trays looked like the were 50/50 with large perlite. It appears the 1" bottom trays retained enough water to cause this problem. My question is what the hell is it?View attachment 114217

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[Sheal]

Or a camera with a macro lens @MiTmite9.

 

[DiggersJo]

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