Opened the bin which contained a new bag of Kellogg Potting Soil with organic matter, just placed inside about 2 weeks ago. There was a white fugus-y thing completely on top and even on the sides of the bin. In some parts were some yellow-green algae-looking gunk. It had "roots" that tangled in the soil. I treated it like moldy cheese, you know? Cut off 1/2" and the rest of the cheese is safe to eat? I dug out a good portion until I got down to fresh soil. Then I thought maybe I should have asked here if it was beneficial to leave it?? (I can still get it out of the trash can if so), or taken photo. We get a lot of fungus and algae in places in our very tropical humid weather conditions. I have never encountered such a sight in my potting soil.

To much moisture

Cheryl, if it is not a lot of trouble, it would be nice to see pictures.
I always get strange things growing. Dog vomit fungus, stink horn, and I never know if it is OK to leave or remove. Maybe a person experienced in mold and fungus or soil will be able to tell what it was and what you do about it. I use some of these questions for future reference because they are helpful. I may not have encountered the problem in the past, but I might tomorrow.

May you be blessed for the remainder of the year!

@altgeabyanotgername. I found this piece in the soil. Must have missed it yesterday. Havent found out if it was good or bad fungus yet. The roots are odd and went 1"deep. I've never had issues with this brand of soil before. We are not any more humid than normal for this time of year. And that's pretty darn humid! There's always a first time.

Cheryl -- Let's start here and see if we can get some help. I am worried something could have come in the soil. No one really knows where the soil came from.

@RickCorey do you have any ideas about this soil?

May this be a wonderful week!

Hi! @colelwol not to dismiss what you said, but could you elaborate and explain what you know or what happened. I am just long-winded, myself and I need longer explainations.

May you be blessed with a wonderful week!

ShadyGreenThumb said:

Could be the beneficial Mycorrhizae.

It's trash night. I have gone in and saved the bag of fungi-soil just in case it is Myocorrizae as I have read that it is super beneficial to plants! Thanks @greene for going me a starting point to research.

Altheabyanothername said:Hi! @colelwol not to dismiss what you said, but could you elaborate and explain what you know or what happened. I am just long-winded, myself and I need longer explainations.

May you be blessed with a wonderful week!

I am just using my knowledge with compost but potting soil could be different. Usually with my compost I get a lot of mold and fungus when my compost is to moist so I dry it out in the sun and the fungus or mold usually dies. But take this with a grain of salt because this is my experience with compost not potting soil.

I have also been researching. I found that some nurseries are injecting their potting soil with the beneficial myocorrizae...and guess which company is listed???

Kellogg!!
http://www.kellogggarden.com/p...

@ShadyGreenThumb

Cheryl -- so much for posting the pictures and question. I have opened bags and freaked out. When you are expecting to only see soil, it throws you for a loop. Now white and fuzzy with roots is good.

Greene-- you always go the extra mile for people.
You have a very kind and helping nature. That makes a good difference in today's society.

It would be nice if Kellogg's advertised on the bag ( in big bold letters) what was added. That way seeing the soil would be a instead of a what now?



May extra special blessings come everyone's way this week!

Okie, Dokie!!! That bunch of "tainted" soil I tossed into a bag is going right back into the bin! Thanks @greene! Thanks @altheabyanothername for the support.

I wrote to the Kellogg folks and invited them to read this post; hopefully, they will chime in and give us more information.

ShadyGreenThumb,

The white mold like substance you saw is called saprophyte and it sometimes develops in the low oxygen environment of the sealed bag. Don’t be alarmed, as this is a sign of healthy soil life and it is completely safe for you and your plants,. Just mix the soil up well as you are planting and it will be good to go! Hope this helps!

Kellogg Garden Products

@greene, that was an awesome solution.

Three cheers for Kellogg Garden Products!

I've never seen that fungus in my potting soil, but I mix my own. Hmmm...

This is not a problem for outdoor plants, but it will be a problem if used indoors. Indoor potting mixes are best when they are sterile and free of various fungi and molds.