smell of dirt

hi all'
i have a question? i use my second bedroom as a plant room/computer room. i have 3 plant stands with lights, now i am finding that the smell of dirt is annoying. i have covered all the bags of soil i have,which is only 1 small bag, as i keep all the rest out in a shed.i don't recall the smell being this strong before,anyone else have this problem?
mrsbonnie

Bonnie, I have never had that smell and I have in one room 4 big grow light stands with 4 shelves each on a 72" stand. (my shelves are packed)

Maybe someone who knows a lot more than I do comes along .................

If it were me I would take each plant to the kitchen sink, flush thoroughly with warm water and then treat each plant with a good fungicide. I think you can find either Marathon at your local Home Depot, etc. ..........a 1% granular and just pinch on the top of the plant soil before you wash it through with the warm water.

Someone else might have a home remedy for a good fungicide.........I use one all the time in all my pots..........I have heard people talking about a solution to drench them with that uses hydrogen peroxide but I prefer the 'real thing' in systemic fungicides........you are looking for that chemical that starts with an I...........it is in Bayer's Advanced Tree and Shrub but people don't recommend Bayers in the house on plants......

good luck....

Hmm ... I've never noticed any smell with potting soil (I use Miracle Grow). Have you bought any new/different brand of soil that you haven't used in the past? Possibly something that has compost in it that could be the cause of the strong smell?

I will be curious to hear the responses you get about this.


Gail, are you thinking it's some kind of fungus causing a strong smelling soil?

When I think of dirt smelling it usually means to me that there is too much water and something is rotting( or the soil is not light enough)..that is why I suggested a systemic fungicide......so easy to do........

Maybe Keyring will come along............

i do use a fungicide & marathon, i am thinking it must be wet soil somewhere, but where?i know all the plants are of course wet, but this is something different, i just can't figure this out, i never had it like this before. I am going to clean the carpeting today, then i will take all the trays & wash them,i have cappilary mats.see what that does.i know many people who have alot more stands in a spare room than i do & i do not smell dirt.
mrsbonnie

hmm ... wonder if it is the capillary matting?

Bonnie, the man from Cape Cod Violetry said to never use soap on the mats because you can't get it out. He said to just wash the mats in clorox and water and then rinse real well.

gail;
i just washed all the trays & matts, with soap,bleach & water, then did the rug,i can still smell it, but not as bad, just can't figure this out it is hard to get the soap out of the mats, but you can & i did..I never had it like this before. i usually use charcol in my soil & forgot about it when i did the last repotting,it's time again so i will get more & see if that helps.
mrsbonnie

Bonnie, I have never used charcoal in my mix but it makes sense. I have switched to the Volkmann's wicking mix which is very very light.

i had my daughter come over today & has a great sence of smell.she said the smell came fronm the cappilary mats, even after i washed them in soap & water.but it's not all the mats, just a few, maybe because it's very humid today, also in the 80's.anyway i will keep you posted.
mrsbonne

I can't smell because I smoke (LOL)
Keep us posted because I am listening and following what happens.

Also, Bonnie, can you tell me which fungicide you use? I always like to know if someone has a better product than I do.

Also, I just use the acrylic matting. Is that what you are using?

hi;
i use garden safe fungicide 3, works great. i also use cappalary matting from charlie's greenhouse.i don't use the acrylic blankets as they usually get pretty nasty looking & the cap. mats never do.i am going to call charlie's greenhouse tommorro & see what they might have to say about this.
mrsbonnie

I got my matting from Cape Cod Violetry...............we are using the same fungicide3.......thanks

I just called charley's & they could not tell me anything,they have no idea why it would smell this way & it is the matting, so hopefully next week when i get a portable air conditioner for that room, i won't smell it anymore. i do have air but not cool eough for the streps.
mrsbonnie

I keep my room with 4 stands at no higher temp than 75 with two fans going.........
Bonnie, do you have that fertilizer from Hill Country African Violet nursery? It is a 12-36-14 designed by the owner for the gesneriad family. I use it solely on the gesneriads. If you don't I can send some when I send your two sinningia cuttings that you want.

Hi Gail;
No i don't have that fertlizer, i have never heard of that one, & would love to try it,i use different ones every so often. thanks for the offer.my room gets as hot as 80's in the summer, thats with lights on, weather it's day or night, thats why i am getting another air conditioner.
bonnie

That heat couldn't be helping anything.........soil or plants..........

I have company this week so next week I will send the fertilizer and cuttings...........need to go put it in my manage folders immediately as I can't remember anything.

well today it's really cool, so i don't smell it that bad like it was.next week is fine with me.your not alone on forgetting things, me too.lol
bonnie