Smoke coming from soil

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DarkTXn San Antonio, TX(Zone 9a) May 10, 2009

I have 2 bougainvillea plants. One's a Elizabeth Angus and the other is a Barbara Karst. When I watered the Barbara Karst smoke seemed to be coming out of the soil. I watered the Elizabeth Angus and nothing happened. I have never heard of smoke coming from from soil from just watering. Both plants are in pots and I used potting soil from the same bag. I'm kind of new to growing plants and have asked workers at local nurseries and got no help. Is this common or is there something wrong with the soil? I've grown it from a tiny plant for a year now but I'm thinking of throwing it away because it's kind of freaking me out. I hope someone can give me some kind of logical explanation.

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gcorrier Lenoir City, TN May 10, 2009

I'll take a stab at this one. How warm was the pot and or soil? Being in a pot I must guess the soil is a rich black color? What time of day is stil open to debate? It sounds like you experienced what we here in East TN see on a regular basis. Especially after a summer thunderstorm blows thru. The ground is actually so warm and the cool water will literally evaporate up thru the trees here in the Great Smokey Mtns. It actually appears as if there is a fire. It is just water rapidly changing temperature and evaporating. Maybe?

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) May 10, 2009

There is a mold here - I have not seen it in a pot but it forms readily on the ground - especially on mulch. When water hits it or when ever it is disturbed -even by a foot - a plume of 'smoke' billows up (the mold spores.) I worry about breathing it in because it is dark and warm and wet in the lung... but have not read about any problem linked to it.

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DarkTXn San Antonio, TX(Zone 9a) May 10, 2009

Thanks for the info Missingrosie. I'm hoping it is just mold. I can handle mold. It's couldn't be because the soil was too warm because I watered the plants at around 2 in the morning and the weather was humid only around 70 degrees. "Smoke" only appears when I add water and the soil gets moved around. Then it stops until I add more water. I'll use some fungicide and see if that takes care of the problem. Thanks again.

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crazyfish3 Pensacola, FL May 11, 2009

Could be dust or pollian. Two A.M. you say, the light might hit one plant where the dust shows up. The other plant might have same dust and not be able to see it, due to the different light direction. Two in the morning what dedication. I take my hat off to you Texas.

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