Blue, slimy "mold" on bark media of reported orchids :( - Orchid Board

jdmv8931 · #1 03-31-2015, 12:33 AM

Greetings from Northern Cali OB's So it's been about a week since I repotted 4 of my orchids. I repotted into 75 bark 15 sphagnum and 10 perlite . The top looks dry so I came to water them today and I saw some blue powdery mold on the bark. I grabbed it and it felt slimy underneath. What could have been the cause of this? I just turned a fan towards my orchids, not to mention I drilled many holes for ventilation on their new pots. I wasn't able to take any photos of this mold I just got rid of the pieces that's were moldy. And watered the orchids again. Please help! If I see this mold growing again I will update with photos!

jdmv8931 · #2 03-31-2015, 12:44 AM

This is the best I could do for now. It looks moldy and when I touch it and press on it it's super slimy, like it's deteriorating.

This is the type of bark I'm using.

WhiteRabbit · #3 03-31-2015, 07:03 PM

Maybe you can return the bark ?

Orchid Whisperer · #4 04-01-2015, 10:56 PM

If the mold appeared after you repotted, maybe you are over-watering? What kind of orchids do you have?

silken · #5 04-01-2015, 11:09 PM

If you can't return the bark and it is not from over-watering, try boiling it in a pyrex bowl in the microwave for about 5 mins on high. I always do that to my bark before using it.

jdmv8931 · #6 04-09-2015, 07:06 PM

I'm using mostly pseudobulb (oncidium inter generics).
It's been a couple weeks and the mold has seem to disappear. I was misting twice a day so I stopped that and mold is long gone. And I'm starting to see some new growths on my orchids. Thanks to all you guys for your inputs and opinions.