Mold & gnats on wheat grass

[DebB]

When I first started growing wheat grass in trays, my husband ordered a kit with everything needed from here (http://wheatgrasskits.com/wheatgrasskit.htm). While using everything in the kit - I never had one speck of mold or one single gnat.

When I used up everything in the kit, I bought soil and seeds locally. In came the mold and the gnats.

I'm keeping a small fan going 24/7 on/over the trays of wheat grass, so that took care of the gnats.

I followed the advice on Kevin Gianni's interview here (http://renegadehealth.com/blog/the-sprouting-garden-at-the-tree-of-life/) from the Tree of Life Center (G.Cousens) as far as soaking the berries in H2O2.

What do you do to keep mold and gnats away? *Ü*

[spicyfull]

Sometimes the Soil is contaminated when you purshase it from the Store. I brought home some white little critters in Soil that flue around, Multiplied and the only way I could get rid of them was to Spray with Chemicals. So now I ONLY buy "Super Soil" or "Miracle Grow" Potting Soil......

[DebB]

I'm using Miracle Gro's organic potting soil. That's what I thought too spicyfull, that the gnats had to be coming from the soil (insert dramatic sigh here - ha!). I'm using Azure Standard's organic soft winter wheat berries.

Did you see my post about MG's organic potting soil on clearance at Home Depot? *Ü*

[spicyfull]

I saw your Post and you just reminded me to go by NOW, so I have to go by Sunday........My Soil was NOT Organic......Maybe Kim was in there? Since you have the trays that does NOT drain, that could be your Problem.

I saw someone's Post you answered about the Trays.......BUT NOW I'M THINKING THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I started to tell her not to put Plastic under, because it NEEDS TO BREATH.

So get some EXERCISE and Clean up the Mess the Holes make.....It gotta Breath. You can use the other Tray but you can't sit the one with Holes directly into it. You need to make a space between them by using a small piece of wood or something.

[DebB]

Thanks spicyfull ~ I'm not very good about going into detail -- but, I don't sit my growing tray directly down into the plastic catch tray. I raise it up above the top of the catch tray using plastic deli containers as spacers.

This way it can breathe and still catch drips.

I marvel at those that have the right place to let the trays drip without anything catching it. I watched this lady's YouTube video of the setup in her garage with tray after tray of different grasses. Ofcourse, she could let them drip away out there. Oh to live in CA where the weather is temperate all year round! *Ü*

[iwuvmydoggy]

i saw a video that someone posted... in that, the lady used soil, but she mixed in some kind of rock/mineral that helped keep mold away.. here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaR-bQtcNo oh also.. she doesn't use potting soil, she uses pure compost, cause it has a lot of nutrients in it.

here's that powder.. it's called azomite.. http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/azomite.htm

[DebB]

Thank you iwuv! That may just the be answer. I never had any mold (or gnats) when I was using everything from the wheat grass kits (ordered through the link in your post).

But, I ran out of the azomite a couple weeks ago and that's when the mold and gnats started. I'm going to the site and ordering more azomite.

I find they're an excellent company to do business with. I've placed 2 orders from them - their wheatgrass kit and recently I ordered 10 growing trays (5 with slits and 5 without).

I'm so glad you posted this - thanks again. *Ü*

[iwuvmydoggy]

i hope that does the trick for you!!!!

i have gnats in my house right now, but we didn't know where they were coming from, cause we keep it pretty clean! now since you brought this up, i will move my plants outside & see if that helps at all. lol i didn't think about it possibly being due to my compost/soil & my plants!! :( might have to pot some of my stuff over again and try using with some azomite!

[DebB]

Order placed iwuv - yes, I hope that does the trick. I see they sell other items to help with mold, so I'll keep them in mind.

In the past, I have had houseplants that when I water them or subsequently rap on the pot - gnats will come flying up out of there... I suspect that I overwatered causing that.
For that I'll be honest - I use a systemic (work into the soil) and that typically takes care of them. This is not an organic application though, but I've had good luck with it killing pesties on plants - these are NOT plants that will be eaten though, very important point. I would never use it on say wheat grass, etc.

The gnats I saw were coming directly from the wheat grass, so I'm assuming they came from the soil since I soak the wheat berries in H2O2 and I would imagine that would kill any bug eggs. The fan keeps them away from the wheat grass, but I do find them congregating on windows & doors, but the number has truly diminished to none - maybe it's the fan, I don't know.

I want to get it figured out though because I'm wanting to bump up my consumption of wheat grass and grow twice the amount of trays. I'm getting there!

Whooh - this was a windy post. *Ü*

[iwuvmydoggy]

sounds awesome to me! :)

the plants i have are sweet potatoes.. i grow them indoors to help with cleaning oxygen a little and also because i eat them. lol so i can't use that... :/ but thank you for the suggestion :D

i also have some roots and cuttings that i overwinter indoors.. so yeah.. lol those are usually just flowers or vines.. like clematis or something.

i want to start growing my own ginger!!!!!!! (i know, totally unrelated.. just popped in my head)...

when i get paid, i will have to buy some azomite.

[DebB]

I bought ginger once with the intention of planting it, but I never did. I don't know why - probably ate it!

Are you growing sweet potatoes where you stick the toothpicks in and place them in water? I'm assuming not if there are gnasty gnats... I love those sweet potato vines! *Ü*

[iwuvmydoggy]

I bought ginger once with the intention of planting it, but I never did. I don't know why - probably ate it!

Are you growing sweet potatoes where you stick the toothpicks in and place them in water? I'm assuming not if there are gnasty gnats... I love those sweet potato vines! *Ü*

nope.. i just planted some slips in some compost and set them by the window. lol

[Mrs. Papaya]

My wheatgrass always gets a little moldy near the roots and in the soil but I just don't worry about it. (I have wheatgrass supplies ordered from a kit, and I put the tray on a plant stand so air can circulate under it.) I just assumed it came with the territory and make sure to cut around the mold and then wash it really well before juicing. While there is mold down there, it doesn't really get on the grass that I cut off, and I go close the to root.

[DebB]

That's what I've been doing too, Mrs. P. I just cut it, wash it and hope for the best :)

I've ordered the azomite and it'll be here in 2 days. I'm going to wait on it for my next planting. *Ü*

[Mrs. Papaya]

Not to be a downer but I use the azomite and still get the mold. However, maybe my mold issue is way less severe than for others, who knows. :)

[DebB]

Not to be a downer but I use the azomite and still get the mold. However, maybe my mold issue is way less severe than for others, who knows. :)

Yeah, I'll just have to see. All I know for sure is when I used the products (dirt, seed, azomite) from wheat grass kits.com - I didn't have a speck of mold or any gnats. I don't want to keep ordering their soil & berries though - they weight a LOT - ha!

Thanks Mrs. P! I sure liked not having any mold issues, so I'll toss another coin into the ole' wishing well and hope for the best (wink) *Ü*

[DebB]

Update ~ It's day 4 of growing with the Azomite and so far - no mold or gnats. I'll post again when I harvest... (fingers crossed) *Ü*

[DebB]

Well - darn... both trays had mold in them today :(

No gnats though :)

*Ü*

[Eva]

Hey DebB!

How long are you soaking the wheat berries before you grow? Are there just Teeny Tiny Little Sprouts?

Are they inside your kitchen?

How often are you watering? And how much (just a teeny bit, or more?)?

I'm trying to think back to when I grew a lot of wheatgrass. I used to have a great system going, and I never got mold or gnats, but man, I was careful. I had 4 or 5 trays going at a time, if I recall correctly. I watered only a little bit when really needed, used the azomite, organic soil, organic wheat berries.

We're going to start growing again in a few weeks when we have a patio, pantry and garage in our new place!

How are they doing now (your trays)???

xxo Eva

[DebB]

I'm having problems posting this, I get the message that my post is too short. So I have to type this in in order to post :)



Hey DebB!

How long are you soaking the wheat berries before you grow? Are there just Teeny Tiny Little Sprouts?

Hi Eva ~ I'm soaking the wheat berries in reverse osmosis water for 8 hours. I soak 2 cups of berries in a half gallon jar. Then I add H2O2 (as per Tree of Life's recommendation) and let that sit & continue soaking for 40 minutes. I drain and rinse very well.

Then I plant in prepared trays. Approximately 1" of organic (Miracle Gro brand) soil, generous amount of Azomite (1/3 cup or more per 11x22" tray) and spread out 2 cups soaked berries on top of this.

Following wheatgrasskits.com instructions, I then cover with 1 layer of paper toweling and soak - letting water drip out the bottom of the tray. I use their trays with holes in the bottom. Then I have the planting tray over a solid tray, which I've placed plastic deli containers in to keep the planting tray raised off the drip tray thinking this would provide air flow.

Are they inside your kitchen? Yes, the new trays I pop under my Hoosier cabinet out of sunlight. The trays that are growing sit in bright filtered light in a very sunny kitchen window.

How often are you watering? And how much (just a teeny bit, or more?)? This may be the problem! Perhaps I overwater... I follow the wheatgrasskits.com instructions and cover newly planted berries with 1 layer of paper toweling and water until it drips out the bottom of the tray. They say to leave the berries covered, out of sunlight for approximately 3 days - until the grass starts growing and lifts the paper towels up.

Many days I do give enough water so that it's dripping out the bottom.

I'm trying to think back to when I grew a lot of wheatgrass. I used to have a great system going, and I never got mold or gnats, but man, I was careful. I had 4 or 5 trays going at a time, if I recall correctly. I watered only a little bit when really needed, used the azomite, organic soil, organic wheat berries.

I will definitely cut back on the watering then!

Did you do anything in the beginning like my instructions call for keeping the berries covered with paper toweling to keep from drying out?

These are the berries (http://www.azurestandard.com/product.php?id=GR065)I'm using now, every tray has had mold. I'm getting these berries (http://www.azurestandard.com/product.php?id=GR112)next week though and will try them (soft wheat vs. hard wheat - both organic).

If less watering and switching berries doesn't help - I'm going to order them from w.g.kits.com.

I also water with tap water and now I'm wondering if that makes a difference and I should water with our reverse osmosis water. I use tap simply because it's faster.

We're going to start growing again in a few weeks when we have a patio, pantry and garage in our new place!

How are they doing now (your trays)??? I checked this morning and the 2 trays that are a few days from harvesting both have mold. The other 2 trays I just planted last night...

Best wishes on starting your wheat grass trays. Will you keep us posted? I'm determined to keep doing this - preferably mold FREE :D

Thanking you in advance for any thoughts and tips! *Ü*
xxo Eva

[Tirza]

I read about Ann Wigmore's method. She dug up soil from under her grass and added peat moss and compost. She cautioned people not to use compost that might have animal manure in it as it could spread disease. Sounds reasonable to me. I wouldn't use anything with bone meal either. I've been seeing some scary stuff lately about bone and blood meal and the possible spread of mad cow disease from using rendered animals as feed for farmed fish and in fertilizers!

If using potting soil, be careful that there are no chemical fertilizers in it either.

The writer said that if Ann W. were alive today she would likely adapt that so that more people could grow wheatgrass. Their solution was to use Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss with kelp fertilizer added daily. They said the peat moss had great mold tolerance and the growth was the thickest they ever had with that mix.

That's what I'm going to do. So far I have been struggling with the little gnats or fruit flies or whatever they are.

I have read that what we think is mold often isn't. It is just the little hairy roots near the top and that if it is a light mold, it washes off. Oh well, that's what they say.