Grow Mediums Water levels, mold on surface?

[olegren]

Hi, all. I am knee deep in my first autopots grow and am wondering if anyone else has noticed either of the following in their setups? For background, I am using Springpot XL from the Autopots vendor. I got the 4-pot kit but only have 2 in line right now due to space constraints.

Here are the two oddities I have observed:

1. Water levels inconsistent in trays. I want to examine the mechanics of these trays a little closer, but since they're in use I'm hesitant to disturb anything. I've found that one of my trays seems to sit around 1/4" of solution any time I check it. However, the other is closer to 1/2". It's enough that lifting the pot out of the deeper one and then re-seating it often leads to a bit of oiverflow. This doesn't seem to be causing a problem for the plant, but I'm curious if anyone else has seen it before.
   
   I'm crossing this one off. I had read that the trays refill incrementally rather than maintaining a constant level, so I think I understand. My observation has been that it's usually sitting around the same level, but I probably am checking at the same time every day. I'm going to try looking much later and see what I can find.
2. White growth on top of coco. This just reared its head fairly recently and after a flush, so it may be that I should've let the pots dry out a bit more before seating them back in the trays. It doesn't seem to be spreading to the plants, but I'm curious if any of you have encountered -- and how/whether or not you've done anything to address it in your grows?
   
   Have read a bit about this one as well; mostly curious if any of you have seen any adverse issues by leaving the stuff be. I see some prescribing hydrogen peroxide to spot treat this; but at the expense of microbes. Not sure it's worth it.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Pictures please.

 

[Olderfart]

With regard to operation of the autovalves, you might want to have a look here:

https://www.autoflower.org/threads/troubleshooting-the-autovalve.80529/

Knowing exactly how the valve works can be very handy when mischief happens.

As to the white stuff on top of the coco, FWIW, I had stuff on my fabric pots which concerned me for a while, and ended up ignoring it, and it caused no problems. As long as you keep your RH down once you are into flower, I think you should be good.

Mind you, I am new at this, so take better advice if you get it.

Good luck with it.

 

[olegren]

D'oh. I took pictures and managed to forget to attach them. Sorry. Here's the white stuff.



All in all, I am not too concerned. Thank you, @Olderfart for your feedback on this as well as that other thread about the stuff on the pots. I ended up wiping that down. It returned to a lesser degree, but after seeing your remarks I decided not to stress it. I think I'll treat this stuff on top of the coco similarly. No signs of any issues, and I'm letting RH go down a bit (I removed my bucket/towel) now that flower is in full swing.

As to the thread on Autovalves: Holy shit. I'm embarrassed to have overlooked that. Thanks so much for that. I'm going to check both of mine to be sure they're working as they should. Seems like maybe something is going on with one of them just based on my cursory read so far, but you've given some really thorough steps for checking functionality. I'll report back.

Thank you both for your help!

 

[Saven]

I have some "white stuff" at the surface of my coco from using Recharge. Never concerned me but that was my specific case.

For the water balance in your trays, go do the troubleshooting in that thread posted by @Olderfart. They should drain almost all the way down and also fill up to a certain amount. I don't want to be redundant because the thread already has all the information and is very well written.

I hope you get it figured out.

 

[Nosias]

D'oh. I took pictures and managed to forget to attach them. Sorry. Here's the white stuff.

View attachment 1275588 View attachment 1275589

All in all, I am not too concerned. Thank you, @Olderfart for your feedback on this as well as that other thread about the stuff on the pots. I ended up wiping that down. It returned to a lesser degree, but after seeing your remarks I decided not to stress it. I think I'll treat this stuff on top of the coco similarly. No signs of any issues, and I'm letting RH go down a bit (I removed my bucket/towel) now that flower is in full swing.

As to the thread on Autovalves: Holy shit. I'm embarrassed to have overlooked that. Thanks so much for that. I'm going to check both of mine to be sure they're working as they should. Seems like maybe something is going on with one of them just based on my cursory read so far, but you've given some really thorough steps for checking functionality. I'll report back.

Thank you both for your help!

Like a new mother with her firstborn, everything is worrisome. The white is not mold. It could be some nutrient salt build up. Not to be concerned. We all could offer a more informed help if you had a thread. Do you?