Asked on Jun 21, 2012
What is this and how do I get rid of it?
by
Heather B
+69
This is growing on or in my oregano in pot on my deck. It is scary looking - I am guessing it is some sort of fungus. I don't even want to touch it, but I want to save my oregano!!!
71 answers
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Looks like a mold.
Sandra R
on Jun 21, 2012
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It does look like a fungus! YUK!! Is the pot too wet?
Jo Anne H
on Jun 21, 2012
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dont knowwhat it is but I would put on a pair of gloves and cut it out.
Amy K
on Jun 21, 2012
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Hope someone has an answer. I would be tempted to throw it out. Sorry.
Sherry L
on Jun 21, 2012
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A slime mold, I think!
Elaine T
on Jun 21, 2012
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i think it is some kind mold
Vickey M
on Jun 21, 2012
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I would try to clip it away and salvage the rest of the oregano plant. Pretty colors.
Sandra R
on Jun 21, 2012
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Looks like a nasty Fungus You need to DIG it all up and dump it... and the plant!
Carol R
on Jun 21, 2012
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Looks like someone threw up in it.
Kathie N
on Jun 21, 2012
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are you mulching with cocoa bean shells? I used them and everything got a pink mold after a couple of rain storms.
Sylvia W
on Jun 21, 2012
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I suggest that you throw the whole thing...pot and all away!! Do it before it gets on anything else! Well....that is what I would do! That is a very scary looking fungus.
Sandra B
on Jun 21, 2012
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i dont know what it is and i am sorry that i cant help you out for find out what it is
Destiny B
on Jun 21, 2012
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I agree it does look like a fungus I would clean it off and wash the leaves with a mild soapy mixture of dish soap water and a tablespoon of bleach . Your plant may be getting to much water
Debbie M
on Jun 21, 2012
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i would err on the side of caution and get rid of it, including the pot. do you realy want to eat something that you have no clue how it might have infected the entire plant, dirt and possibly be in the pot's material?
Michele B
on Jun 21, 2012
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It is a fungus, I don't know the exact name of it. We get it here when its hot and humid. Wear gloves and a mask to remove it. When you move it there will be lots of spores coming from it. You may not get rid of it all. but eventually it'll just dry up.
Sue M
on Jun 21, 2012
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you don't need to get rid of the pot too. I would like the others suggested, get rid of the plant and the dirt. To clean the pot, scrub it with a 50/50 bleach/water solution and a scrub brush. Leave in the sun to dry
Trina S
on Jun 21, 2012
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This looks like the "Dog Vomit" slime mold - we had a bunch of it last year in a garden bed that an a tree had been cut down and the trunk ground. Apparently the mold is especially attracted to decomposing mulch. It is harmless to plants, animals and humans; its even a food source in native american culture. Looks awful though :>
Linn L
on Jun 21, 2012
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Harmless to humans if they're not allergic to fungus....I'd mask myself and glove myself and bag it up and take it where it won't bother anybody else.
Shawn B
on Jun 21, 2012
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I never saw anything like it, but my guess would also be fungus. Agree ypu should toss the whole thing in a place where it won't spread.
Betty W
on Jun 21, 2012
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We had this too! It is called Dog Vomit.....
Kay D
on Jun 21, 2012
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I wouldnt touch it or eat it . i would buy a new pack of seeds and start over . oregano grows fast . and can grow all winter if you bring it inside before the fall frost . .
Vicki L
on Jun 21, 2012
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If you'repretty sure this is a fungus, try a fungicide. Sulfur & copper products are allowed to be used under organic guidelines. You'll have to look at the active ingredients list on the side of the box or carton in the store. Be sure you use a fungicide that's OK to use on oregano. (That will be on the label, too).
Rosemary N
on Jun 21, 2012
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Also, you can always take a sample of this ugly stuff to the Extension Office in your area; they'll be able to help you out.
Rosemary N
on Jun 21, 2012
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Get rid of ALL of it VERY carefully. DO NOT touch or breath any of it including your oregano.
Laurie G
on Jun 21, 2012
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ewe! Get rid of it!
Sonia Y
on Jun 21, 2012
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rip it out and start over!
Laura S
on Jun 21, 2012
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OMG it reminds me of that old movie the "Blob". Get rid of it!!!
BeckySue G
on Jun 21, 2012
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It won't take long to grow a new. So, don't get sick, take it out and start fresh!
Denise G
on Jun 21, 2012
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Even though this is called Dog Vomit Slime Mold it is not really a mold or a fungus it, Fuligo septica, is completely harmless to animals, humans and plants. It will, after fruiting, dry up and disappear. It usually is found in the mulch. If you don't like the look of it (and who would?) just remove it (the mold) and toss it in the compost pile.
Gladys D
on Jun 21, 2012
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Ewe... I found some in my flower bed. I had just put down some mulch a few days before. I thought that might be where it came from.
Talithagrace K
on Jun 21, 2012
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It's a harmless slime mold... though aesthetically offensive it will not harm man, beast or plants.
Nancy F
on Jun 21, 2012
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it appears to be effecting my pepper plants too, I was going to send photos but it looks like that.
Tina M
on Jun 21, 2012
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I don't know what it is, but I don't think you should keep the plant, or the soil it's planted in. If your going to reuse the container steralize it. Certainly looks bad what ever it is. Hope it doesn't spread to any of your other plants. Make sure you don't touch anyhting else after you have worked on the infected plant without changing your gloves and washed and disinfected all of your tools that have touched it or the soil it's was in.
Suzanne T
on Jun 21, 2012
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I'm really glad I live in Nevada where we don't get that icky stuff! That has got to be the worst loking slime mold I have ever seen!!
Sheri N
on Jun 21, 2012
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I am so glad this was posted. I've been wondering what this was that appears in these various forms in my mulch out front.
Donna J
on Jun 21, 2012
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Yes, I have had the same stuff appear in my mulch after a soaking rain. Once it dries, it will turn to powder. Very gross indeed.
Pam V
on Jun 22, 2012
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It's everywhere this year! Have it in several yards I garden in. You can scoop it out with a shovel or just let it dry up. Gladys is right...fuligo septica.
Jeanine M
on Jun 22, 2012
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UGH! Anything that looks this nasty...I would throw out plant & pot! Place it in a bucket and spray it really well with vinegar. Do not play around with this because fungus has spores that are air borne and will get on and infect all your plants. Do away with it NOW!
Jeanette S
on Jun 22, 2012
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so much misinformation!
Judy P
on Jun 22, 2012
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then what is it, Judy P?
Katie B
on Jun 22, 2012
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Judy P., that's a pretty broad statement; perhaps you could clarify.
Becky H
on Jun 22, 2012
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Slime mold or dog vomit mold. We get it in our mulch every year. Starts out bright yellow, turns tan, then brown. Lovely to behold. I read that it comes when your mulch starts to decompose. It doesn't hurt anything, just ugly!
Cindy L
on Jun 22, 2012
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Spray it with a mixture of 1 cup water to 1 tblsp bleach. It's harmless just not pretty.
April H
on Jun 22, 2012
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Judy P, We are all followers of Hometalk to disscuss!!! Yes it is a fungus, that is my opinion. :0)
Patty S
on Jun 22, 2012
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Like Sheri says, Thank god I live in Nevada! What kind of mulch are you using?
Kendra R
on Jun 22, 2012
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Yes it is a type of mold we seem to get it when the weather is hot & humid and and the mulch isn't loose and breathable - I just spray it out with a water hose - Keeping your mulch and soil moist seems to help - Doesn't seem to harm anything probably bad for allergy suffers though...
Marcia Neiss
on Jun 22, 2012
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Bleach will kill the fungus but most likely harm your plants. I never put anything on my plants that I wouldn't put inside my mouth. Spray plant with water, then follow with Vinegar!!! Good luck! Let us know how it works out for you.
Sheila B
on Jun 22, 2012
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What type of mulch is it? I have many different kinds of mulch yet I have never seen anything like that and Florida is real hot and real humid.
Sherrie S
on Jun 22, 2012
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STOP watering via sprinkler system at night. DISCARD infected plant. Sorry you have to lose your basil. I have been a professional (means I get PAID for growing stuff) for about 8 years. The fungus is caused by nighttime watering from overhead. PLEASE try to do your watering early in the morning by simply letting the hose hit the roots and not the leaves.
Deanne A
on Jun 22, 2012
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Thank you for the feedback - just to be clear - there is no mulch here. None at all, but I understand what "you" are saying. This is oregano in a pot on a deck. No sprinklers and watering in the am only when needed. We did have some humid wet weather so the harmless fungus is logical. I'm going to pull it out and use the water bleach mixture if needed. Thx
Heather B
on Jun 22, 2012
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Heather B, if all of the above is correct I wouldn't ever plant anything in that area. Seems that area is hopeless.
Sherrie S
on Jun 22, 2012
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did you use moisture control potting soil???? I used it one year and had jelly all over my soil and plants. Not good!
Kathleen S
on Jun 22, 2012
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Kathleen S. those were the moisture crystals; apparently they were not well mixed into the soil, and sat on the surface.
Becky H
on Jun 22, 2012
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H. I think Deanne gave you the best fed back. I too would get rid of the plant and stop night watering. Strange stuff and lots of it..throw it OUT before it can infect other plants. I would clean the area it was growing in..good luck.
Carol M
on Jun 22, 2012
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we have something similar but we thought it was from the coffee grounds we put on the soil...strangest looking stuff...hubby said no worries but if I don't know what it is I am concerned I worry & now you have it...where are you located...we are in Oregon. on the soil prior to many gallons of coffee grounds we had well drained soil with sawdust & horse manure...
Bon C
on Jun 23, 2012
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Dog vomit fungus. Really.
Kris T
on Jun 23, 2012
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I too had the same kind of growth happen in my front yard last year. It started small then grew so fast that within days you could see it's movement across ANYTHING near it. I did not water at night, did not have mulch there, just front yard unamended dirt and it covered leaves of mums / rocks and stepping stones! UGLY! I hit it with vinegar (white) from a spray bottle and it seemed to stop it. I don't think I would have eaten anything it touched! too scary!
Maria S
on Jun 23, 2012
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You need to throw it out and if your going to use the pot again you need to disinfect it
Jeanne B
on Jun 23, 2012
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pink pantherr droppings
Randi A
on Jun 23, 2012
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this my advise, I would put on rubber gloves, move pot and plant into heavy clear plastic bag, seal tightly and call the DNR .Ask them if it's dangerous. Dispose of the rubber gloves without coming in contact with the outer surface.
D P
on Jun 23, 2012
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The plant is not worth taking a chance on. I would not eat oregano from that plant even if it appeared the fungus was gone. I would get rid of it pronto.
Belinda Sams
on Jun 23, 2012
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I can't see it clearly but if it's just the moisture beads from potting soil, you should just mix them into the soil. It could also be slug eggs, snails eggs. It doesn't seem to be killing the plant, whatever it is. Take some of it to a nursery and ask them.
Linda R
on Jun 23, 2012
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You do know this is how the BLOB got started, right???
Laura M
on Jun 24, 2012
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I believe what you have is pink snow mold. It can be treated with a good fungicide but would be cheaper and less time consuming , to just throw the plant out and any other plants that have come in contact with it. It is a very transmittable disease.
Judy A
on Jun 24, 2012
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it's called slimemold n it starts in soil which may have some mulch in it. wash it off with a hard stream of water
Vicki Ann
on Jun 24, 2012
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no need for fungicides or DNR
Vicki Ann
on Jun 24, 2012
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I would throw it out & start over when in doubt
Susan M
on Jun 24, 2012
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Makes you just wonder why some commercial big-box soil bags bear the warning that buyer should "wear gloves" when using the soil product. Pay the price and trust the better brands (Fafard, Scotts, etc.)
Laurisa A
on Jun 26, 2012
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LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE PUKED IN IT. YUCK, I WOULD THROW IT AWAY.
SANDY M
on Jun 27, 2012
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Remove the oregano from the pot. Wear gloves. Rinse the leaves off with water. You can spray the plant with Safer Soap (brand) or a little dish soap mixed with water perhaps with some baking soda and/or vinegar . These make an inhospitable PH for most pests and fungus. Use fresh pot and soil so plant is not recontaminated. Hope this helps.
Gainorhillegass
on Oct 20, 2016
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Take a piece of the plant and fungus to your local extension. They'll let you know for free and tell you what to do for it. Good luck.
Patty
on Nov 04, 2016
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