I have the luxury of having horse water buckets; water gets green in the sun and it makes my plants thrive. Thankyou for the lesson on it. So glad I found your channel... been being watching your videos because I was an advanced gardener and you keep teaching a little more. Thankyou
This is my favorite video of yours! It shows how you care about helping gardeners by educating people on how to improve soil with a readily available and free amendment.
*glances at her aquarium that is currently experiencing an algae bloom* Where is that gift card scraper? Time to water my plants with some algae water!
We've had both algae and moss in containers in the window garden, and last year under the brassicas the moss spread everywhere under the canopy, and it was from innoculating the starting mix with it. Sometimes it's hard to say if it's algae or moss growing until there's enough of it in one area, but there's usually some of each. You do really well in showing how to build healthy soil, others would just try to sell a spray to wipe it out since it can't be sold. We like things like moss and algae as it balances the soil's fungus content, as an overabundance of fungus can be dangerous in our inside spaces.
Ashley, do you know of the Australian South Gippsland town of Foster, where the city landscaping people grow food for the people of the city in the open green spaces?
Hi Ashley! I just revisited this video to watch it again because, while researching putting in a small pond to attract wildlife to my garden, I read where water from a healthy, established lake or pond can be added to a new pond to inoculate it. That got me wondering if there might be any benefit to just adding pond water directly to my garden beds. I have access to a well-maintained public reservoir with tons of fish, birds, turtles, and other wildlife. The water is very clear and fairly free of pollution (no swimming or gas powered boats are allowed). I'd like to know your thoughts on what benefits (or possible drawbacks) there might be to regularly introducing water rich in pond microbes and algae directly to the garden (as opposed to letting the algae build up in a bucket first).
Hey Ashley, I use algea a lot, and easy from a pond. However, algea for some orchids, can become a problem. Since a lot of orchids need light on their roots , and therefore are in a see through plastic container in some homes, the algea can very very quickly go crazy. Especially since the light, combined with the organic matter and high humidity, will be perfect for the algea, as well as the orchid roots. However, the roots of an orchid can be notoriously slow growing, so the algea will take over, and this will eventually harm the roots, and then the spongy out layer in particular. This can be fixed, and lack of light will quickly reduce the algea, so to use a cover pot for some time, will not harm that orchid, but will harm the algea, but many will get that infestation too quickly to act. And loose roots. So what started out as a benefit, would harm that plant super quick. Just a friendly warning for those who use see through plastic containers, for high heat, light and humidity loving orchids with notoriously slow growing roots, with light growing media-roots ratio. However, I came over a video from an orchid influencers page the other day, where that person recommended to use hydrogen peroxide to kill off the algea in the pots, not just for those orchids, I almost choked, not what I would recommend to do, as it would kill all the good stuff too.
Hi from Zone 7 in NY 👋🏾 2 nights ago I discovered your channel & binge watched when I should have been asleep; then more the next day 🙃 Safe to say I’m a new subscriber. I love and appreciate the wealth of knowledge you share - THANK YOU 🌱💫 I’m a garden « journalier » and am already set for this year, but I’m still eyeing your journal for alternate garden writing ideas 👀😏
Haha uh no! Sleep is essential to a great gardening lifestyle 😏😉 I’m glad your enjoying everything though. Let me know if there is anything you want to see
I had no idea that algae was good for soil. It has always annoyed me when it grows in my pots. Now I won't be annoyed anymore. And when I have algae growing in me rain barrels, I'll be happy.
Been a little while since I've sat down to watch one of your videos. This is super interesting and I don't think I've seen anyone talk about it before. Will definitely try the bucket thing this summer
I water with rain water from a large tank that does develop some algae, as it sits in partial sun. After hearing about the benefits of algae I'm no longer concerned about adding it to my garden soil which is very sandy. Thanks for this information!
This was ANOTHER great video Ashley! I new this algae video was going to be something new to absorb. All the soil microbe science I search for, I have never heard about algae and all it can do to help plant/microbial health in the soil.thanks for info on growing my own algae to inoculate my garden. This is why I VOTED AGAINST the light bulb video. So many videos on lighting for plants that are good, getting a lesson from a brilliant soil scientist, PRICELESS! Thank you Ashley!
I don’t have one 🙄 haha. All I have is my Etsy but maybe one day. I have a DIY Soil Science book coming out soon as well. I don’t even know how to set up patreon
You just spoke to something it's very dear to my heart. I have just built the 55-gallon compost tea Brewer and was thinking of using water from my koi pond and rainwater mix. I would very much like to know what you think of Brewing large batches of compost tea and what you think of using my koi pond water in my compost tea
I went from hating blue-green algae to liking it. It's known to go into super blooming mood and then it kills fish. My brother use to buy algae for eating as a food supplement. (Gross 😝 ).
Very cool! My duck kiddie pool gets algae very fast. Like within a week if I don’t clean it. I think I will let it go once in a while and scrap off the algae to inoculate my soil!! I hope that’s right!
This is fascinating since I only ever hear about algae as a negative. Your argument seems totally sound, though, so I'm excited about trying this myself! For my indoors I don't think I can make much use of algae, all my direct sun plants have too dry of soil, and all my indirect light plants don't get enough light on their soil (my assumptions). However, I'm considering cultivating algae in simple semi-hydro setups, like leca in glass for direct light plants. Do you think algae is still beneficial when no soil is present, where it tends to coat the roots? I'm enjoying binging your videos, so useful to have a specialist scientist's perspective (my degree is envisci, so I only have basic soil education).
Awesome video! I've always scraped the green algea off the soil in my greenhouse thinking it was a bad thing 😂 was just wondering how dangerous some of the bacteria can be in soil, I make my own compost, and its more of a cold composting method, so doesn't heat up enough to kill weed seeds let alone anything else, should I be worried about handling the soil? Or is it more of an issue while incubating the soil? Thanks for these videos, so informative
Very interesting. I always thought it was something to get rid of on soil! Also, while collecting leaves last fall I noticed algae in the area and was trying to avoid the leaves in those areas. Very interested to see how you collect it off rocks.
@@GardeningInCanada I use a diluted 3% peroxide soak 1 up to 4 teaspoons per cup depending on what’s going on. If I had a cell damp off I do the 4 otherwise it’s just to prevent any mold issues. Idk if that’s good , I would love to know your stance on peroxide for seed starting soil drenches. Gary from rusted garden does this also a few other yt’ers have recommended It works great as a foliar spray in the garden when it’s tomato time. But yes so funny about the algae. I will def try your method to collect in the spring summer!!! Lots of ponds in my area
Happy Mother’s Day (plant mom), what effect would watering with chlorinated tap water in Alberta have on algae and mosses? The only place I see any in my yard is underneath the apple tree where it gets blotted shade.
Question: when you purchase rain barrels, they’re opaque, dark coloured plastic to help keep algae down, but wouldn’t it be beneficial to water with rain collection containing algae?
I keep hearing about the dangers cyanobacteria and I keep asking.... Why am I still alive?... Ive drank way more of my fish tank water than I'd like to admit and nobody will answer my question about how dangerous it really is... what are you thoughts?
Does the benefits of algae also apply in semihydroponic setups in clear containers? I’ve read mixed opinions about this, more commonly negative, with the notion that the algae is outcompeting the plant’s roots in nutrient uptake.
FANTASTIC voice! I wanna contribute to get the microscope! Please get on Patreon! I just put a little algae from the rain water in a bucket & put my grow light on it. I threw in some bird poop. Should I sprinkle in a lil manure? Also, should it have 1/2 bucket of water?
I will look into it! Thank you I truly appreciate that. And you definitely could add manure, the more water the better because it just means more product. But it also will mean you have to wait longer till it’s ready,
Wow, learned something brand new! So when I am growing seeds indoors and they get a cover of the green growth, I can leave it to grow around my seedling? or is it detrimental in the seedling trays? I have been scraping it off all my seedlings for years, I thought it might be competing for nutrients with the small seedlings?
@@GardeningInCanada lmfao I would but I’d have to try to figure a way to keep the mosquitos away from it .. a screen maybe? My town has rules about open water bc we have large populations of mosquitoes during the year bc the Susquehanna river goes right thru here so some of the lower areas get flooded a lot or when we get bad rains we get lots of stagnant puddles etc.
Thanks so watching! Who know this about soil Algae? I feel as though this is the least talked about soil microbe. Despite its big impact.
I’ve only seen it talked about as a bad thing.
That’s crazy to me! It’s very important for delivering oxygen
News to me!
@@bcpeppers906 🥳🥳 that’s what I like to hear
Had no clue but I knew it’s good for plants in the ponds.
I have the luxury of having horse water buckets; water gets green in the sun and it makes my plants thrive. Thankyou for the lesson on it.
So glad I found your channel... been being watching your videos because I was an advanced gardener and you keep teaching a little more.
Thankyou
Im glad! be sure to share any videos you think are helpful. And yes animals troughs are ideal
This is my favorite video of yours! It shows how you care about helping gardeners by educating people on how to improve soil with a readily available and free amendment.
Thanks! That’s truly my goal I’m not here for money or fame. It’s maybe why my film quality etc is meh.
*glances at her aquarium that is currently experiencing an algae bloom* Where is that gift card scraper? Time to water my plants with some algae water!
HAHAHA
We've had both algae and moss in containers in the window garden, and last year under the brassicas the moss spread everywhere under the canopy, and it was from innoculating the starting mix with it. Sometimes it's hard to say if it's algae or moss growing until there's enough of it in one area, but there's usually some of each. You do really well in showing how to build healthy soil, others would just try to sell a spray to wipe it out since it can't be sold. We like things like moss and algae as it balances the soil's fungus content, as an overabundance of fungus can be dangerous in our inside spaces.
Yes! Very very good points
Ashley, do you know of the Australian South Gippsland town of Foster, where the city landscaping people grow food for the people of the city in the open green spaces?
That’s honestly perfect. That’s exactly what every city should be doing instead of foliage based parks
Hi Ashley! I just revisited this video to watch it again because, while researching putting in a small pond to attract wildlife to my garden, I read where water from a healthy, established lake or pond can be added to a new pond to inoculate it. That got me wondering if there might be any benefit to just adding pond water directly to my garden beds. I have access to a well-maintained public reservoir with tons of fish, birds, turtles, and other wildlife. The water is very clear and fairly free of pollution (no swimming or gas powered boats are allowed).
I'd like to know your thoughts on what benefits (or possible drawbacks) there might be to regularly introducing water rich in pond microbes and algae directly to the garden (as opposed to letting the algae build up in a bucket first).
Hey Ashley,
I use algea a lot, and easy from a pond. However, algea for some orchids, can become a problem. Since a lot of orchids need light on their roots , and therefore are in a see through plastic container in some homes, the algea can very very quickly go crazy. Especially since the light, combined with the organic matter and high humidity, will be perfect for the algea, as well as the orchid roots. However, the roots of an orchid can be notoriously slow growing, so the algea will take over, and this will eventually harm the roots, and then the spongy out layer in particular. This can be fixed, and lack of light will quickly reduce the algea, so to use a cover pot for some time, will not harm that orchid, but will harm the algea, but many will get that infestation too quickly to act. And loose roots. So what started out as a benefit, would harm that plant super quick. Just a friendly warning for those who use see through plastic containers, for high heat, light and humidity loving orchids with notoriously slow growing roots, with light growing media-roots ratio. However, I came over a video from an orchid influencers page the other day, where that person recommended to use hydrogen peroxide to kill off the algea in the pots, not just for those orchids, I almost choked, not what I would recommend to do, as it would kill all the good stuff too.
Great video loved the topic !!!!
Hi from Zone 7 in NY 👋🏾 2 nights ago I discovered your channel & binge watched when I should have been asleep; then more the next day 🙃 Safe to say I’m a new subscriber. I love and appreciate the wealth of knowledge you share - THANK YOU 🌱💫 I’m a garden « journalier » and am already set for this year, but I’m still eyeing your journal for alternate garden writing ideas 👀😏
Haha uh no! Sleep is essential to a great gardening lifestyle 😏😉 I’m glad your enjoying everything though. Let me know if there is anything you want to see
I had no idea that algae was good for soil. It has always annoyed me when it grows in my pots. Now I won't be annoyed anymore. And when I have algae growing in me rain barrels, I'll be happy.
Been a little while since I've sat down to watch one of your videos. This is super interesting and I don't think I've seen anyone talk about it before. Will definitely try the bucket thing this summer
I use it with my indoor plants and they go wild.
I water with rain water from a large tank that does develop some algae, as it sits in partial sun.
After hearing about the benefits of algae I'm no longer concerned about adding it to my garden soil
which is very sandy. Thanks for this information!
If it’s sandy this is perfect
Oh my... I’ve been removing it every time I found it in my garden! Usually around rocks. Thank you for the info!
anytime! Hope it was helpful!
This was ANOTHER great video Ashley!
I new this algae video was going to be something new to absorb.
All the soil microbe science I search for, I have never heard about algae and all it can do to help plant/microbial health in the soil.thanks for info on growing my own algae to inoculate my garden.
This is why I VOTED AGAINST the light bulb video. So many videos on lighting for plants that are good, getting a lesson from a brilliant soil scientist, PRICELESS!
Thank you Ashley!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed.
@@GardeningInCanada Ashley,, looking for your patreon page, like to chip in some $ towards a microscope. Dont see one.
I don’t have one 🙄 haha. All I have is my Etsy but maybe one day. I have a DIY Soil Science book coming out soon as well. I don’t even know how to set up patreon
@@GardeningInCanada I take it your going to announce when ready to get? Will that be on etsy?
Yea I will I like taking my time. With this stuff so not sure how long it will take
You just spoke to something it's very dear to my heart. I have just built the 55-gallon compost tea Brewer and was thinking of using water from my koi pond and rainwater mix. I would very much like to know what you think of Brewing large batches of compost tea and what you think of using my koi pond water in my compost tea
Yes! Do it!
@@GardeningInCanadaThank you for your work
Perhaps place a screen over the bucket to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in it.
Awesome content. I’d love to see a little series on algae and mushrooms. Mostly, edible mushrooms for outdoor growing in Canada.
Okay! Great idea.
I went from hating blue-green algae to liking it. It's known to go into super blooming mood and then it kills fish.
My brother use to buy algae for eating as a food supplement. (Gross 😝 ).
Haha nope I can’t eat it 😂
Wow amazing facts! Cool! thanks for another great upload!
Thanks! ❤️
Very cool! My duck kiddie pool gets algae very fast. Like within a week if I don’t clean it. I think I will let it go once in a while and scrap off the algae to inoculate my soil!! I hope that’s right!
That’s a really good idea
This is fascinating since I only ever hear about algae as a negative. Your argument seems totally sound, though, so I'm excited about trying this myself!
For my indoors I don't think I can make much use of algae, all my direct sun plants have too dry of soil, and all my indirect light plants don't get enough light on their soil (my assumptions). However, I'm considering cultivating algae in simple semi-hydro setups, like leca in glass for direct light plants. Do you think algae is still beneficial when no soil is present, where it tends to coat the roots?
I'm enjoying binging your videos, so useful to have a specialist scientist's perspective (my degree is envisci, so I only have basic soil education).
glad you enjoy! be sure to share :)
Awesome video! I've always scraped the green algea off the soil in my greenhouse thinking it was a bad thing 😂 was just wondering how dangerous some of the bacteria can be in soil, I make my own compost, and its more of a cold composting method, so doesn't heat up enough to kill weed seeds let alone anything else, should I be worried about handling the soil? Or is it more of an issue while incubating the soil? Thanks for these videos, so informative
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. It means your soil is aerobic so that has it own benefits.
Very interesting! Thanks!
Not problem glad you enjoyed!
Very interesting. I always thought it was something to get rid of on soil! Also, while collecting leaves last fall I noticed algae in the area and was trying to avoid the leaves in those areas. Very interested to see how you collect it off rocks.
Yea! Once the snow finally disappears 🙄
Do u have an updated video on this? It says u were going to show us how to make our own algae
oh gosh no! I should
This is great and helpful information. Thank you for the video.👍👍👍
Does Algae contain the same nitrients as Kelp?
No they are different. Kelp is very similar to just old organic material you find on land.
💚
❤️❤️
I got a whole bunch of this stuff on my onion starts. I was trying to kill it 😂
Hahaha oh no! Leave it it’s just giving it a bit of oxygen.
@@GardeningInCanada I use a diluted 3% peroxide soak 1 up to 4 teaspoons per cup depending on what’s going on. If I had a cell damp off I do the 4 otherwise it’s just to prevent any mold issues. Idk if that’s good , I would love to know your stance on peroxide for seed starting soil drenches. Gary from rusted garden does this also a few other yt’ers have recommended
It works great as a foliar spray in the garden when it’s tomato time. But yes so funny about the algae. I will def try your method to collect in the spring summer!!! Lots of ponds in my area
Yea that would work great. That’s a very gentle solution which is exactly what you want
Happy Mother’s Day (plant mom), what effect would watering with chlorinated tap water in Alberta have on algae and mosses? The only place I see any in my yard is underneath the apple tree where it gets blotted shade.
there isnt much to suggest there is an major effects. But it can slow things down.
Anthrax for dummies.. couple open cuts on your feet, livestock, corrals, WOO-HOO!
LOL I don’t think many people know anthrax is soil borne
Question: when you purchase rain barrels, they’re opaque, dark coloured plastic to help keep algae down, but wouldn’t it be beneficial to water with rain collection containing algae?
it is! go for the clear and get the algea growig
I keep hearing about the dangers cyanobacteria and I keep asking....
Why am I still alive?... Ive drank way more of my fish tank water than I'd like to admit and nobody will answer my question about how dangerous it really is... what are you thoughts?
😂 oh man. Cyanobacteria is the reason humanity exists so while it has negatives it also has positives
Does the benefits of algae also apply in semihydroponic setups in clear containers? I’ve read mixed opinions about this, more commonly negative, with the notion that the algae is outcompeting the plant’s roots in nutrient uptake.
It depends on the Algae. the issue is some some can compete so they are not wrong
Learning more about it;)
Hahah perfect!
@@GardeningInCanada ya watched twice I'm not very attentive right now
I know it's good for my goldfish but not so much if I want to see them lol
My rain barrel probably gets gross enough to accomplish this for me
AHAHAHA I was thinking that as well because I have a white one that definitely gets sun shine
So pro!
😌 hardly but thanks!
My green mold question solved!
Love it!
FANTASTIC voice! I wanna contribute to get the microscope! Please get on Patreon! I just put a little algae from the rain water in a bucket & put my grow light on it. I threw in some bird poop. Should I sprinkle in a lil manure? Also, should it have 1/2 bucket of water?
I will look into it! Thank you I truly appreciate that. And you definitely could add manure, the more water the better because it just means more product. But it also will mean you have to wait longer till it’s ready,
Wow, learned something brand new! So when I am growing seeds indoors and they get a cover of the green growth, I can leave it to grow around my seedling? or is it detrimental in the seedling trays? I have been scraping it off all my seedlings for years, I thought it might be competing for nutrients with the small seedlings?
Nope it’s totally fine. Leave it be, it won’t harm a thing.
"Al-Jay" :)
🤣 was my accent getting in the way?
@@GardeningInCanada Not at all, Ashley! I love the prairie accent.
Haha oh thank goodness
Diatoms! I gotta have more diatoms!
Ahaha ❤️ you nerd
So do you use your fish tank water to inoculate a batch of algae and/or water your plants?
I do water with fish tank water yea. And then summer my pond 😂
I can’t wait to do this with a bucket lol.... ahahaha omg!!!
Just do a backyard swimming pool of it
@@GardeningInCanada lmfao I would but I’d have to try to figure a way to keep the mosquitos away from it .. a screen maybe? My town has rules about open water bc we have large populations of mosquitoes during the year bc the Susquehanna river goes right thru here so some of the lower areas get flooded a lot or when we get bad rains we get lots of stagnant puddles etc.
Thanks for the video, Ashley! If you let a house plant dry out 1-3 inches into the soul, will the algae on top die?
It’s pretty darn resilient so you will still have lots in the system. You don’t want to keep it soaking wet all the time. It’s about balance.
@@GardeningInCanada Good to know. Thank you!
❤️❤️
8:11 You could get sick (ick)
Real quick (ick)
Real sick, real ick
Don't grow it in your home
😃
"Algae doesnt need water but it lives in areas that are moist and wet". Wet with what? . . . .