There is white fuzz growing on my Grow Sponges (or plants).

Sometimes people notice a white fuzz developing on the surface of their Grow Sponges, especially when the plants are small. This may be a fungus that is decomposing any seeds left behind in the Grow Sponge that did not sprout. Fungus spores exist virtually everywhere in the environment.

If your plants are still small, you can usually remove the dead seed and swab away the fungus by following this procedure:

Remove the label from the top of the pod by making a cut from the center to the edge of the label and gently peeling it off, being extremely careful not to cut or damage any little sprout stems. Save the label, as you can put it back in place like a collar later.

Gently open the Grow Sponge and see if you can find any unsprouted seeds, and if you do, gently remove them with tweezers. If there is white fuzz on the top of the Grow Sponge as well, dip a cotton swab in a bit of hydrogen peroxide, and swab away the fuzz. Once the seed is removed and the fuzz is swabbed away, it will usually not cause further problems.

If you have a fungus that is starting to grow up the stem of a little plant, do the procedure above first, but in addition, use a clean cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide to very gently daub the stem of the affected plant. This should kill any fungus.

Replace the seed pod label by opening it and gently placing it back around the plant stems. As the plants grow, they will anchor the label in place. The label is important not only so that you can identify your plant, but also to prevent light from entering the Grow Sponge and causing algae to grow. Algae will not harm you or your plant, though people sometimes find it unsightly. If the seed pod label was damaged when you removed it, a small piece of aluminum foil can be cut to the same shape as the seed pod label and used in place of it.