Algae are the oldest and most widely distributed form of plant life. They range in size from the large ocean kelps to microscopic single cells, so small that a single drop of pond water may contain thousands of these simple plants.
Algae is an informal term for a large, diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are not necessarily closely related, thus polyphyletic.
Microscopic algae in great quantities farm the familiar layer on ponds and ditches. Most other forms of algae are found in streams, on rocks and moist places.
- Algae such as the microscopic oscillatory, live in and on the soil.
- Some algae live in association with other organisms.
- Likens consist of algae living in union with fungi.
- Algae can even live on the back of a snail.
- The five major groups of algae are the blue, green, diatoms, red and brown.
Algae are not closely related in an evolutionary sense, and the phylogeny of the group remains to be delineated. Specific groups of algae share features with protozoa and fungi that, without the presence of chloroplasts and photosynthesis as delimiting features, make them difficult to distinguish from those organisms.
Indeed, some algae appear to have a closer evolutionary relationship with the protozoa or fungi than they do with other algae.
Growing and Dealing with Algae
Finding Algae on or around your plants, usually on the top of your medium, is not the end of the world. Having Algae present isn't going to harm your plants initially, but if left to grow out of control in the right conditions, can and will have a negative effect on your plants.
Solution: Lowering moisture levels around Algae growth areas, reducing or removing the light that reaches Algae and 'resetting' your medium are quick and easy fixes to this minor issue.
To 'reset' a medium, simple flush with Hydrogen Peroxide water solution of 1ml to 10L of water. Flood your medium using this and then follow with a simple A/B base nutrient solution of low concentration to allow your plant to bounce back from the sterilisation of its medium.
Check out this wonderful video on Algae:
https://ia802600.us.archive.org/13/items/algae_film/algae_film.mp4
Published in 1957 by Encyclopedia Britannica Films, shot in 16mm.
Editor, David Harvey; collaborator, Richard T. Hartman
