While not usually dangerous, mold can deplete plant nutrients, stunt growth, and contribute to illnesses and other pressures. If you’re going to be growing houseplants, you want to get the best life out of them, and that requires some care. A healthy houseplant adds value to your living space. A houseplant can bring the outdoors inside, creating a warm feeling of nature.
Caring for houseplants can be fun, but it can also be frustrating when problems hurt the plants’ health. Moldy soil is a typical issue that plagues houseplants, in addition to yellowing foliage and spider mites.
Don’t be alarmed if you discover mold on your houseplants. Mold isn’t always dangerous, but it can take away nutrients, slow growth, and make plants more likely to get sick. You can eliminate undesirable substances and prevent new infections with routine treatment. So, it is a good idea to check on your houseplants. They may need just a little more attention than just watering.
How to See Mold on Soil
The first step in treating moldy soil is identifying it. The substance is on the soil’s surface but can grow beneath it. Mold comes in various colors and might appear fuzzy, slimy, or powdery. Pink, white, or light orange growth usually indicates a fungus on your plant. Some molds emit a musty stench, another sign that your plant is infected. If you smell an unusual odor coming from or near your houseplant, it would be wise to investigate.
Why Does Houseplant Soil Mold?
Mold grows on houseplant soil for a variety of reasons. Mold and other fungi can grow in the ground when it’s wet for a long time. Even though mold is a normal part of caring for houseplants, it can produce too much and become dangerous in some situations.
Soil Drainage Issues
It is critical for the health of your plant that water drains properly. Mold grows in optimum conditions when the soil does not drain well or is not allowed to dry off. Inadequate soil drainage can also cause root rot, which can cause your plant’s leaves to turn yellow or brown and possibly cause it to die. Keep in mind when watering your plants that there will be some drainage when the water runs down to the roots due to gravity. If your houseplant has inadequate drainage, it could be easy for mold to start growing. Consider having some type of water catchment system or apparatus to catch excess drainage water.
Overwatering
One of the most prevalent causes of mold formation is overwatering your plant. When the soil remains damp for an extended period, fungus thrives. Only some plants require soil that is constantly moist enough to support mold growth. Water according to your plant’s demands. Wait until the top inch of the earth is dry before supplying further moisture. Monitor your plant watering closely, as water is vital for your houseplants’ survival, but too much can be harmful.
High Relative Humidity
Many tropical plants love a wet environment, but too much humidity causes the soil to remain persistently damp, allowing mold to thrive. To reduce humidity, make sure your plants have adequate air circulation. Stale air encourages humidity and mold spores to accumulate. It is wise to have some idea of what type of humidity is helpful or harmful to your houseplants. If there is an attendant when you purchase your houseplant, ask as many questions as you can to ensure the life of your plant.
Organic Substance
Mold and other fungi thrive on decomposing organic debris. As a result, it is critical to remove fallen leaves from plant soil regularly. Mold can develop on leaves or plant waste because they contain nutrients.
The Effects of Moldy Soil on Plant Health
Although not all fungi harm houseplants, some can limit growth. Moldy soil can deplete nutrients from most plants, especially carnivorous ones, and become poisonous to their development. A badly diseased plant is more vulnerable to infections and other stressors. In severe circumstances, moldy soil can kill a plant.
Fungal growth may attract typical houseplant pests. They are usually annoying, and when there are a lot of them because there is a lot of food, they can damage the roots of plants. Certain insects, such as fungus gnats, feed on the fungal and algal mats.
Fortunately, removing mold from the soil is a simple process. Fungus mats can be scraped from the soil surface and discarded with a new potting mix. Another typical method gardeners use to remove mold from houseplant soil is to improve soil drainage. Add peat moss, wool pellets, or other amendments to the earth to improve drainage.
Copper-based fungicides can be extremely harmful to some plants. Do a tiny test on delicate plants such as butterworts to check the fungicide is safe. A liquid fungicide may be required if the illness is severe.
How to Avoid Moldy Soil
You can take a few precautions to reduce the likelihood of future mold infections. Most ways entail keeping the soil from being continuously wet, which can be accomplished by enhancing soil drainage and air circulation and exposing your plant to sunlight.
Increase Soil Drainage
Improving soil drainage is the first and most crucial step toward mold prevention in houseplants. Fill saucers with water, use containers with drainage holes, and allow plants to dry between waterings. You can also add a porous material to the potting mix, like shredded bark or peat moss, to keep the roots from sitting in water.
Soil exposed to sunlight
Throughout the day, expose the soil to sunshine to prevent mold growth. Your plants must get enough sun since UV light stops fungi from growing. In addition, a lack of sunlight can prevent the soil from drying up between waterings.
Increase Air Circulation
Increasing airflow in your home is another way to make it less likely to grow mold in mild weather. Open windows for plants sitting on windowsills. If natural air flow is not possible, using a small fan to blow across your pots can achieve the same effect. Plant clusters spaced apart will increase airflow and decrease humidity.