Houseplant mold on the floor can be removed. It is not always easy or without consequences for the plants, but if you persevere and apply the necessary treatments, you can save the sporulated plants.
Moldy soil in pots is common due to overwatering, poor drainage, and the use of soil rich in organic matter. Too much water will promote mold growth if you used soil with a high compost content. The substances in the compost promote the growth of mold, so it is best to transplant the plant into clean soil.
Often what is visible on the surface of the soil is only a small portion of what is in the pot, and the mold spreads throughout the soil. Sometimes the contamination starts on the surface and it is enough to remove a few centimeters of soil layer to correct the situation.
Flower Care
Several options are available to you, but it all starts with an examination of the plant and the soil. Take action at all times in response to what is happening to your plant.
Mold can attack indoor plants in the winter. Mold forms easily in pots in warm, humid environments, less ventilated on cold days, and attacks leaves and flowers.
White or yellow spots appear sporadically on the leaves or on the surface of the soil as the first signs of mould. Take action right away as it is easier to get rid of in the early stages. If the mold spreads in the pot and on the leaves, it will be more difficult to save the plant.
White mold on potting soil
Mold Treatment – Effective Solutions
When you notice white or yellow spots on the surface of the soil, clean it thoroughly with a spoon and spray it with a weak solution of water and lemon juice. Slightly dig the ground to allow it to dry faster and to ventilate the room. If this persists, sprinkle a thin layer of dry, crushed horsetail over the surface of the jar.
First clean the mildew spots with a clean cloth and distilled water, if they have already appeared on the leaves. To prevent mold spores from spreading, use a separate piece of fabric for each sheet.
If the leaves affected by mold are badly damaged, it is better to remove them in order to save the healthy ones. Then, from a safe distance, spray a 9:1 solution of distilled water and hydrogen peroxide. Apply only once a week to avoid overwatering the plant.
A teaspoon of baking powder, a few drops of bleach and a liter of water can also be used to prepare an effective mold solution. Mix thoroughly, then apply a thin layer of the solution to the affected areas.
How to Avoid Mold
Ventilate the areas where the plants are kept daily, even if some of them are more sensitive to the cold. Changing the temperature for a short time, up to an hour, has no effect on them.
Plants that do not require a lot of water should be watered less frequently. During the winter, most houseplants go into a vegetative state and can only be watered once a week. An exception are plants that bloom in the winter months, such as orchids, Christmas and cyclamen.
Tropical plants require spraying, especially if kept near heat sources. Regularly check the backs of the leaves and the soil in the pots for mold caused by water sprays. Remember to water them only with distilled water.
How to deal with mold in the soil of potted flowers
Act immediately if the floor of the pot is covered with a thin layer of mold! Mold will attack your favorite flowers and plants, killing them within weeks.
Mold frequently appears above potted soil if plants are kept in a damp, cold environment or if they are overwatered. Molds and fungi, recognizable by their white, yellow or green color, attack pots kept in poorly ventilated rooms during the winter. The mold quickly spreads from the soil to the roots and stems of flowers, causing them to rot within days.
Which indoor flowers are mold resistant?
It may sound unbelievable, but some species of flowers are immune to fungus! Here are some indoor plants you might not have to worry about:
- Ardisia
- Adenium is a metal.
- glechoma
- Caladium is a mineral.
- Neoregelia
- Siderasia
- Cyperus is a plant.
Important! Keep in mind that the most important factors for mold development are dirt and moisture. Fungus and bacteria will bother you less if your home is clean and dry.
How do we fight mold?
Mold can be removed using a variety of methods, both modern and traditional. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most effective.
Method 1
The problem with mold is that we usually only see the “tip of the iceberg” with the naked eye. Mold not only spreads on the surface but also below the surface. If you notice mold, you should immediately do the following:
• Mold should be used to remove the top layer of soil.
• Add fresh, clean, healthy soil.
• Important! This prevents mold from entering the roots of the plant and killing it.
Method 2
This method will not only fight mold in the pots, but it will also fertilize the soil.
• Remove the top layer of soil
• Mix humus and leaf soil.
• Replace the floor.
In this way, the fungi are removed, the soil is loosened, and the soil is fertilized.
Method #3
Do the following if you have expanded clay on hand:
• Remove the top layer of soil
• Replace the floor.
• Mix expanded clay
The idea is that if the fungus reappears, it will settle on the clay, which can be easily removed and washed away.
Important! Replacing topsoil has the effect of slowing mold growth. However, the safest course of action would be to completely replace the soil and move the plant to a new pot.
Mold on a houseplant in a pot due to waterlogging and lack of fresh air is covered with mold
Methods of combating mold on the ground
To get rid of mold on the ground, transplant the plant into another pot
If you use new soil, new pots, and treat the plant with a fungicide, to kill the spores that have most likely reached the leaves and shoots, you’ve probably solved the problem. This involves keeping all of these elements in mind.
The soil must be completely replaced with sterile soil. If you save even a small part of it and it contains spores, it quickly contaminates the whole jar.
The pot is also a vector of transmission. If you use the same pot, it must be thoroughly washed and disinfected, as well as sprayed with an antifungal solution. You can immerse the jar in a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part chlorine for 10 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly.
Before replanting, roots, leaves and stems are thoroughly cleaned of contaminated soil.
To remove mildew, dry the floor
If the old contaminated soil has been sterilized, it can be reused by placing it in a tray and placing it in a heated oven.
According to research, mold spores are also killed by ultraviolet rays from the sun. So, in the summer, you can lay the ground in the sun until it dries out completely.
In less severe cases of mold contamination on potted soil, the sun drying method can be effective.
You can spray the soil with a solution of water and baking soda while it is left in the sun.
Remove mold and apply fungicide
When floor mold is only found on the surface in less severe cases, the contaminated layer can be carefully removed. Wipe the plant with a damp cotton cloth to remove any remaining mildew.
The plant will then be protected by the application of a fungicide. You can spray the plant and the soil with phytopharmaceutical products or homemade solutions such as a solution of baking soda (a teaspoon dissolved in a liter of water).
To prevent mold from growing on the floor, use natural antifungals
You can use organic solutions more as a preventative to avoid mold on the soil of the pot. This category includes aqueous solutions containing lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, as well as ground cinnamon. The first two should be used with caution in plants sensitive to acidic soils.
Cinnamon can be mixed in the ground or sprinkled on top, but it should never be placed in large quantities.
Useful tips
- Loosen the soil more frequently in the fall when the home’s microclimate changes and promotes mold growth.
- Fill the new floor with activated carbon granules.
- Fungicidal solutions should be applied to the soil.
- To prevent the growth and development of fungus, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of lemon juice dissolved in 1 glass of water on the soil.
- 1-2 times a month, water the flowers in the room with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Follow these tips and take care of your bedroom flowers so that you can enjoy their beauty and health for a very long time.
