You don't need to throw away moldy potting soil, but it is an option. First, try removing the mold, letting the soil dry out slightly, and adding soil amendments to improve drainage. If nothing works, throw away the affected soil and use fresh soil for your plant.
Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide and distilled water and water it from the top. The peroxide will kill off the creeps in your soil as well as mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria. It will also break the soil apart in your part and aerate it. It also conditions the soil for better health and root breathability under all that dirt.
There is no problem with them, except you breathing in those spores so use due care when spreading them on your garden. There is no good reason to throw them away.
As long as the plant itself looks happy, don't worry about the mold. It is actually a sign of good soil health when you have mold and mushrooms growing. A lot of plants have a symbiosis with root fungi. When you have molds growing chances of them being in the soil too are pretty good.
However, if you know your plants ended up hit with downy mildew, or other plant disease, you'll want to either toss the soil or spend some time sterilizing it. Many fungi and viruses CAN overwinter in soil, making them especially hard to eradicate from year to year.
To kill off most viruses, diseases, fungi, and mold, you need to heat the soil to 145°F for 30 minutes. If you want to eliminate soil-borne insects—which include good guys along with the bad guys—you need to crank up the heat to 160°F.
Cinnamon fungicide control
Damping off disease is a fungus-based problem that hits small seedlings just as they begin to grow. Cinnamon will help prevent this problem by killing the fungus. It also works with other fungal problems exhibited on older plants, such as slime mold and with deterring mushrooms in planters.
Essentially soil or potting mix is alive, there are millions of microorganisms that make up healthy soil. It's likely the white mould or fuzz you're seeing on the surface of the potting mix is a saprophytic fungus; these are among groups of microorganisms that break down or mineralize organic materials.
Cinnamon for mould on plants
Scientific studies indicate that cinnamon works against fungal pathogens. Under laboratory conditions, scientists have shown that the elements in cinnamon powder inhibit the development of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and various species of Phytophthora.
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
Is the Mold on Houseplants Typically Dangerous? Usually, the white mold you'll see growing on the soil beneath a houseplant is a saprophytic fungus, which is harmless. More likely, it's an indication of over-watering or high humidity in your home. Black mold growing on plants is a more significant cause for concern.
Remove about one third or more of the potting mix surrounding the plant. As it grew, your plant removed some of the nutrients in the current mix, so you'll want to give it fresh mix if you're potting it anyway! Pour a layer of fresh potting soil into the new planter and pack it down, removing any air pockets.
The white mold fungus forms hard, black, resting structures called sclerotia. These structures are about the size of a broken pencil tip. Sclerotia allow the fungus to survive in the soil and plant debris for 5 or more years.
Not Enough Aeration: Actinomycetes thrive in low-oxygen conditions. White mold could indicate too little aeration. Not Enough Sunlight: More sunlight can prevent mold growth by creating drier conditions. Poor Drainage/Over-Watering: Mold and bacteria need moisture.
With all that in mind, the EPA says that hydrogen peroxide in low doses is indeed safe for plants. The caveat is of course, in the concentration. Too much can damage plants.
Air Quality
They absorb pollutants such as carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and release oxygen. This helps to reduce the air pollution in your home and improve the overall air quality. Houseplants can also reduce the levels of airborne dust and mold, which can trigger allergies and asthma.
Yes, just ground cinnamon. All you have to do is sprinkle it over the soil.
You can scrape mats of fungus off the soil surface and throw it away, or replace the soil entirely with fresh potting mix.
You don't need to throw away moldy potting soil, but it is an option. First, try removing the mold, letting the soil dry out slightly, and adding soil amendments to improve drainage. If nothing works, throw away the affected soil and use fresh soil for your plant.
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.
in summary
Cinnamon is a gentle and affordable natural alternative to other expensive garden fungicides and rooting hormones. Give it a try in the garden this year and make sure to throw a little in your morning coffee to give you the energy boost you need to get growing!
Cinnamon is another natural repellent that mice hate. You can sprinkle cinnamon powder around your home or burn cinnamon incense to deter mice. Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar is also effective at repelling mice.
Use vinegar.
Vinegar is a proven method for destroying mold and eliminating pesky white spots from your plants. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a quart of water, and spray onto your infected leaves and stems. Repeat every few days until all traces of mold are gone.