Fungus exists naturally in soil, and most of it's beneficial for your plants. But there are 8,000 varieties that have no purpose other than messing up your garden plants.
Fungi can survive in the soil for long periods even through periods of water deficit by living in dead plant roots and/or as spores or fragments of hyphae. There are several things you can do to encourage fungi in your soil.
ANSWER: You shouldn't get rid of all the fungus in your soil. The reason being is that most fungi are good for your plants. Fungus is a naturally occurring element in the soil. There are many types of fungus but only about 8,000 are harmful to your plants.
They need the plant's nutrients to survive. And unlike most types of fungi, they cause more severe cases of disease in warm, dry weather. A mild case may go away on its own. But without intervention on the part of the gardener and a little extra TLC, a severe infection can mean the end of your precious plants.
A good place to start is a mix of mild liquid soap and water, sprayed onto houseplants. One teaspoon of soap per litre of water will do the job. It sounds simple, but this formula will treat a lot of common houseplant pests. Add just a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and it becomes a great fungicide as well.
Affected foliage should be removed at the first sign of a bacterial or fungal infection. Removing the whole infected leaf is necessary. Then the remainder of the plant can be treated to prevent further damage, using a copper fungicide.
Heating the soil is very effective and the soil can be used immediately after cooling, unlike chemically treated soil. Many plant pathogens are killed by short exposures to high temperatures. Most plant pathogens can be killed by temperatures of 140°F (60°C) for 30 minutes.
If you see mold growing on your potting soil, let it dry out for a few days and then check it again. If the mold is still there, you will need to throw away the potting soil and start fresh.
Overwatering is one of the leading culprits of fungal growth. Unless your plant needs the soil consistently moist, allow the top of the soil to dry out before watering. Make sure every container has drainage holes in the bottom, and never let your plant sit directly in standing water if there is a saucer under the pot.
Use a natural anti-fungal in the soil of your houseplants –
Cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda are all excellent natural antifungal choices. Your houseplant will not be harmed by any of these products.
SIGNS YOUR PLANT HAS SOIL MOLD
The mold may be yellow, white, brown or grey in color and fuzzy, slimy or looking like cluster of eggs. Small mushrooms might grow out of the pot. The soil may also have a slight musty odor.
Fungi and bacteria themselves are the main food source for larger organisms, such as protists, nematodes, springtails, and mites (about 0.1–2 mm; Figure 1). These organisms again are eaten by larger predators (a few millimeters in size), such as centipedes and spiders (Figure 1B).
People develop fungal lung infections after breathing in spores from fungi in the soil. The spores become airborne when the ground is disturbed by farming, landscaping, construction or even just by people walking around in fungi-rich environments such as caves.
The mycorrhizal fungi are made up of a root-like structure and posses a network of mycelium external to the tree roots that extends into the soil. This mycelium absorbs nutrients and translocates them back to the host plant.
Systemic fungicide
Systemic fungicides are most effective when applied early, such as within the first three days, although results depend on the severity of the infection. They're not washed off by rain and can keep working for longer than a contact fungicide – up to 25 days or more.
Another way to tell if there's fungus in your soil is by looking for white, fuzzy patches on the surface of the soil. This is called mycelium, and it's a sure sign that there's a problem with your soil. Mycelium can spread quickly, so it's important to take action as soon as you see it.
Nobody likes mould. If you've spotted it – a fine, white dust on your plant's soil – you may be concerned. Don't be. It's completely normal, usually harmless to your plant and very easy to get rid of.
Potassium bicarbonate: A mixture of one tablespoon of potassium bicarbonate, half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and one gallon of water can be used to instantly kill the fungal spores infesting your plants. Use this solution in spray form to treat fungal infections on leaves and stems.
Fungi, in general, thrive in humid, poorly ventilated areas and moist soil, though their temperature and humidity preferences vary. With that in mind, here are a few steps you can take to avoid dealing with most fungal houseplant problems: Make sure your plant has plenty of air circulation around it.
Make a typical baking soda spray by dissolving one teaspoon of baking soda into one quart of water. You can add a few drops of insecticidal soap or liquid soap to help the solution spread and stick to the leaves. Only use liquid soap, like Ivory, and not laundry detergent.
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.
Apple cider vinegar as fungicide on plants- To make a fungicide out of this, take one tablespoon of vinegar and mix it with a gallon of water. Shake this well and add to a spray bottle. Vinegar mixture can treat most fungal infections on any plant, without causing any harm.