Feeding your plant too much water is one of the most common reasons mold forms. When the soil is wet for too long it creates the perfect breeding ground for fungus. "Very few plants require soil that is constantly wet enough to enable mold to grow," says Brown.
Soil that is consistently wet and waterlogged provides an ideal environment for mold to flourish and can lead to root rot, which will eventually kill your plant. Make sure you are familiar with your plant's specific watering needs and cut back on watering if necessary to prevent overwatering.
Don't overwater.
Don't let your plants' soil get too wet. Damp soil encourages mould. Only water your plants when the top two inches of soil feel dry.
The fuzzy growth of white mold on the soil of your plants is usually a harmless growth of a saprophytic fungus. A saprophyte is an organism that gets its nutrients from decaying organic matter. Mushrooms are a great example.
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.
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.
Cinnamon is anti-fungal. It can be used as a preventative in the garden. Cinnamon is most effective if plants are given the best chance with good plant spacing, and by reducing the conditions that favour fungus-like dampness and wet leaves.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an antifungal agent and can even kill some established forms of fungus. Research has shown it's effective against some kinds of black spot and powdery mildew. 3 Best of all, baking soda is completely non-toxic for mammals, readily available in any grocery store, and inexpensive.
Yes, potting soil can get moldy if it's not stored properly. Mold and mildew will form if there is any moisture in the potting soil. To prevent this, make sure the potting soil is completely dry before storing it in a plastic container with a lid or an unscented trash bag.
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.
In addition to tetanus, anthrax, and botulism, soil bacteria may cause gastrointestinal, wound, skin, and respiratory tract diseases. The systemic fungi are largely acquired via inhalation from contaminated soil and near-soil environments.
Wash the pot with a bleach water solution to kill any fungus or bacteria. Dip the roots in a fungicide solution to prevent re-infection. Repot in new, clean potting soil.
Bicarbonates. Sodium bicarbonate can be successful against plant garden infections when utilized with oil. Though botanical fungicides are always advisable due to their effectiveness, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate provide better disease control and plant wellbeing than sodium bicarbonates.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an effective and inexpensive antifungal agent that is readily available at a supermarket. It is an organic and eco-friendly remedy for black spots and fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. Fungus can quickly damage plants and cause plants to wilt and die.
'One method is to sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon directly onto the soil around the base of your plants,' says Diana. This is probably the most simple way to apply the spice, but you'll need to make sure you avoid contaminating the base of particular plants that can be damaged by cinnamon (more on this later).
Sodium bicarbonate as a fungicide works by disrupting the ion balance in the fungal cells, which causes them to collapse. The biggest danger in using sodium bicarbonate on plants is the potential for foliar burn.
Alongside its strong aroma, expert Jonny Livingston from Gardeners Dream adds that this spice works as a fungicide to destroy the fungus that larvae feed on in the soil. The trick is simple. You sprinkle cinnamon across the top layer of soil in the plant pot and simply wait for its benefits.
Luckily, getting rid of mold on soil is relatively easy. You can scrape mats of fungus off the soil surface and throw it away, or replace the soil entirely with fresh potting mix. Another common way gardeners choose to get rid of mold on houseplant soil is by improving soil drainage.
what is the white stuff in potting soil?”… Most often, the white stuff in potting soil is perlite – a manufactured granular product made by heating up little bits of naturally occurring glass until they pop like popcorn. That's why these little white lumps are also known as “volcanic popcorn”!
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 plants died from bacterial, fungal or viral disease, then you definitely do not want to reuse the soil, as soilborne pathogens can still be present and active. However, if the plants that grew in the soil before were healthy, it is generally OK to reuse the potting soil.
It oxygenates soil and bodies of water, is completely non-toxic and safe to use around food, people and animals. Adding it when watering your indoor plants, mimics what Mother Nature does for outdoor plants every time it rains. Hydrogen Peroxide is distilled water with an extra atom of oxygen.