Mold in a Houseplant's Potting Soil
White, yellow or green mold on a houseplant's potting soil is a sign of a plant being loved to death with too much water. Overwatering results in mold or fungus that can harm your plant or root rot that can destroy it. Does this Spark an idea?
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Overwatering
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Overwatering kills many houseplants. "Too much water in the soil layer forces air from the root zone, reducing the plant's oxygen supply," explains Sheri Hunter, Colorado Master Gardener. Soil that stays overly wet deprives a plant of oxygen while also setting up the perfect conditions for mold, fungus and root rot, all of which can be deadly to houseplants.
Solution
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If your houseplant's soil is suffering from mold, the first order of business is to withhold water, which mold needs to live. When the plant has dried out sufficiently, repot in fresh soil, checking for root rot in the form of slimy dark or green roots. If enough healthy roots remain, cut off the rotted roots and repot. If most of the root system is rotten, the plant is beyond help.
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Prevention
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To avoid mold on the soil of your houseplant in the future, pot plants in well-draining pots and water only when the plant is dry, usually when the top 2 inches of soil is dry.
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