If you are a plant person or someone generally interested in keeping home plants, you may know that caring for them is not easy. First, you must check the plants and see whether they require water. However, over-watering them can also cause many issues. Apart from watering them, there are other things to take care of. For example, you have to check the quality of the soil and the fertilizer, if any, in addition to checking on new growths and looking at the perfect spot for them regarding moisture and temperature. This is perfect for nourishing your plant and growing in a healthy environment.
People tend to bring their plants inside to give them a moist and warm temperature in winter. The cold and frost outside damage the leaves, and the plants do not grow as fondly as in the summer. However, bringing the plants inside or keeping them in the shade for a long time has its issues. You may have seen small pods of growth resembling molds or fungi developing on the base of the plant’s soil. What is the reason for this growth? Many different issues may raise the mold problem in your plants, and identifying them from the beginning will help you understand the dynamics better. If you resolve this issue, your plants will nourish very quickly and be a healthy plan. This article will explain why you can identify mold growth in plants.
Understanding how plants grow and survive
To understand plants, one needs to understand how their growth mechanism occurs. For example, we know we need good-quality seed, soil, some pest sprays, and water to survive. However, plant experts explain that just like humans stay alive by taking in air and having food, plants have tiny microorganisms that require the same kind of attention as humans. These microorganisms are essential for survival and nourishment in the environment.
This is known as a symbiotic relationship, which means that the two different types of species exist or mutually co-exist in ecology. For example, many farmers and plant experts add compost to the soil, attracting the worms that would help bring air to the ground and nourish the plants to grow—the micro-omicroorganismskely develop and support plant growth. However, when the soil lacks nourishment, there is a reasonable balance in the natural environment, which means certain things will start to show their symptoms. One likely symptom or warning sign that a plant is not being taken care of is mold growth, especially in the soil or the pot where the plant is placed.
We all know that molds and fungi bacteria will likely grow in a moist and dark environment. Therefore, if the plants are placed inside, and there is not much air to keep them dry and are held in the shade where moisture is most likely to remain intact, they will likely develop molds.
To ensure that the plants do not grow mold, here are a few things you should remember and some of the identification signs of why the mold may have grown.
Why Is There Mold on My Plant Soil?
In your plant soil, you can see mold because you overwater your plant; there is an accumulation of water, a lack of air, soil contamination, or decomposing leaves.
1. Too much water: When you keep the plants inside the room, there is no need to water them frequently. The plants do not have much exposure to the air and sunlight, so they remain moist rather than dry quickly. The dry plants require watering; however, if you keep on watering a plant, the moisture is likely to retain and accumulate in the roots of the plants, which would increase the chances of it being rotten. Therefore, the fungi growth is also much faster because of increased moisture and lack of air circulation. This is why it is recommended that plants be kept near the window for air and sunlight circulation.
2. Accumulation of water: In connection with the above point, water accumulation is one of the prime issues. This can be because of three reasons. First, it can be because the pot is very well-decorated. Often, well-decorated banks look attractive but do not have holes in them. These holes are necessary to ensure that water seeps down out of the pot and does not remain standing in it. When the water is retained, it means that the moisture will be present and will, in turn, increase the chances of mold growth. Secondly, the type of compost and soil mixture also depends, and the chances of watering it would be significantly improved. Some soils are too thick and dense, requiring more watering than others. Usually, you should go to a plant expert and have a mix of dry and moist soil with moss to ensure the balance in the pot. Lastly, another reason for water accumulation is not having the proper pool size. Some plants do not fit in small pots, whereas other times, the pots will be significant, but the plants will be small. This gives a chance to expose the roots of the plants, which are damaged then easily. The origins can rot; therefore, the standing water in the roots is also directly linked to the increase in mold growth in plant mold growth: As mentioned before, plants nourish well when air is circulated quickly, and there is a lack of moisture or a humid environment. Therefore, especially in winter, when the sunlight hours are short, there is also a lack of air. Usually, the windows are closed in winter, leading to a lack of dryness in the soil. In addition, the lack of air will cause mold to grow faster.
4. Soil may be contaminated: Many times, you may have been wondering if you are giving your plant adequate water in moderation and taking care of sunlight and air, but still, there is some mold growth. This is because the soil in the pot may be already contaminated or stored longer. This means you should check that the soil quality is good and that fresh soil must be added.
5. Decomposing leaves: It is essential to clean your pots regularly because dead leaves rest on the surface. Microorganisms feed on these dead leaves, which causes mold to grow. Therefore, you should periodically remove the decomposing leaves before they cause a big problem in the future.
Does mold growth cause any harm to the plants?
Usually, mold growth is something that you should avoid at all costs. But, to answer the question, mold growth is nothing to look forward to. It is smelly and causes inconvenience even to the people living in the house. The mold growth on plants can also vary. White fungal growth is usually not harmful to the plants, but it may also hamper the growth and nourishment of the plant. Other molds may cause plant diseases as well.
Can I remove the mold growth in my plant?
Yes! There are ways to remove the mold growth in your plant. Some home solutions include sprinkling cinnamon powder after removing the mold in the soil. It would help if you sprinkled some cinnamon powder, and people have sworn by this method to hamper mold growth in the ground.
Other methods include mixing baking soda and water and sprinkling it over your plant using a spray bottle. However, one of the most reliable and best methods is to invest in a good fungicide and spray it according to the given directions. First, you should know the reasons behind the mold growth to ensure that it does not happen again.
How can I avoid mold in my plants in the future?
- Perfect place: you should ensure the plant is stacked at an ideal location with room for air and sunlight. You should make sure that it is placed near the window or the doors; if not, you should move your plants here and there occasionally.
- Water schedule: You should avoid watering your plants too much and stick to a plan to ensure that they are not overwatered. Furthermore, you should check the plant type and research how much water it needs. Finally, you can invest in tools that help you assess the moisture level in the soil and the plants.
- Drainage holes: it is essential to have drainage holes in the pots. So when making a purchase, you should ensure drainage holes in the pots and not only go for some attractive pots with no holes. Otherwise, you can add some rocks to the pot so the water is seeped down easily.
Molds are something that we should all avoid at all costs. With a few handy tips and some extra care for your plant, you can quickly get rid of this problem.
Always research your plant type and the amount of sunlight, air, and water required. By following these steps, you can easily protect your plants!
From 2022 onwards, Mark has also been contributing author of home repair articles at nimblefreelancer.com.
Read more on Mark Brown's biography page.
Contact Mark: mark@nimblefreelancer.com