If you are a plant person or someone generally interested in keeping home plants, you may know that taking care of 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 having a check on new growths as well as looking at the perfect spot for them with regards to moisture and the temperature. All of this becomes the perfect recipe for letting your plant nourish and grow in a healthy environment.
People tend to bring their plants inside to give them a moist and warm temperature in winters. The cold and frost outside tend to damage the leaves, and the plants do not grow as fondly as in summers. However, bringing the plants inside or keeping them in the shade for a long time comes with 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 very beginning will help you to understand the dynamics better. If you resolve this issue, then your plants will nourish very quickly, and it would be a healthy plant as well.
This article will let you know why you can identify the mold growth on the plants.
Understanding how plants grow and survive
To know about plants, one needs to understand how the mechanism of growth of plants occurs. For example, we know that we need a good quality seed, soil, some pest sprays, and water to survive. However, plant experts explain that just like human beings stay by taking in air and having food, the plants have tiny micro-organisms that require the same kind of attention that human beings do. These micro-organisms are essential to survive and be nourished in the environment.
This is known as a symbiotic relationship which means that in ecology, the two different types of species exist or mutually co-exist. For example, many farmers and plant experts add compost to the soil, which would attract the worms that would help bring air to the ground and make it nourished for the plants to grow. The micro-organisms are likely to develop and support plant growth in this case. However, when there is a lack of nourishment in the soil, 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 the growth of molds especially noticed in the soil or in 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 is held in the shade where moisture is most likely to remain intact, the plants will likely develop molds in them.
To ensure that the plants do not have mold growths, here are a few things that 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. This is because the plants do not have much exposure to the air and sunlight, soo 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 at a much higher pace because of increased moisture and lack of air circulation. This is why plants are recommended to keep 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 they 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 increased. 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 the accumulation of water is not having the proper size of the pool. 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 roots can rot, and therefore the standing water in the roots is also directly linked with the increase in mold growth in plants.
3. Lack of Air: As mentioned before, plants nourish well when air is circulated quickly, and there is a lack of moisture or humid environment in the area. Therefore especially in winters 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 the mold to grow faster.
4. Soil may be contaminated: Many times,s you may have been wondering that you are giving your plant adequate water in moderation and taking care of sunlight and ai, but still, there is some mold growth. This is because the soil in the pot may be already contaminated or stored for a longer time. This means that 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 are resting on the surface, and the micro-organisms usually feed on these dead leaves, which cause the growth of molds. Therefore, you should regularly 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. There is a white fungal growth that is usually not harmful to the plants, but it may still hamper the growth and nourishment of the plant as well. 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 spraying bottle. However, one of the most reliable and best methods to invest in is a good fungicide and spray it according to the given directions. However, firstly you should know the reasons behind the mold growth to ensure that it does not happen again and again.
How can I avoid my plants having molds in the future?
- Perfect place: you should ensure that 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, or if not, you should move your plants here and there once in a while.
- Water schedule: You should avoid watering your plants so much and only stick by a plan to ensure that plants are not overwatered. Furthermore, you should check the plant type and research how much water the plant needs. Finally, you can invest in tools that help you access the moisture level in the soil and the plants.
- Drainage holes: it is essential to have drainage holes in the pots. So when you are making a purchase, you should ensure that there are drainage holes in the pots and not only go for some attractive pot that does not have the holes. Otherwise, you can also add some rocks in the pot so that the water is seeped down easily.
Molds are something that we all should avoid at all costs. By only keeping a few handy tips and some extra care for your plant,s you can quickly get rid of this problem.
Always make sure to research your plant type and how much sunlight, air, and water mix is 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
