It’s always good to have some greenery in the home for multiple reasons. It offers serenity, enhances aesthetics, improves air quality, and provides a refreshing environment. But to maintain greenery, you need healthy soil. Have you noticed the soil in your indoor plant turning white and fuzzy? If yes, that’s white mold growing in it. Though it is completely normal and harmless, it doesn’t look nice. Hence, you may want to get rid of it.
So, this blog post aims to resolve your white fungus issue with a few simple tips and tricks. In this blog we discuss various ways to prevent the white fungus growth in soil.
What Type of Fungi is It?
The fungi is a species of saprophytic fungus. These fungi are part of the largest group that grows on dead and decaying organic matter. They are mostly referred to as litter transformers because they help in nutrient cycling. The fungi change the chemical composition of organic material into necessary nutrients for soil and plants. They work in addition to filamentous bacteria and actinomycetes - which help break down organic matter into essential nutrients for plants. However, the presence of white fungus is not always visible on the soil.
How to Remove White Fungus in the Soil?
Though white fungi are helpful for plant growth, it does not look good. Hence, it becomes a necessity to remove them. Here are a few ways to remove mold from soil:
Scoop Out the Infected Soil
The first thing to do is - let the soil dry out. Once it is dried, scoop out the moldy part of the soil and top up the area with a fresh one. Ensure to wear a mask and gloves before doing so. This is because if you’re allergic, they might trigger it. This idea works only in the short term and the issue may recur, if contributing factors are not taken care of.
Use Fungicides
Using commercially-available fungicides can also help you with the fungi problem. You can use them as instructed on the package. They are easy to use and can be reapplied as and when needed. This inhibits the growth of fungus. However, it is advisable to use in limited quantities, as the chemical composition of the fungicides can affect the beneficial microbes in the soil.
Add Cinnamon Powder
Cinnamon is also considered a natural fungicide that can help you get rid of the fungi growing in the soil. The best part is that it smells great. All you need to do is sprinkle a layer of cinnamon powder over the soil after scraping off the affected region. Once fungi are removed, it is advisable to stop applying cinnamon powder, as it may kill other beneficial fungi.
Repotting the Plant
This is one of the most effective methods that help prevent the spreading of the white fungus. If you are using any old plastic or ceramic pots and containers, clean them properly. However, it is advisable to replace the existing terracotta pots and containers with new ones.
How to Prevent Mold From Growing in Soil?
Here’s how you can prevent mold from growing and keep the soil happy and healthy:
Don’t Overwater
Consistently wet and waterlogged soil can lead to the growth of mold, which may lead to root rot. Overwatering and overfishing can contribute to high humidity, which causes mold to grow. Ensure that your plants are watered only when the top 2 inches of the soil have dried. If you have a smaller container, touch the soil to make sure it has dried properly before watering it.
Improve Drainage
Drain off any excess water in the pot. When potting an indoor plant, use proper potting soil to improve drainage. Check for holes in the bottom of the pot to allow water to escape efficiently, which helps the plant roots to breathe. You can also aerate the soil by loosening it, which prevents fungal infestations.
Note: Never let the water sit for more than 5 minutes.
Get Your Plant Enough Sunlight
Fungi thrive in moist, damp, and dark conditions. So, place the plants in the area with direct sunlight to reduce mold growth. It is advisable to move the potted plant to sunny spots. Sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant that reduces the growth and spread of the white fungus. It also increases the process of photosynthesis, which makes proper use of water without letting the fungus grow.
Remove the Dead and Decaying Matter From the Pot
Dead and decaying organic matter, which mostly includes leaves and twigs, is the main reason why fungi grow in the soil. Remove them occasionally. This is because, when these matter decompose, they release carbon, nitrogen, and other elements used by fungi for energy. Also, organic matters retain moisture that causes fungal spore germination and accelerates fungal colonization.
Improve Air Circulation
It is important to enhance the air circulation in the house. This prevents the growth of fungus and mold. If a plant is placed on a windowsill and the temperature is moderate, keep the window open. If there’s no natural ventilation, you can keep a small fan that mimics natural ventilation. Additionally, spacing out plant clusters will improve air circulation.
Factors to Consider Before Getting the Mold Off the Soil?
Before removing the fungus from the soil, here are certain things that you must remember -
Season
If you have a dormant plant, repotting it is not recommended, unless there is a severe fungus growth. Some plants, like Hawaiian Palm, grow in winters. So repotting them in summer is not considered the best option.
Watering of Plant
It is important to consider when was the last time you watered the plant. If you have recently watered them, it is advisable to wait for a few days before repotting or scraping off the soil. This is because overwatering may cause root rot which is an irreversible damage.
Severity of Fungal Growth
If the mold has affected the soil and the plant, changing the soil alone won’t help. In this case, you can remove any visibly infected leaves, stems, or flowers. You can also use non-invasive techniques to remove the fungus from the soil.
Lighting and Ventilation Requirement
Keep the potted plant in direct sunlight for a day, as it can kill the fungus. However, before proceeding with it, it is recommended to understand the requirements of the plant. Because, not all plants can survive direct sunlight. So, consider keeping them in a ventilated space.
Conclusion
White fungus usually thrives in excess moisture and poor air circulation. They mostly don’t harm the plants. However, they don’t look good and need to be removed. Using fungicides, natural antifungals such as cinnamon or neem oil can help, in addition to reducing watering and improving drainage. Monitoring and keeping good care of the plants ensure the fungi won’t come back to ruin the aesthetic of the plant.
