Get Rid of Mold on Houseplants

Houseplants are a great way to purify the air in your home. Unfortunately, sometimes your houseplants develop mold and therefore become more of a detriment to the air than a benefit. Mold can be caused by a number of things including poor maintenance, over-watering, or lack of sunlight. Mold growing on the houseplants’ soil or on the actual leaves of the plant is both harmful for the members of the household and for the plants. Luckily, there are ways of getting rid of this mold.

Steps

Removing Mold from Soil

  1. Scoop away the mold. If you see mold on your soil, it is likely confined to the top layer. You can use a spoon to easily remove the mold. The visible mold in your soil is like a saprophyte, which is harmless to you and your family. However, leaving the mold there will leave your plant susceptible to root rot.[1]
    • If there is an extensive amount of mold—if it has spread to the pot itself—repot the plant. Use high-quality potting soil.
  2. Let the soil dry. Once the mold is scooped out, or your plant has been repotted, allow the soil to dry out before watering it again. If your plant requires moist soil, wait until the surface is dry. If not, you should wait until you have dry soil 2 or 3 inches down. Continue letting your soil dry like this in between watering.[1]
  3. Add a natural anti-fungal to your soil. The mold spores are likely to be spread through the soil and it will easily come back if you don’t do this. You can sprinkle cinnamon, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar on top of your soil as natural an anti-fungal. This acts as a natural deterrent to mold growth and won’t harm your plant.[2]
  4. Keep the soil clean. Keep debris like rotting leaves and plant parts off of your soil. They can cause fungal growth. Trim your plants whenever necessary.[1]

Removing Mold from Plants

  1. Identify the mold. Before you act, you should identify if your mold is active or dormant. If your mold is dormant, it will appear as a light color and it will be powdery. If it looks soft and fuzzy, your mold is active.[3]
  2. Take your plant outdoors. Once you identify that there is mold on your plant, you want to bring it outside. This will help keep the mold from spreading—if it’s active. While outside, you want to find a place that is far away from other trees or garden plants because you’ll be putting them at risk if you clean your houseplant near them.
  3. Wet a paper towel. Dampen a paper towel and wipe the mold from your leaves. Freshen your paper towel after each wipe. Once there are no parts of the paper towel that haven’t touched the mold, use a new one. Otherwise, you’ll simply be spreading the mold. This process will take away mostly the dormant mold.[3]
  4. Cut off the affected leaves. If your mold is still visible after you’ve wiped it with your damp paper towel, the remaining mold is active. Identify the leaves that are affected by the mold and cut them off at the stem using a knife. Dispose of these leaves.[3]
  5. Spray and move the plant. Now that you’ve removed the mold, you need to spray it with a fungicide, bought from your gardening store, to keep the mold from coming back. Spray the plant with the fungicide outside and then move the plant back indoors. Place it somewhere bright. Monitor your plant to be sure the mold doesn’t come back. If it does, simply repeat these steps.[3]
    • Keep your plant in a temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Keep the soil dryer than you normally would.
    • Provide your plant beneficial air circulation.

Preventing Further Mold Growth

  1. Use the right soil. Starting with a sterile soil will help prevent mold. When you bring home a new plant, remove it from the soil it came in—there might be mold in it. Gently remove the plant and repot in new sterile soil.[4]
  2. Give your plant the right environment. Add more light and a fan to your plant. More light is a great way to have mold control on your houseplants. Ensure that it gets plenty of sunlight. Likewise, your plant will be less likely to grow mold if you give it proper air circulation. Simply use an oscillating fan on a low setting.[4]
  3. Water when necessary. Over-watering your plant leads to mold problems. Always check to make sure that the top of your soil is dry before you water. Sometimes, this drying takes longer than other times. It is better to check with a touch than to stay on a strict watering schedule with your plants.[4]
  4. Keep it clean. Keep the dead leaves and other debris away from your soil. These contribute to mold problems in your soil and plants. Trim dead parts of your plant regularly. Also, keep your leaves clean. Wipe them down regularly to get rid of excess dust and dirt.

Things You’ll Need

  • Paper towels
  • Water
  • Cinnamon
  • Anti-fungal spray
  • Fresh, sterile potting soil
  • Fungicide spray

Tips

  • Use a dusk mask while cleaning the plants so you don’t inhale the mold or the fungicides.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-mold-plant-soil-49070.html
  2. ↑ http://www.livingforestfarm.com/treating-plants-natural-organic-remedies/#.Vg1g8XpViko
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://www.gardenguides.com/68449-kill-mold-house-plants.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/preventing-mold-in-the-soil-of-a-houseplant.htm

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