An unpleasant coating on the soil in flower pots initially shocks novice gardeners, but the enemy is not as terrible as it seems at first glance. Everyone can take proper care of plants and be able to get rid of grayish or white film on the soil. It is necessary to fight mold, as it is very harmful to flowers, especially young seedlings; plants can die without proper care.
Causes of mold
The main cause of mold is a fungal infection, but a fertile environment for it is created by the grower’s inadequate care of the plants, which creates all the conditions for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. The main factors in the formation of flower disease:
- Enough low temperature in the room.
- High air humidity, it is in a humid environment that fungal organisms instantly multiply.
- Insufficient water circulation in the pot.
- Frequent uncontrolled watering, you need to know the amount of liquid for each type.
- The quality of the soil increased acidity or severity help the development of the fungus.
Types of mold in flower pots
There are a huge number of varieties of mold fungi. Representing colonies developing from spores, they are constantly present in the air. As soon as the necessary humidity and temperature are created, fungi begin to develop at breakneck speed. To understand the situation, let's look at the most common types of mold.
Black mold
In fact, it can take on different shades. It loves moisture very much and can develop not only on materials, but also on products. Certain species mushrooms of this family are even used in the pharmaceutical industry. The most unpleasant for humans, it can cause allergies and breathing problems. Very common indoors.
White mold
This family is most often found on soil, trees, plants, and sometimes on bread. Flower pots are one of the best environments for these fungi. It is necessary to distinguish salt deposits from mold; the first has a crystalline form, while the second is easily kneaded in the hands.
Blue fungi
These microorganisms are especially harmful to tree fiber. Corroding wood from the inside, they completely decompose tree species. They have a specific pale blue color.
Actinomycetes
They resemble algae and greatly soften the wood. It is important to distinguish them from other species in order to combat the most in an efficient way, because each family has its own poison.
Efflorescence
The most common type of mold, which is a salt or alkaline coating that has a white, sometimes colored tint. It is dangerous because it crystallizes not only on the surface, but also inside the environment.
Why is mold dangerous for flowers?
Mold formations lead to disruption of the normal functions of the plant. By disturbing the soil environment, fungi deprive flowers of the necessary substances on which they feed. Rotting of the roots and stems of young shoots leads to what one day you will find in flower pot dead plants. The visual effect is a small thing compared to the damage caused by fungal growths to indoor flowers.
How to get rid of mold
In the fight against mold, the main thing is the timeliness and effectiveness of the procedures performed. The most important thing to do:
- At the first signs of mold formations on the soil, immediately remove its top layer; the penetration of fungi very quickly develops deeper and deeper inside.
- Replace the removed layers of soil with new soil with useful additives, activated charcoal, charcoal, and sphagnum moss. These additives not only act as moisture filtrates, but also have a bactericidal effect.
- The renewed soil must be watered with a special solution. To do this, add two grams of foundationazole per liter of water. If the mold has already infected the plant itself, you can spray the stems and leaves with this product.
- Loosen the top layer of soil regularly to improve moisture circulation and prevent stagnation.
- Dissolve half a teaspoon citric acid in a glass of water and water the flowers with this solution twice a month to neutralize fungi in the ground.
Prevention of mold formation
It is easier to prevent mold than to fight it. To do this you need:
- make drainage in the soil using ground gravel;
- water the flowers rarely, but abundantly;
- use filtered water;
- periodically prepare a weak solution of manganese for irrigation;
- monitor the air humidity in the room;
- dig the garlic cloves near the flower, remove them after watering and drying the soil.
As you can see, the precautions are quite simple and do not require much effort.
Pay due attention to your pets, flowers are living beings for which humans are responsible.
Video: saving indoor plants from pests and diseases
One of the fairly common problems when growing indoor plants is fungal disease. If mold appears in a flower pot, this is a sign of improper care of the flower. A whitish coating on the surface of the soil sometimes does not cause concern among gardeners, and this moment is precisely the beginning of the development of a fungal disease.
Why does mold appear in a flower pot?
White mold in flower pots is an unpleasant and dangerous phenomenon. Those who like to grow also face the same problem. Both cases have the same source: fungal disease. There are several main reasons why there is mold in a pot:
- the air temperature in the room is too low (if you have noticed, in damp and cold basements there are almost always similar white deposits);
- increased air humidity (moisture is the main condition for successful mold growth);
- constant stagnation of water (as a rule, this is facilitated by too small drainage holes in the flowerpot or their periodic blockage);
- incorrect watering regime (the pot is often or too abundantly filled with water);
- properties of the substrate (if the soil is too acidic or heavy, it is more susceptible to fungal growth).
As you can see, mold can appear in indoor flowers at any time and it doesn’t matter at all what type of indoor plants you choose. So you should clearly know what to do in such a situation, because some flowers are not just a decoration for a room, but also a very expensive pleasure.
How to remove mold from flowers?
The first thing to remember is that mold in a flower pot will not go away if you remove a small lump of earth. It spreads not only in breadth, but also in depth. You will have to completely remove the entire top layer to prevent the disease from spreading to the roots.
Most often, gardeners encounter this problem during the off-season, when the temperature drops noticeably and central heating not yet included. Evaporation occurs more slowly and processes of water stagnation and soil decay begin. To prevent mold in a flower pot, constantly loosen the top layer of soil to ensure full breathability.
To prevent the soil in the flower from becoming moldy, it is recommended to use a solution for watering instead of plain water once every two weeks. lemon juice or acid. Either a pinch of citric acid or a teaspoon of juice is diluted in a glass of water. This helps neutralize fungal spores that lie dormant in the soil.
Activated carbon is used to combat yellow mold in flower pots. To do this, even in the process of planting the plant, pieces and several tablets of activated charcoal or pieces of charcoal are added to the ground. They can also be added to the soil with which you will replace the top layer. When, along with the appearance of mold on the ground, indoor flowers begin to fade, foundationazole should be used. This drug has proven itself as a remedy for fungus. They use it to cultivate the soil and the plant itself.
White mold in flower pots: prevention methods
As you know, prevention is always better treatment. To prevent the problem of fungal infection from affecting you, it is enough to follow a few simple rules. If you just notice that the soil in the pots is becoming moldy, immediately treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure is also carried out for healthy flowers once a month. Well, the simplest and quite reliable way- garlic cloves. Simply cut them into large pieces and bury them as close to the flower as possible, then water the plant. As soon as the soil dries, remove the garlic. This procedure can be carried out during each watering and mold will not appear in the flower pot.
As befits a resident St. Petersburg, I know everything about mold. The fact is that it is mold that grows best in our climate. Mold appears on the ground as soon as the snow and ice melts a little. If something turns green in the foggy spring haze, then with a high probability it is mold.
Moss takes second place in terms of productivity, followed by lichens. Flower growers are bothered by mold in a flower pot, I’ll try to tell you how to get rid of it.
The main reason for the appearance of mold is high humidity and lack of normal temperature regime, ventilation.
Mistakes gardeners make that lead to mold:
- stagnation of water in the pot, lack of drainage holes and drainage layer at the bottom of the pot;
- excessive watering of plants;
- uneven watering, when the soil either dries out or is oversaturated with moisture;
- disruption of the soil structure due to overdrying;
- the sides of the pallet are too high, in which moisture accumulates;
- lack of soil microcirculation;
- insufficient ventilation;
- covering the earth sheet material– cardboard, plastic;
- excessively high soil nutrition, the presence of excess amounts of organic fertilizers.
Most often, white or black, green or bluish molds appear on the surface of the soil, in the flower tray, in the lower part of clay flower pots. If you use plastic pots and trays, you will not see mold on them, but not because there is no mold, on the contrary.
It is in plastic that mold develops especially rapidly and is invisible to the eye. You won’t even be able to understand the reason for the death of plants and your own allergic cough.
Mold is a fungus in origin. The upper part of the mold, white, greenish, black coating on the ground, in the tray, at the bottom of the flower pot. These are only external manifestations, a small part of the mycelium protruding outward.
The main part of the mold is the mycelium, it penetrates the soil, the clay of the pot, and can settle on the windowsill and wooden objects. Mold can develop surface activity even on plastic in extreme areas. high humidity– on window sills, in the bathroom, next to leaking radiators, and so on.
Danger of molds
The development of mold fungi leads to the formation of soil compactions, loss of air exchange, and processing of plant roots into food for mycelium. Plants can resist for a long time, they get sick, their leaves turn yellow, but the end is always the same. In the confrontation, mold wins and the infected plant dies.
You can try to save the plant by cauterizing the affected area with potassium permanganate or pouring antiseptics into the soil, but the likelihood of victory in most cases is low. It is necessary to change the soil, change the pot, cut off the affected part of the plant and re-root.
Not all types of mold are harmless to humans. Particles of mycelium, fungal spores are a powerful allergen that can seriously affect health, weaken the immune system, provoke a chronic runny nose, bronchitis, and increase the tendency to colds.
Dandruff on the head and skin of a person is also caused by mold fungi. If mold is not combated with the most active and irreconcilable methods, mycoses are inevitable.
With reduced immunity, mold fungi can develop activity inside the body of humans and animals. Mold also successfully affects aquarium fish, reptiles and amphibians.
How to get rid of mold
There is a common misconception that mold on the soil and on pots can be easily eliminated by simply cleaning off the plaque and characteristic crust. Alternatively, remove the top layer of soil. Of course this is not true. By cleaning off surface manifestations, you will only slow down the growth of mold a little, but will not destroy it completely.
A couple of days or months after cleaning, you will again admire the white curly growths in flower pots and stripes on its surface.
Another misconception is that constant loosening helps prevent mold from appearing. This is partly true. IN loose soil With good air microcirculation, it is more difficult for mold fungi to develop. But continuous loosening destroys the structure of the soil and reduces its fertile qualities.
At the same time, there is not much soil in a flower pot. Constant loosening can damage plant roots. Loosening is not the answer.
A good way to prevent mold is to mulch the soil. As a covering material, choose natural antiseptics - dried and crushed sphagnum moss, pieces of charcoal, wood chips and shavings of trees that successfully resist mold - boxwood, pine, juniper.
You can also use ordinary mineral mulch - fine gravel, sand, decorative gravel powder. In combination with watering with antibacterial agents, soil mulching is an excellent preventive measure.
Some people put peeled garlic cloves or onions in flower pots. I responsibly declare that onions and garlic excellently repel small midges, but in the St. Petersburg climate both garlic and onions themselves can become moldy and rot.
Mold Remedies
Antibacterial agents and antiseptics help a lot against mold. The simplest and most affordable, and at the same time reliable folk remedies– potassium permanganate and soda.
These substances are aggressive towards mold fungi and completely destroy the microenvironment suitable for the growth of fungi. The problem is that plants are also biologically active agents can also cause damage.
A weak pale pink solution of potassium permanganate should be poured onto fresh soil for flowers to prevent the appearance of mold and rot. Be careful and settle or strain the solution so that grains of manganese do not damage the delicate roots of the plant.
For plants that tolerate high soil acidity - begonias, roses, tradescantia - you can use lemon juice as a spray.
The best antibacterial agents:
- furatsilin solution at the rate of 1 tablet per 2 liters of water;
- weak pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- foundation solution;
- hydrogen peroxide solution.
If new soil There is nowhere to get a replacement for the infected one, it is recommended to calcinate the soil. The plant is dug up and temporarily placed in an antibacterial solution.
The earth is laid out on a steel sheet and calcined over a fire, and then steamed with hot steam. The procedure is long and labor-intensive. It's easier to buy new primer.
The most radical method of struggle
If mold appears in a flower pot, do not hesitate and simply replace both the soil and the flower pot. This is the most best solution. A plant from an infected pot can be saved, washed and watered with fresh soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Flower pots are not that expensive. It is better to eliminate the infection at the root, not allowing it to spread and devote enough time to preventing the appearance of mold.
Many owners who grow indoor plants are faced with the formation of fungus in the soil. If there are favorable conditions mold develops on seeds, soil, flowers and leaves, then it begins to spread throughout the house. Since pathogenic microflora can have negative impact on plants and the human body, then you need to immediately use effective means to get rid of it.
Mold on soil can appear for many reasons. Most often, owners find a white variety of fungus in flower pots or boxes.
White mold appears on the surface of the soil if the room is cool enough. For example, you could often see such microflora appearing in basements or cellars, where it is cold and damp. The development of the colony begins after the spores fall into the ground or onto the plant itself. It is necessary that the premises be constantly maintained high level air humidity is the main condition for the active growth of a fungal colony.
The cause may be accumulation or stagnation of water in the flowerpot. Small drainage system in the pot can lead to blockage of the holes, and excess moisture will remain at the root system of the plant.
Common reasons include improper watering of indoor flowers or the characteristics of the substrate. The likelihood of white fungus appearing in the soil is higher if the soil is quite acidic or has a lot of heavy substances in its composition. White mold can appear regardless of the type of houseplant.
For the same reasons, mold may appear on the surface of the soil in vegetable gardens and orchards.
Video “Reasons for appearance”
From the video you will learn why mold appears on the ground.
Negative effects on seedlings
Mold can appear in your home when there are fungal spores present. When it enters the active growth phase, it begins to harm plants. For young seedlings, the formation of mold on the surface is very dangerous. After some time it begins to rot. This pathogenic microflora is capable of absorbing a lot of moisture, depriving flowers of juice. Fungal infection reduces the plant's oxygen supply and impairs regeneration. 
As a result, plants may die.
Effective methods of control
If the owners notice that the ground is moldy, then they need to know what to do in such a situation. There are many different ways and methods for destroying pathogenic microflora, but their effectiveness will be influenced by various factors.
First, you need to replace the contaminated soil with new greenhouse soil. After this, you need to thoroughly loosen it so that air easily penetrates into the lower layers of the soil. The frequency of watering is reduced, and a small layer of quartz sand is poured onto the surface of the earth. 
The removed fungus and old soil must be taken outside the apartment or garden (greenhouse).
Owners should remember that drying the soil does not guarantee absolute results in getting rid of the fungus. Once mold has appeared, it is not easy to destroy. Drying may give a little time, since during this period the colony of microflora will stop spreading.
Definite positive effect can be achieved by applying carbon fertilizers – charcoal. If you crush this coal into dust and sprinkle it on a plant, it can absorb excess moisture, stopping the growth of mold.
Activated carbon is used to combat yellow mold in flower pots. To do this, even in the process of planting the plant, pieces of sphagnum moss and several tablets of ground activated or charcoal are added to the ground. They can also be added to the soil with which you will replace the top layer. When, along with the appearance of mold on the ground, indoor flowers begin to fade, Fundazol should be used.
How to remove mold in a flower pot or vegetable garden so that it no longer appears on seedlings? The emerging fungus must be treated with special chemicals targeted antiseptic and antibacterial action.
It is possible to effectively get rid of a fungal infection with the help of the following drugs: “HOM”, “Oksikhom”, “Fitosporin-M”, “Fundazol”. These products are dissolved in water, following the dosage specified by the manufacturer. The solution is poured onto the beds in which mold development is observed. After watering with medicinal preparations, the soil must be loosened, allowing it to dry faster.
When preparing seedlings in greenhouses, you need to make sure that good, clean soil is used for growing. The room must be ventilated periodically. It is advisable to provide sunlight to the seedlings, as this measure prevents the formation of fungal colonies of any kind. To prevent the soil in the flower from becoming moldy, it is recommended to use a solution of lemon juice or acid for watering once every two weeks instead of plain water. Either a pinch of citric acid or a teaspoon of juice is diluted in a glass of water. 
If mold appears in the garden on the bark of trees or shrubs, you can cover it with a limestone solution. Not only the source of the fungus is covered, but also the adjacent area so that it does not become infected after treatment.
Video “How to fight”
From the video you will learn how to deal with such an unpleasant phenomenon as mold.
Many gardeners, both beginners and experienced ones, are faced with the problem of mold in flower pots. Where does it come from and how can you get rid of it without causing harm? indoor plant? We'll talk about this in detail later in the article.
The appearance of mold in a pot says about the presence of fungal spores in the soil. There are many reasons for its development.
Plaque itself can appear for a number of reasons.
Therefore, let’s look at the most common reasons why the soil can “bloom” and become covered with plaque.
- If in the room air temperature is very low, and even increased humidity, fungal spores actively begin to germinate in the ground. This is the environment that is favorable for them.
- Plaque may appear from stagnation of water in the pot. Therefore, do not forget about drainage holes when planting. If you already have them, but the fungus still appears, it means you have poor drainage or the holes are very clogged.
- Fungal diseases can be caused by too frequent or abundant watering.
- Most often mold can appear on acidic and heavy soils.
Happens different types, therefore the control measures will be different.
It is worth noting that such a coating can appear on soils of any variety, from a banal cactus to a beautiful orchid. The main thing is to see it in time and take measures so that it does not cause harm.
Fungal spores don't matter how expensive or rare your pet is. Types of mold: white, efflorescence
On the surface of the soil in a flower pot there are most often two types of fungi:
- white– very similar to fluff and easy to rub in your hands;
- efflorescence– such a crystalline coating can be white, gray or green.
Efflorescence is more dangerous, since this coating develops not only on the surface of the soil, but can also affect inner part soil.
How can it harm the plant?
In addition to the fact that white coating spoils the aesthetic appearance of the soil and infects it with fungal spores, it also affects the plant itself.
If you do not fight, the pot dweller may die.
White deposits on the soil surface can lead to to the following consequences:
- the flower will stop developing;
- access to oxygen will decrease and the roots will no longer receive nutrients;
- the acidity of the soil will be disrupted and change mineral composition soil;
- pets can get sick with fungal diseases and perish;
- Most often, the plant begins to shed its leaves due to a lack of nutrients in the soil.
As you can see, a seemingly harmless white coating can lead to death. Therefore, you should not let the situation get worse and immediately start fighting mold on the soil surface.
How to remove mold from flowers
So, the soil is covered with a white coating. What to do?
The first step is to determine causes of mold, and only then start fighting it.
To clean a flower pot, you should follow these steps:
- Monitor the temperature in the room. It is important that the humidity is moderate. IN winter period additional lighting needs to be installed.
- The top layer of soil should be carefully removed. This will help prevent fungus from penetrating into the soil.
- The removed layer of soil is necessary replace with a special bactericidal substrate, which is enriched nutrients. If you can’t find one in the store, you can replace it with peat or charcoal. Experienced flower growers It is also recommended to use activated carbon.
- To kill all fungal spores that are in the soil, you should treat the soil with a solution of Fundazol (2 g of the drug per 1 liter of water).
- Regularly loosen the soil to saturate it with oxygen.
- If the soil is very strongly affected by the fungus, it is best to transplant the plant into a new substrate, which previously need to treat with fungicide.
We provided detailed use of one of the fungicides in the article.
These control methods are the most effective and will help you save the plant from death.
Prevention of soil against white plaque
To prevent the appearance of white plaque in flowerpots, you should carry out preventive measures and monitor the condition of both the soil and the plant itself.
Prevent mold simple rules will help:
- water only with warm filtered water in moderate quantities;
- monitor the drainage holes in the pot so that they do not become clogged;
- adhere to the temperature regime in the room, monitor air humidity;
- regularly loosen the soil;
- as a preventive measure, you can periodically water it with a solution of citric acid;
- For disinfection, use activated carbon once a month.
Each plant is individual. Therefore, this should be taken into account when using one or another method of control.
As you can see, mold appearance on the soil surface very dangerous and can lead to his death. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the plant and carry out regular preventive maintenance.