How to Get Rid of Houseplant Mold
These days, more people have gotten into the hobby of keeping houseplants than ever before. For the most part, this is a perfectly fulfilling and healthy hobby. But things can go awry when mold starts to develop on the soil. If you’ve noticed mold growing on your houseplants or the soil, you should take it seriously. Here’s a brief guide on how to get rid of houseplant mold.
If you’ve noticed mold growing on your houseplants, you should take it seriously. Follow these steps to get rid of it!
Preventative Care
The best way to get rid of houseplant mold is by ensuring that it never crops up in the first place. The number one reason people end up with mold on their houseplants is because of overwatering. This is also one of the most common mistakes that beginner gardeners make in general. Remember that it’s easier to overwater than to underwater. For most plants, the soil should be moist, but not wet.
Another important thing to keep in mind is ventilation. It is easier for mold to form indoors because it is a completely still environment without wind. Consider running a fan lightly on your houseplants for a couple of hours a day. Coincidentally, if you plan to transplant your plants outdoors when the weather warms up, this is something you should be doing anyway to ensure they’re nice and strong.
Generally, you’re going to want to keep an eye on your humidity level indoors. You don’t want the air to be too dry; you should shoot for an indoor humidity level between 30-50%. If you’re fighting off mold, the lower you are on that spectrum, the better.
You can buy humidity meters off the web cheaply to get a good read on your percentage. Then, you can use dehumidifiers and humidifiers to ensure you’re in the proper range!
Getting Rid of Houseplant Mold
But if it’s already too late, we’ll have to teach you how to get rid of houseplant mold. You should use caution when removing mold from your houseplants, but the help of a professional is probably unnecessary. Still, houseplant mold could indicate a larger moisture problem within your home—and that’s no DIY job.
Everyone has masks lying around the house these days. This is a good thing, because you’ll want to wear one when dealing with any kind of mold. It’s a good idea to wear gloves, too.
If the mold is on the soil, simply remove the affected layer with a spoon or similar tool. But if there’s too much for this to be convenient, you may be better off simply throwing away the soil and replotting the plant.
You will have to approach things differently if the mold is on the plant itself. See if you can carefully wipe it off with a damp paper towel, and then a drive one to prevent spreading the spores. If you aren’t able to remove it completely, you may be better off just snipping off the affected portion of the plant.
With this combination of preventative maintenance and DIY mold remediation, you should be rid of houseplant mold for good. But if it keeps cropping up, or you notice mold beyond your houseplants, get in touch with us!
Contact All Aspects Waterproofing Today for Your Mold Remediation Needs
Whether you need a new sump pump installed or want to waterproof your entire basement, contact All Aspect Waterproofing, a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company with over 30 years of experience in the Washington, DC./Maryland/Virginia area. We have a great deal of experience in waterproofing, mold testing, and mold remediation, and we want to make you feel at home again. Contact us online or by calling 1-866-999-3110 or 301-766-4420. To see what we’re up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Houzz.