mouldy compost - is is harmful to the plant?

Hi

Most of my house plants have white moudly compost in the pots. I have searched quite a few places and I can't find any info on this. Must be a common sense which I haven't got!

Do I need to do something about it? Does the mould harm the plants?

Many thanks

 

Hi Bubbly, I have had simmilar prob and my post recieved no replies. It may be a fungal attack of some sort. I repotted mine after standing them in a mild mixture of Jeys fluid for a few hours and they are fine. There were a few woodlice amongst the roots [they don't like J F.] May be worth a try. Mine were outside though.

 

thanks hans. it's strange that there's no information on this subject when this is a common problem. Maybe there's nothing to worry about but I'll try your suggestion though.

 

Not sure what it is - but I have had this happen on both indoor and greenhouse plants and removing the top surface, and keeping the top surface of the compose either disturbed or covered with vermiculate seems to work. If its the same as mine, doesn't seem to harm the plants, just seems to be happen when compost forms a pan layer

 

As I see is composts whether purchased or home formulated can contain all manner of fungal spores, most of which are completely harmless. The thoroughy sterilized formulations have least fungal contamination but few of us go to that extent and many commercial producers I suspect don't sterilize ingredients. As long as your potting medium is one to suit the subject grown; is open and well drained; you don't over apply fertilizer I don't think you have anything to worry about. The plants condition will let you know if anything is wrong - even though the cause will probably not be the fungal growth. Any micro organism growth is likely to spread more rapidly
on a panned surface as that will hold a film of moisture over which the organism can spread.

web page

[ 19. October 2005, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: Webmaster ]