Hi guys, first time having a monstera plant, and this happened after my second time watering the plant which was at least a week ago… mould? What should I do? Is my plant too close to my heater and too close to my window? I live in the uk if that helps, so it’s super humid at the moment
I’m having this fungus issue with a baby monstera too. I’ve read it’s from overwatering but in my case I think that fungus came home with the plant :( Gnats showed up a couple days after the mildew or whatever that is did. So far I scraped off that very top layer then sprinkled diatomaceous earth and mosquito bits. I’ve read it’s good to cover the top of the soil with sand or tiny pebbles and only bottom water going forward. I hope someone more knowledgeable than I am will jump in and give some experienced advice/knowledge.
1 likeAh! Thank you 🙏
1 like Your welcome. It’s alarming to see that white stuff. I don’t think that it’s harmful by itself but is a sign that something is amiss/ out of balance.
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I would repot it into something with a bit more drainage. I do equal parts compost, perlite and orchid bark/ mix this would make sure there’s no excess moisture sitting at the top. For good measure I’d give the roots a quick spray with some watered down alcohol (like 2tsp in a whole spray bottle) just to make sure nothing transfers over.
1 likeOkay thanks!
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So: The mold itself is benign. It’s unsightly, but doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. You can scrape it off or add a decorative layer of something like pebbles or perlite if that helps you enjoy the plant more. A lot of commercial potting mixes are pretty water-retentive and full of nutrients in very bioavailable forms, making them great for mold. Lots of ferts will also promote mold growth. The biggest thing I would take away from this is that if the benign mold is having a good time on the surface, it *may* (not definitely but possible) be more likely that a harmful species can have a good time under the surface if the environment goes anaerobic. To prevent this, make sure the plant has good drainage, never sits in water, and dries out in between waterings. When it’s time to repot, use a chunky potting mix and consider baking it in the oven to sterilize if you want to make sure it’s not seeded with more mold.
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