Hi guys im pretty new to plants and i have a couple monstera which soil gets mildew/mold on top even tho i repotted them adding perlite. I wanted to repot them again and improve drainage with orchid bark and more perlite but i was wondering if its safe to re-use the soil they are in right now in the mix? They are showing these signs which im worried is either root rot or fungus so im hesitating reusing the same soil?
Repotting shocks the plant because of root damage and disturbance. Don’t repot so soon. I don’t think it’s a soil issue since the soil has lots of perlite. It could be overwatering especially if you diligently follow a watering schedule even when the soil is still wet. I recommend not watering until the soil is almost dry. Verify the soil needs water before watering again. Fertilize and give it bright indirect light or a grow light. Wait about a month between repotting. This allows the roots to permeate the soil again.
3 likes So far i watered them twice since getting them last time was a week ago the soil takes forever to dry like its still damp at the top i dont even have to dig with my finger i can see it :( so in in a dilemma do i wait and risk the roots rotting or do i repot now to see whats going on with them 😭 They have a grow light + bright indirect light. I didnt fertilize just yet
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When you do re-pot, new soil sounds necessary in this case. Healthy or not, I will generally only recycle top dressing, rocks, expensive pebbles. All "dirt" is tossed because I can't clean it other than cooking it in the microwave - and I have concerns with that technique and it's influence on soil nutrients. The end lol.
2 likes Makes sense !! Thanks
1 like Replacing wet soil and using one without peat moss may be needed if it’s taking more than a week for topsoil soil to dry out. Peat moss holds lots of water. Adding orchid bark as you suggested will help. I would go back to a smaller pot just wide enough to hold the roots with about a half inch around it for root growth. The risk of root rot may be higher than the risk of shock from a second repot.
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