---
title: "My polka dot plant has mold on top of the soil and I’m not sure why.…"
description: "My polka dot plant has mold on top of the soil and I’m not sure why. I water it twice a week and mist it with lemon water every few days to keep my cats away.…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/guDO6TkaQ6ibRqK-2oB_KA?language=ko"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Lauren"
published: "2024-07-09T17:57:24.04905Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ctkrq-roNIzNhkrzYUwMu2wUPgJ9HPNeD3U5GqBvoko/_1pKm8juTF2EQNFgRjcQbw.webp?size=large"
---

[커뮤니티](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=ko) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=ko)

# My polka dot plant has mold on top of the soil and I’m not sure why.…

_Lauren님이 2024-07-09에 게시함_

My polka dot plant has mold on top of the soil and I’m not sure why. I water it twice a week and mist it with lemon water every few days to keep my cats away. The roots are also beginning to come out of the top. Do I need to repot it? I feel like it’s already in a relatively large pot for the plant and it’s sti very healthy and constantly growing.

![2개 중 1번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ctkrq-roNIzNhkrzYUwMu2wUPgJ9HPNeD3U5GqBvoko/_1pKm8juTF2EQNFgRjcQbw.webp?size=large)

![2개 중 2번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ctkrq-roNIzNhkrzYUwMu2wUPgJ9HPNeD3U5GqBvoko/VN388i74TgCD4HSktNv00A.webp?size=large)

## 9개의 댓글

### maneater님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

The organic matter in the lemon water could be causing the mold.

### max님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

usually the mold is a from organic matter in the soil decaying when coming into contact with water. my guess would be from overwatering and/or the lemon water!

#### Lauren님이 2024-07-09에 답변했습니다.

Do I need to repot it

#### max님이 2024-07-09에 답변했습니다.

i agree with the other people saying it’s probably a good idea to repot, at the very least take off the top couple inches of soil. whether or not the mold itself will actually hurt the plant is debatable, but i’d be worried about pests coming with it

### Kimma님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

I agree, I feel like the mold comes from overwatering. twice a week is a lot for a plant to be watered, especially if it’s potted  
I think you should repot it, even if the pot seems big for the plant. the pot is supposed to be 1-2 inches bigger than the root ball. pots aren’t for the plants, but for the roots instead of

### Lauren님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

Thank you!

### TT님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

The roots look really healthy so it aint getting root rot as far as I can see but yes definitely repot carefully

### eatyacarbs님이 2024-07-09에 댓글을 남겼어요.

overwatering + mist will definitely lead to mold, especially with the lemon — i’d be worried the lemon might affect the soils acidity as well. i would stop misting and sprinkle a little cinnamon, definitely wouldn’t water 2x a week like others have said, and you could also go ahead and swap out for fresh soil \& mix some cinnamon into thay

### Plantgrower님이 2024-07-10에 댓글을 남겼어요.

Maybe try replacing all the soil, and using some fertilizer

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