---
title: "Yesterday I learned that it’s not always minerals on the outside of…"
description: "Yesterday I learned that it’s not always minerals on the outside of my terra cotta pots, it’s mold (if it wipes off easy, it’s mold. If not, crust). I sprayed…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/64b488196bbc1cbf085df4f0"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Bigredamazon"
published: "2023-07-17T00:15:21.451Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/iRoTHlu5zTI-xRf77vEbPXyNentiOd5nF6irsGMTHIU/aedbcfba3d9b46de8424a913dfb73be0.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md)

# Yesterday I learned that it’s not always minerals on the outside of…

_Posted by Bigredamazon on 2023-07-17_

Yesterday I learned that it’s not always minerals on the outside of my terra cotta pots, it’s mold (if it wipes off easy, it’s mold. If not, crust). I sprayed the outside of the pots with hydrogen peroxide and scrubbed to clean them up. Didn’t have to remove the plants.

So I realized I needed a fan for the room (since the nearby vents are closed to force cold air upstairs) and the babies are far away from the ceiling fan. Also, I’ve been overwatering a tad. Perhaps I’ll pick up some tampons tomorrow cause I go a few weeks without watering, or is that normal? I’ve got a moisture meter and I do the knitting needle trick that Tanner the Planter does.

I do have a grow light on one group and I have been opening the shades so they get some extra light.

Picture of my Monstera Deliciosa, General Leia Organa, Franklin the orchid, and Francine the parlor palm for tax.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/iRoTHlu5zTI-xRf77vEbPXyNentiOd5nF6irsGMTHIU/aedbcfba3d9b46de8424a913dfb73be0.webp?size=large)

## 6 comments

### Rhonda commented on 2023-07-17

Interesting! Took me a few tries to find the video where he actually explained it. But I got there. Gonna give this a try. I especially liked his explanation for how far to probe fir different plants.

#### Bigredamazon replied on 2023-07-18

It’s been helpful.

### Mullein commented on 2023-07-18

What hold up. Are the tampons for when you overwater? Does it reabsorb water from the soil?? 😱

I hear ya on the mold. It’s so frustrating when molds or other funguses take up camp in your plants. I get it’s natural but I don’t want my house to be a petri dish of spores (any more that it already is I suppose) 😅 But also because it usually indicates a larger issue with humidity. If you don’t already have a hygrometer, it’s good to try to make sure your house is below 60% relative humidity. I’m struggling so hard with humidity this summer. We don’t have central AC and I definitely don’t want an AC directly on my plants, since some can be very sensitive to dry drafts. But my jade has a mushroom growing out of it! I water that plant like once a month! 🤪

#### Bigredamazon replied on 2023-07-18

Yes the tampons are for removing excess water from the soil.

I got an oscillating fan for the area since it can get a little stagnant around my babies. It’s too dang hot to open a window.

#### Mullein replied on 2023-07-18

Oh I will definitely have to try that. So clever

That should help ☺️

#### Rhonda replied on 2023-07-18

I tried it after I saw your post. It worked!

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_