--- title: "Does anyone think this white fuzz on the root is a sign of fungus…" description: "Does anyone think this white fuzz on the root is a sign of fungus gnats on my heart leaf philodendron roots? I’ve seen zero insects in the soil but the plant…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/hpTGGPGBxsCfapcAH4cWYT?language=fr" community: "Anything about plants" author: "Sarah" published: "2025-07-15T13:35:46.125999Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/u-5lh01WSmOdwi4bQuIRiQ.webp?size=large" --- [Communauté](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=fr) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md?language=fr) # Does anyone think this white fuzz on the root is a sign of fungus… _Publié par Sarah le 2025-07-15_ Does anyone think this white fuzz on the root is a sign of fungus gnats on my heart leaf philodendron roots? I’ve seen zero insects in the soil but the plant is starting to have yellow leaves with brown spots. Planta AI suggests gnats (26% accuracy). ![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/u-5lh01WSmOdwi4bQuIRiQ.webp?size=large) ## 38 commentaires ### Nunyabzwx a commenté le 2025-07-15 Where am i supposed to be looking for a sign of gnats? The roots? Or the white stuff on the wood part? #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 The white fuzz on the root. ### Carolinagreenthumb a commenté le 2025-07-15 I just googled what is the white fuzz on my philodendron roots and here is the first part of their answer. It goes on to specify the types of fungus and then what to do for it. Just google what I did and A lot of info comes up. ![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/taVcBVZjgmWA7aodGlGkw_olf4aWaYoaSHFf3VdEUpI/6TvVATZJQ4yZbdyEt-H8wA.webp?size=large) #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I have googled it but I find it more confusing than asking real people lol. I just don’t see how it can be overwatered when I let it go several days past being completely dry before watering again. #### Carolinagreenthumb ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I hear you, but the main thing that I took away was that it wasn’t harmful to the plant! I agree! I’d rather talk to other plant moms than read all this scientific language. ( I’m like… can you just put that in plain language!) 😜 ### Jack a commenté le 2025-07-15 Yes I’d Move it inside, because it might be mold, and I change it into a bigger pot but otherwise you should have nothing to worry about or you can plant it in ground #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 It is inside. Is it bad if it’s producing yellow leaves with brown spots? #### Jack ha respondido el 2025-07-15 Yes pls give picture and I can help #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 This is the first leave to turn yellow. Only this and one other so far. ![Pièce jointe 1 sur 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/lp147MeMQHeq285yXqjjlw.webp?size=large) #### Jack ha respondido el 2025-07-15 Do you have dr. Planta #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 Yes. And I submitted a photo of the roots and it came back with a 26% of fungus gnats. _5 réponses supplémentaires dans l'app_ ### Nunyabzwx a commenté le 2025-07-15 Ohhhh i see it now. Yicks!! I have no clue what that is. I hope someone can help you. ### Macie a commenté le 2025-07-15 i’m pretty sure that’s just the root, they get fuzzy sometimes when they are happy, if it was mold they would start to rot and it would be mushy and brown. #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I hope that’s the case. I’m just concerned about the yellow leaves aspect. #### Macie ha respondido el 2025-07-15 depending on where those leaves on the plant are they might just be old and coming to the end of their life cycle, if they are at the base of the plant they are just old and died naturally, especially if the roots are starting to make their way out of the drainage, it maybe be time for a up pot soon!! but i agree with Sunny you should put a picture of the full plant so it is easier to diagnose:)) #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 The leaves are near the base. I did just upload a pic of the full plant to Planta and it says lack of fertilizer. Thinking then it may need better draining soil + larger pot + plus more fertilizer. Thanks so much! ### LeafyGreenhouse a commenté le 2025-07-15 It is not gnats likely you have a fungal infection on that plant I would treat immediately #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 Im awaiting new soil to arrive. Anything I can do in the meantime? And what should I treat the fungus with once I get the new soil? I’ve read apple cider vinegar and water works… #### LeafyGreenhouse ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I would use a fungied in the mean time #### LeafyGreenhouse ha respondido el 2025-07-15 The other things may work but i know what i just said works #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I’m sorry for all the questions but I’m still kinda new to plants and no experience with fungicides. So do I treat the roots of the leaves? And you have a product you recommend? I have Jacks Neem Oil spray. #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 \*or the leaves _4 réponses supplémentaires dans l'app_ ### Sunny a commenté le 2025-07-15 Provide a photo of the entire plant and photo of the top soil. Pull off the pot and photograph the roots. There could be more than one thing impacting the plant. My initial guess is the fuzz on the root tip is root hair and not fungus. The test is to wipe off the root. Fungus will easily wipe off. Fungus will be evident in the soil if it’s already coating the exposed root. I suspect the fuzzy root is trying to tap into drainage water. Yellowing leaves can be from both over watering and under watering conditions, too low light, aging leaves and low fertilizer. #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 I can’t show the roots until the new soil arrives as I don’t want to remove the pot until then. ![Pièce jointe 1 sur 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/stsnDXoAST693pzI9yURYw.webp?size=large) ![Pièce jointe 2 sur 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/d6tEpxzRS0OTPVfhuvI6pg.webp?size=large) #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 And you’re right about the root…appears to be a white root as nothing wiped off it. #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-15 Other than the two yellow leaves it’s really been thriving! I fertilized it a few days ago and do know the soil isn’t draining well. It’s also in a window with a grow light. #### Sunny ha respondido el 2025-07-15 The plants looks fine. No fungus on the topsoil. No fungicide needed. It’s likely old leaves falling off. Note, that I use a commercial fungicide and follow the label directions when needed. I mostly let the soil stay dry longer. Fungus hates that one trick. 😆 I noticed the large gaps between the leaf nodes and the newer leaves looking a bit smaller than the oldest leaves near the rim. It’s either a lighting or watering issue. Lighting looks fine. Then, the plant may need watering more frequently. The leaves aren’t drying at the edges and tips. But, they are curling at the tips and have a wavy shape. Clay pots draw a lot of water. Be sure to soak both the pot and soil when watering. Try bottom watering to ensure the soil and pot are fully saturated. Then, thoroughly drain the excess water. 🪴🍀 #### Sarah ha respondido el 2025-07-16 Thank you for the feedback and help! I’m just so worried about root rot that I tend to let it go dry for longer than I think I need. Especially since the soil isn’t well draining. But I’m hoping once I change its soil to a potting soil/perlite/orchid bark mix in a few days, then I’ll be less afraid to water it more often. I just lost a lemon lime philodendron to various issues so I’m paranoid to lose another lol. I would add that this plant was in an area with less light up until a few weeks ago. And once I moved it to where it is, the older leaves got much larger. So I am thinking with all you said it’s watering issue. Do you think it needs a larger pot too? I really don’t want it to be larger than the 12” pot it is in but it may need to be for its health. ### Melody a commenté le 2025-07-16 Totally agree with sunny. I don’t think its fungus roots just naturally look like that. But you could just do what sunny said if you’re worried. --- _La communauté Planta (https://getplanta.com). La lecture est ouverte à tous. Pour publier, commenter et aimer, téléchargez l'application Planta : https://getplanta.com/download_