--- 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=ko" 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" --- [커뮤니티](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=ko) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md?language=ko) # Does anyone think this white fuzz on the root is a sign of fungus… _Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 게시함_ 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). ![1개 중 1번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/u-5lh01WSmOdwi4bQuIRiQ.webp?size=large) ## 38개의 댓글 ### Nunyabzwx님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. Where am i supposed to be looking for a sign of gnats? The roots? Or the white stuff on the wood part? #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. The white fuzz on the root. ### Carolinagreenthumb님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. 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. ![1개 중 1번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/taVcBVZjgmWA7aodGlGkw_olf4aWaYoaSHFf3VdEUpI/6TvVATZJQ4yZbdyEt-H8wA.webp?size=large) #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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. #### Carolinagreenthumb님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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!) 😜 ### Jack님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. 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 #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. It is inside. Is it bad if it’s producing yellow leaves with brown spots? #### Jack님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. Yes pls give picture and I can help #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. This is the first leave to turn yellow. Only this and one other so far. ![1개 중 1번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/lp147MeMQHeq285yXqjjlw.webp?size=large) #### Jack님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. Do you have dr. Planta #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. Yes. And I submitted a photo of the roots and it came back with a 26% of fungus gnats. _앱에서 5개의 답글 더 보기_ ### Nunyabzwx님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. Ohhhh i see it now. Yicks!! I have no clue what that is. I hope someone can help you. ### Macie님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. 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. #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. I hope that’s the case. I’m just concerned about the yellow leaves aspect. #### Macie님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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:)) #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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! ### LeafyGreenhouse님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. It is not gnats likely you have a fungal infection on that plant I would treat immediately #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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… #### LeafyGreenhouse님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. I would use a fungied in the mean time #### LeafyGreenhouse님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. The other things may work but i know what i just said works #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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. #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. \*or the leaves _앱에서 4개의 답글 더 보기_ ### Sunny님이 2025-07-15에 댓글을 남겼어요. 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. #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. I can’t show the roots until the new soil arrives as I don’t want to remove the pot until then. ![2개 중 1번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/stsnDXoAST693pzI9yURYw.webp?size=large) ![2개 중 2번째 첨부 파일](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/N2p4HsV8h6jcDTJQmpYI1u4wxODVPQ42NujLw6NVSh8/d6tEpxzRS0OTPVfhuvI6pg.webp?size=large) #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. And you’re right about the root…appears to be a white root as nothing wiped off it. #### Sarah님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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. #### Sunny님이 2025-07-15에 답변했습니다. 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. 🪴🍀 #### Sarah님이 2025-07-16에 답변했습니다. 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. ### Melody님이 2025-07-16에 댓글을 남겼어요. 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. --- _Planta 커뮤니티 (https://getplanta.com). 누구나 읽을 수 있습니다. 게시물을 올리고, 댓글을 달고, 좋아요를 누르려면 Planta 앱을 다운로드하세요: https://getplanta.com/download_