Mold on House Plants - help!
August 22, 2020 8:05 AM Subscribe
I have a stubborn problem with some kind of white mold on some of my plants. I'm trying to control it - help!
The mold seems to collect around the base of the leaves, and looks kind of like this. sometimes I see spots developing on the underside of the leaves themselves. I've lost the lemon verbena that had it (its leaves gradually seemed to just conk out), but the basil has so far been okay, but I'm still trying to get it under control. I have been hosing all affected plants with neem oil but those white spots seem to grow back. It HAS been humid in the room where the most affected plants have been.
If that picture isn't that clear - the spots look like a clump of soap suds, and if I smoosh one it's a little powdery. Hitting them with a spray of neem oil shrinks them but they seem to grow back. Puzzlingly, the soil of the affected plants does not seem to be affected.
Please hope me!
The mold seems to collect around the base of the leaves, and looks kind of like this. sometimes I see spots developing on the underside of the leaves themselves. I've lost the lemon verbena that had it (its leaves gradually seemed to just conk out), but the basil has so far been okay, but I'm still trying to get it under control. I have been hosing all affected plants with neem oil but those white spots seem to grow back. It HAS been humid in the room where the most affected plants have been.
If that picture isn't that clear - the spots look like a clump of soap suds, and if I smoosh one it's a little powdery. Hitting them with a spray of neem oil shrinks them but they seem to grow back. Puzzlingly, the soil of the affected plants does not seem to be affected.
Please hope me!
Response by poster: The white spots look way more "foamy" than what's in the mealybugs picture.
(Trying not to threadsit, but I had a HELL of a time trying to find a good picture that matched what I have, and I'm hoping maybe commenting on one picture that doesn't match may also help.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:24 AM on August 22, 2020
(Trying not to threadsit, but I had a HELL of a time trying to find a good picture that matched what I have, and I'm hoping maybe commenting on one picture that doesn't match may also help.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:24 AM on August 22, 2020
Looking at your picture I also immediately thought mealybugs (google image search in case other pictures are closer to what you've got). Their behavior and the way they end up killing the leaves/plant also matches your description. Next time you see the white stuff can you wipe some off on a tissue and take a closer look?
posted by trig at 8:55 AM on August 22, 2020
posted by trig at 8:55 AM on August 22, 2020
It could be powdery mildew. Either way, mealybugs or mildew, treatment with a Neem Oil solution may help, assuming you want to stay organic.
posted by spitbull at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 9:37 AM on August 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Spittlebugs? If you spray them with a good blast from a hose, does the foam wash off?
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:42 AM on August 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by notquitemaryann at 9:42 AM on August 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
Have you checked the roots of any of these plants? If it’s that bad and you don’t want to ditch the plants, you might go with a systemic treatment.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:39 AM on August 22, 2020
posted by bluedaisy at 10:39 AM on August 22, 2020
Seconding spittlebugs, a.k.a. cuckoo spit.
posted by Eumachia L F at 1:42 PM on August 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Eumachia L F at 1:42 PM on August 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
If it's mealy or any other bugs-- isolate infected plants immediately. Or toss. So sorry, but I lost 90% of my plants last year to those blighters
posted by travertina at 10:17 PM on August 22, 2020
posted by travertina at 10:17 PM on August 22, 2020
Response by poster: Ooh, that cuckoo spit looks very similar....from reading, it sounds like it actually doesn't have that bad an impact on plants unless it gets really bad. That's encouraging.
I have been isolating the infected plants, and cutting off the badly infected branches (that's what did in the lemon verbena). Neem oil actually hasn't been working all that well, Spitbull - that's the first thing I thought of, and I've been hosing the damn things down with neem on a nearly weekly basis and no dice.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:28 AM on August 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have been isolating the infected plants, and cutting off the badly infected branches (that's what did in the lemon verbena). Neem oil actually hasn't been working all that well, Spitbull - that's the first thing I thought of, and I've been hosing the damn things down with neem on a nearly weekly basis and no dice.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:28 AM on August 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I had two jade plants for ~25 years. Pruned lovingly. Very hardy and robust. Both developed that white powdery substance about a year ago. Tried the oil. No help. Was Terribly saddened to lose them.
Subsequently, I had a friend give me a cutting of the same jade (I had given her a cutting years previously). Very healthy to start, now developing same issue. Must be something in my apartment...
posted by pmaxwell at 1:45 AM on August 26, 2020
Subsequently, I had a friend give me a cutting of the same jade (I had given her a cutting years previously). Very healthy to start, now developing same issue. Must be something in my apartment...
posted by pmaxwell at 1:45 AM on August 26, 2020
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posted by pipeski at 8:12 AM on August 22, 2020 [3 favorites]