How to Deal with Mold in Container Gardens and Potted Plants

Because of the nature of potted plants and container gardens, especially those kept inside or in shady areas, they can be very susceptible to mold growth. Usually it does not cause any problems, as it is just a little spot or two, but sometimes it can get out of hand and become a real problem, especially if it is in containers of herbs intended for consumption in food or for medicinal purposes, as many molds and mold spores can be detrimental to human health.

Spotting Mold in Container Gardens

The first step to dealing with mold is of course spotting it. It generally appears as a rather fuzzy, or occasionally slimy or crumbly, coating on the soil or lower stems of the plants, ranging in color from black, to various greens and browns, or even grays or white. Splotches of molds may look like a single solid object, however, when pulled at it comes apart easily; if the growth is more cohesive, forming an actual solid or mostly solid unit, it is more likely a moss or lichen and probably no cause for concern.

Change Watering Habits to Help Control Mold Growth

The first suspect for the cause of mold in container gardens is overwatering. Especially in the case of herbs, potted plants don’t need a great deal of water. With only a few exceptions, herbs should never be in -wet soil, as most prefer slightly dry conditions. If mold (or other symptoms of overwatering, for that matter) develops, try decreasing the amount of water given dramatically, and instead water more often in tiny amounts, so that the soil is never fully wet, but kept regularly moist.

Natural Mold Fighters

There are, of course, chemical sprays and treatments if mold simply cannot be controlled any other way, but it should be used as a last resort, only if nothing else will work — especially if the plants are intended for consumption.

The easiest way is to simply increase the amount of direct sunlight the potted plants receive. Sunlight helps to limit mold growth dramatically. However, this may not always be possible, and may not work even when it is.

Another method, especially if it is a recurring problem, is to periodically crush a clove of garlic into a cup or two of water, shake thoroughly, and mist the soil or problem areas well. Garlic can often act as a natural fungicide.

There are also several aromatherapy oils that act as natural fungicides, including rosemary, tea tree, and cinnamon essential oils, and jojoba oil as well. Similar to the garlic infusion, simply add a few drops of one of these oils to water, shake very thoroughly, and mist the affected areas. This can be used more frequently, as much as once a week. Alternately, it is possible to just add one drop or so to the water used to water the plants.

Any of these methods can be a huge help when trying to deal with a mold problem; as with most things, try a few different methods and find out what works in an individual case.