What is the white mould stuff in my houseplants?

[BourbonD]

does anyone know about the white mould on the surface of the soil? This is a prayer plant that seems really healthy. It’s in bright indirect light and watered every 10 days. Is it ok to leave it or should I scrape it out?

Maybe the pot is too large for the rootball so water isn't being absorbed?

You'll want to change all the soil. Get make a new loose potting mix - look for sand/stones/orchid bark/coconut etc. Soil there looks sodden and not good for drainage.

But also, certain plants are simply more difficult to strike a balance with, because they do need water and humidity.

If you already know all this, sorry

Could be mealy bugs. I've lost 3 houseplants to them- they are an absolute bastard to get rid of.

It looks like a species of saprophytic fungi @BourbonD Easily got rid of. Just scrape it off and replace the compost that you have taken out. Your plant will be fine.

No still early days and learning! Thank you

Not mealy bugs - they would normally be on the plant not the compost surface. As @SabreIsMyFave says, it’s fungi that tend to appear on damp compost. Easily removed.

Sounds ridiculous, but if anyone could explain how soil should look/feel in houseplants that would be great! I’ve been watering them by standing them in a bowl of water until the top is slightly damp and then letting them drain out. If this is wrong I am very grateful to be educated.

@BourbonD

You're not ridiculous! 😘

Well, this is what I do. I am not a super expert, but ...

I fill a plastic jug with tapwater, and pour the water out (gently and slowly,) onto the top of the soil. Then I watch and wait for the water to seep through slowly to the little saucer that the plant/plant pot is sitting in. I usually water them once a week.

I can't say I have personally heard of standing plants in water to water them.

I read something about plants taking the water bottom up. Perhaps I really have turned bonkers!

You're not bonkers.

I do a deep dip (for an hour) of the cactus / succulents plus other conservatory plants , once a year. Then controlled watering throughout the summer and a bit of a drought during the winter.

Oh yeah, I guess you can do it that way too. I think my nan used to fill the little water dish (that the plant was standing in) and the roots would suck it up. But it's just I hadn't heard of anyone standing their plants in a bowl of water to water them. (I'm not saying that no-one does it, I just haven't heard of it before.) 😄

It depend on the plants IMO. (And how far down the roots are.) I have quite a number of plants, and some are small, fresh young plants, (with small roots, 4-5" away from the bottom of the pot,) and if I put the water 'underneath' I worry that the roots are too far up/too high up for the water to reach the roots.

So I just water them all from the top by default.

I just wanted to add, when I water my plants from the top, (and the water seeps through to the little saucer the plant/plant pot is sitting in,) if there's any left in the saucer 24 hours later, I do actually tip it away. (So they don't get saturated.)

Apparently, you can use cinnamon on it!

I water my plants from the bottom up by standing them in a bowl of water while letting the tap water the top soil then let them drain off the surplus in the sink. I put kitchen towel in the bottom of the pots so that any excess water gets absorbed. Once a week during the summer and 2 - 3 weeks in the winter.

I’m hoping you posted to the wrong thread

I water from the top, about 1cm, which usually runs straight through but which is absorbed over the next hour.

I go more by weight than wetness of soil surface - if the pot is heavy, the plant doesn’t need watering.

If I’ve left it too long and the plant seems distressed, I’ll soak it in a bowl of water

I use the Iles system on my house plants, I have to wash them occasionally because they get the white mould.

Actually no! 😁 It is a natural fungicide I read about it a while ago