Hi, I have a small plant in my dorm but for the past month or so, I've noticed an abundance of tiny white mushroom growth in the soil and water. And now my plant is dying. The water is not getting soaked as quickly I think so it's still full and the mushrooms are now floating on top. The roots and stem looked kinda weird too. I'm not sure what the problem is. I want to get rid of the mushrooms. It would be great if someone could explain what I should do. Thanks in advance.
My guess is that your plant has been too wet and that the roots are rotting. The mushrooms are a symptom, not the problem. First issue: are there drainage holes at the bottom of that pot? If there are not, and if you want to use that pot, then you need to have a thin plastic pot inside the white pot, so that each time you water it, you can remove the potted plant, water it, wait until the water has drained out fully each time before putting it back in the white pot. And you will be able to lift the potted plant to see if it feels light and needs water or is heavy and does not need water. I would remove all the soil and see whether there are still roots that are not mushy. Cut away anything mushy from the roots, and cut away anything dead on top. If you have anything left, pot it up in new soil, in a pot with drainage. Feel how light the pot is. Then water it (at the sink), let the water drain out, and don't water it again until it feels almost as light as before you watered it. What are the light conditions where the plant lives? There are people here who can tell what kind of plant it is, but I'm not one of them. Do you know what it is?
Hi, thank you for replying. I wasn't sure if it was over watered. My room was getting a bit stuffy so I had left the plant in the balcony for some days and it had been raining that night. That could be a reason why it was overwatered and then I had watered it again later cause it didn't look good. The pot unfortunately doesn't have any drainage hole. I don't remember the plant name but I remember that it doesn't need a lot of sunlight and has to be watered once a week or once in two weeks. I am not sure where I would get new soil? Can we find it at Hannah & Samuel flower shop at UBC?
okay I threw out the soil and it was absolutely filled with tons of those white mushroom thingy. You were right, I think the roots were rotting and it's just sad how downhill it went. I threw out the roots and idk what I tried to save but it's just this. I don't have soil on my hand rn but I will get some. I just placed it in water for now. Do you think it can regrow and be revived?
I can't tell. You should be able to get a small bag of soil at any plant shop or supermarket. Usually you should mix it with some other things so it doesn't get too compacted. I don't usually bother, but don't tell anyone I said so. I know you see a challenge here, but me, I would consider it a lesson learned, buy a new small plant in the pot that will sit inside the white one (measure the diameter of the white one). If you get it from that flower shop, ask if it needs repotting yet - get something that is potted the way it needs to be now and is in a pot that can live in the white one. Every time you take it out of the white pot to feel if it needs water and to water it, make sure there is no water sitting in the bottom of the white pot. That's the problem with a pot with no drainage - you can't tell what's going on down there. Plants don't usually like a change of environment. If you get a plant that is supposed to be indoors, keep it inside. It won't likely mind stuffy nearly as much as it will mind cold rain. For the old plant, if you want see what happens, and if some roots seem to be in good condition, you can cut off the crispy leaves at the base of the stems. Plant it up in new soil, follow the watering hints above and see if anything grows in a couple of weeks. Maybe someone can advise if there is any hope, but it's not a huge investment. Maybe the place you buy a new plant will give or sell you a cheap green pot with soil.
