I live in Alabama and presently in an apartment that has a forest right behind it. It's a two bedroom. I have 4 Boston Ferns and 7 rubber plants inside to clean the indoor air, and they have worked remarkably well for about 3 months. I water them not all that often, and usually purified tap water or water purified by reverse osmosis or distillation. This has worked well all along. To save money this past month, I did not purchase a refill filter for the kitchen tap and decided to water the plants with regular tap water. Again, when I say water the plants, I mean each one is watered maybe once a week, if that often. Well, let me tell you!- what had been absolutely gorgeous home-trained indoor plants that could easily dot the corners of a fancy hotel or conference center have now become the most wild looking specimens I've ever seen! They look like they belong in a swamp! AND, they seem to be giving off this nasty airborne mold of some kind that is making me feel rather unwell. SO, they've been gathered up and stowed half in a closet and the other half in a corner with a bright florescent light in each space to try to kill of the mold. I'm also starving them of water. But this is only day one of the recuperation process, and it may end tomorrow with them finding themselves at the bottom of a trash compactor; I'm beginning to feel like I'm living outside on the insider of my own apartment, the mold is so nasty. Has anyone had this happen? The difference is like the difference between a nice house cat and a wild alley cat, and it occurred virtually over maybe 4 days. I've had them for months with no problems. We've had a lot of rain the past 4 days too, so I'm not sure whether the mold from outside on the fallen leaves has made it's way into the water supply (which was never awesome) or into the air and into the plants (though I think it's the water). Either way, it's absolutely nasty - I can't even bare to look at them.
Cinnamon usually works well to get rid of mould and such. Sprinkle it over all of the soil and any other effected parts. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can spray it with a solution of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 9 parts water. You may have to increase the hyrdogen peroxide depending on the strength of the mould. If neither of those work you may want to purchase a spray or a powder from your local greenhouse etc to combat the mould. If all else fails pitch the plants and start over. Good luck, Ryan
