i just bought a succulent and then realized it seems to have mold. the mold is yellow and grows in clumps of tiny yellow spheres. can plants live through mold? i washed the mold away and then stopped watering it....i suppose the store i bought it for overwatered it. if i let it dry out and the mold seems to be gone atleast on the visible parts of the soil will it be ok?
What you have experienced is, unfortunately, common. Many times, plants that are shipped to your local nursery from wholesale nurseries are planted in a peat-based and highly organic soil mix. It works well with some plants, but obviously, not well with many others (succulents, epiphytes, etc.) Because you have already had an outbreak of soil fungi, I would change the soil. Keep it simple and purchase some commercial "cacti and succulent" mix and some perlite. Do a 50/50 mix, as many have found that even the cacti and succulent mixes still hold too much water and do not drain well enough. Another option, if you can find it, would be fired clay granuals (sold as bonsai soil, Shultz's aquatic soil, Turface, aquarium plant soil, etc.). Experience has shown that it is often best to have the soil drain and dry out quicker, and then to water more often during the growth season. During the plant's dormant period, this soil mix will reduce the chances of rot. As a general rule, "water when dry". During the growth season, you may water every day or two, during dormancy, it may be once a week or two. Good luck, Mark
Thank you so much for this info! as a novice, i put my faith in the labeled "cactus soil", and it seems to not be working so well. Any opinions on putting cacti / succulents outside for sun, then bringing them inside at night for warmth? My suite is not bright enough, and it has been awfully cold at night (plus, neighbors are tipping over my plants!)
Moving plants indoors at night/outdoors during the day may sound like a good idea at first, but it tends to "confuse" the plant and may increase the risk of bringing little critters into your home. As a general rule, as long as the overnight temperatures are above 10*C, you can leave most plants outdoors. Once it starts dipping below that, then your best bet would be to just keep it indoors and perhaps set up a plant light on a timer (if you cannot provide a southern exposure). One word of caution with any plant you bring outdoors for the first time. A seemingly shady location outdoors will provide significantly more light than a "sunny" spot indoors. Even desert plants can quickly sunburn (permanent damage) if you do not introduce the light gradually. I typically start out on my covered porch on the north side of my house for a week or two, then move them out to a western/eastern exposure for a week, then start moving them into the full southern exposure as tolerated. When outdoors, the plants will be exposed to the day/night temperature swings, rain, wind, and bugs. On one hand, it makes for a tough, hardy plant that has nice compact growth. On the other hand, you will eventually have to bring the plant indoors, along with the little bugs that have found a home in the soil. Most of the time, it isn't a big issue as most just stay in the soil, but I have brought in little fungus gnats that fly around the house. I have found that a granual houseplant insecticide (Bonide product) works well, as does those sticky fly strips. Within a few weeks, most of the bugs are gone.
