apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Good Questions: Fungus on Bathroom Plant?

3-28-goodq.jpgHi AT,

I know a lot of the readers have been posting about having plants in the bathroom. I tried keeping a Jade plant that I bought from Ikea in my bathroom. My bathroom has no natural light windows. After a couple of days there, the top soil in the pot had a white fungus layer on it, probably because of how steamy it gets in the bathroom.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did you fix it?

Thank you. Regards,

MN

Note: Include a picture of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email us with QUESTIONS in subject line: sf(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com
Link To All Good Questions

 
 

MN,

We have a black thumb except when it comes to orchids, so we're going to hope a reader can help out.

Anyone?

Tags

Good Questions

Related Links

Share

Comments (5)

I have a couple of plants that have a whitish, powdery looking substance on the top of the soil that I assume is some sort of fungus. So far, it hasn't hurt the plants (a small fig tree and a china doll), so I haven't really thought about it. I'd be more concerned that your jade isn't getting enough sun. It's a hardy succulent, but steamy conditions and long stretches of dim or dark are less than ideal for a jade plant. It thrives in bright sunlight and low humidity.

posted by harlie on 2007-03-28 18:36:56
view harlie's profile

Jade plants are a succulent so they do need light and low water/humidity.

The white powdery substance on top of the soil is generally a sign of a lot of moisture. Too much moisture in a succulent will lead to root rot.

Try lucky bamboo, diffenbachia (sp?), or go to the indoor plant section of a garden store and read the tags for hardy plants that do well in poor conditions.

posted by amy (rustyletter) on 2007-03-29 11:42:48
view amy (rustyletter)'s profile

Orchids also do very well in bathrooms

posted by jennyd on 2007-03-29 12:10:55
view jennyd's profile

Scrape off the top layer of soil where the fungus has grown and give that jade some sunlight and infrequent waterings. I killed a big hanging jade plant by overwatering it (soggy stems kept falling out of the soil, like clumps of hair). I managed to root a few trimmings by keeping them in bright natural light and watering about every two weeks or less.

posted by Laura J on 2007-03-29 13:50:34
view Laura J's profile

That is a great idea to keep orchids in a bathroom since they need so little water anyway. Speaking of orchids, I just bought a gorgeous white Phalaenopsis at Publix for TEN BUCKS! (it was clearly on sale and I should have just gotten three of 'em!)

It started with six blooms and now has 8 or 9 and a few buds left to open. I think orchids have become my favorite flower. Stunningly gorgeous and easy to grow. Who can beat that??

posted by MonicaRicci on 2007-03-29 23:29:23
view MonicaRicci's profile