Question
I bought a utricularia longifolia from your guys a few weeks ago at the Portland Home and Garden show and it's starting to mold. What should I do? The mold is mostly on the soil and is white. It is still in the same small pot I bought it in and I keep it in a large bowl with about 1/2 inch water along with a pitcher plant and an orchid. I keep it inside and by a window so it gets some natural lighting.
~Meighan

Answer
Yes, sometimes powdery mold will occur on the soil, depending on air circulation, home temperature, and lighting.  Some homes are also more prone to it simply because of geography or general moisture content in the home.  The mold itself is not harmful to the plant, but is unsightly.

To treat it, use a sulfur fungicide.  You can find it at any garden center.  Another option is Neem oil, which you can also find at your local garden center.  Both are completely safe to use with your carnivorous plants.  Just follow the directions on the bottle.  I also recommend watching our video podcast on fungicides.
http://youtu.be/gfVUrMaGjVs

To prevent mold from occurring, make sure there's plenty of air circulation around your plants.  Direct sunlight will also help reduce mold, though that's not always possible in Oregon at this time of the year.  For now, treat it plants as recommended.  You may need to treat as it occurs.  When we eventually move into warmer and sunnier weather, the issue of mold will decrease.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin