Question
My Swedish Ivy is growing very well but has a strong musty odor. What should I do?

Answer
Hi Bonnie,

The smell is coming from the soil. If you used garden soil or compost or some other soil-based potting mix, then that is probably the source of the odor. Indoor plants should always be potted in sterile, soilless, peat-based potting mixes.

Otherwise, the odor is coming from some substance other than water being added to the soil. For example, pets are sometimes the source of foreign substances in the soil. Coffee grounds and other foods and liquids should also not be added to indoor potted plants.

Finally, your water quality may be a problem.

Other than replacing the soil, which may be very traumatic to the plant, your options are to flush lots of clear water through the soil the next time it is ready to be watered or to add some horticultural lime to the soil to absorb the odor.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]