Question
Hi Tracy,
One of my plants, and I'm sorry, but I'm not sure the name of it, has a bad case of powdery mildew.  It is a hard leaf plant that flowers beautiful tiny bright pink blossoms.  I remember the name of it was quite long. It has had it since spring time.  I also just noticed that the soil in my Schefflera has yellow mold in it.  I have never had mold or mildew grow in any of my plants before.  The molds are different, but is there a connection between the two problems?  I water my plants once a week, using MiracleGrow plant food in the water.  I don't understand how or why this mold has all of a sudden started taking hold.  What am I doing wrong, or is it Tennessee humidity?

Answer
Hi Patty,
Plants should not be watered on a set schedule, watering should be based on the needs of the individual plant. Most of the time it is best to let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry between watering except for those plants that need constantly moist or constantly dry soil.
To get rid of the powdery mildew you can use a commercial fungicide.
Once you get a mold problem it is hard to get rid of. The best thing I have found to get rid of mold or fungal problems is Consan 20. It should also get rid of the powdery mildew. Just make sure you test it on a leaf first to make sure it will not harm the plant. You should be able to find it at your local nursery. A hardware or home improvement store might carry it as well since it can also be used all around the house.
Mix it according to the directions on the label and be sure to spray it on the rim and outside of the pot as well as the surface of the soil.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks
Tracy