Question
Hello Mr. Creed,
You answered some questions for me earlier in the year regarding my plants, and I'm happy to report that everyone is doing well and seems to be happy with their care and current conditions!
My question this time involves my Syngonium.  I "rescued" it from my mother who was just "not getting it".  A couple months after I brought it home, I repotted it into a 5 inch ceramic pot with good drainage (it was previously in a pot way too big and was retaining far too much water.)  Since then it has been very prosperous, putting out new leaves and shoots on a regular basis.  I have it in a sterile potting mix, approximately 5 feet from an unobstructed east-facing window.  I water it every 7-10 days depending on the condition of the soil.  As I have overwatered plants in the past, I wait about 3 days after I think it's dried out to give it a thorough watering.  This keeps me from watering too ambitously!  I clean the plant every month or so.
My question is: I noticed a couple weeks ago that there is white, fluffy moldy-looking growth on the soil.  Could this be spider mites?  Or is it some kind of fungus from the potting mix?  It is only on the soil.  I have inspected each and every leaf repeatedly and I don't see any kind of webbing on the leaves.  If it's spider mites, wouldn't I see webbing on the leaves?  
I don't want to discard the plant, but I also don't want my other plants nearby to "catch" this if it is a pest problem.  I have gently scraped off the white parts with a plastic "take-out" fork.  Should I just continue to do this if it reappears or is there some kind of solution that can be applied to the plant?
Thanks for any help you can offer on this subject!  I trust your expertise!

Sincerely,
Rebekah

Answer
Hi Rebekah,

Good to hear from you again and thanks for reporting back to me on your success with your plants.

The white stuff on the soil is a mold or type of fungus. It is  harmless to your plant, however I am sure you would like to get rid of it. There were probably spores in the potting mix that you used when you repotted. If so, you may want to reconsider before you use that potting mix again.

You are doing exactly what I would recommend, which is to scrape off the mold and also the surrounding loose soil. Keep doing this as new mold emerges. Usually this is sufficient to eventually get rid of it completely. If this doesn't work, there are fungicides that are sold that can be mixed with water and then applied to the soil. Follow all directions carefully.

Thanks for your trust and please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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

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