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Oct 25, 2010 · Considerations. If your plant has a musty odor, withhold water until the soil dries out. If the plant still smells, or has visible fungus or mold on the surface of the soil, repot in fresh soil. When repotting, check for slimy or malodorous roots — this is a sign of root rot, and usually means the plant should be discarded, unless most of the ...
- Overwatering. Overwatering is the most common problem when it comes to stale-smelling houseplants. This is because you are feeding your plant too much water than it can take, which means your soil becomes waterlogged.
- Pests causing root rot. Gnats or pests on your plant might be another reason why your houseplants are releasing a foul smell. An infestation leads to a bad smell as they can end up causing root rot.
- Poor soil drainage. The third problem the plant experts have identified is poor soil drainage, which relates to the point about overwatering. In this instance, you might not have been overwatering, but if your plant doesn't have adequate drainage at the bottom of the pot, water will just build up, leading to the same effect as overwatering - the stale smell of water, which isn't good for your living room's scentscape, let alone your houseplant's health.
- Decaying plant matter. An unhealthy plant also might be a sign that your plant is disease-ridden, resulting in mold on houseplant soil. 'Some infections caused by fungi and bacteria can cause a foul smell on a plant's foliage,' says Paris. '
Jun 3, 2012 · Lift the plant off the drip plate. Scrub the drip plate clean with warm, soapy water and rinse with cool water. Wipe the drip plate dry with a towel and place the plant back on top of the plate. Regularly empty the drip plate about an hour after watering the plant. Test the dryness of the soil before watering by inserting your finger several ...
Jun 29, 2024 · Diagnosing the cause of the malodor may take some time, but just like with acute halitosis, a long-term solution will yield more satisfying results than masking the smell with a freshener. Interestingly, one of the most common reasons that a houseplant may leave a lingering odor has everything to do with how its owner manages its care.
- Tracey Johnson
May 21, 2023 · To use hydrogen peroxide, mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with three parts water and pour it over the soil. This will help eliminate any rotten egg smell caused by root rot or other bacterial growths in the soil. The mixture will also disinfect the plant roots and prevent the further development of harmful bacteria.
Jan 17, 2024 · 1. You are watering your plants too much or too often. In this house, the most common reason why the soil starts to smell funky is because it gets over-saturated with water. If a plant is getting more water than it can absorb, the moisture lingers in the soil too long, causing the roots to rot.
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Jan 30, 2024 · There are a few reasons why your plant might smell bad. The most common cause is root rot, which occurs when the roots of the plant are too wet for too long. This can lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi, which produce a foul odor. Other causes of plant odor include pests, disease, and overwatering.
