Probably every plant lover knows it: a whitish mold coating suddenly forms on the surface of the substrate. If cared for incorrectly, it can spread across the trunk and affect the entire plant. There is a further risk of mold in palm trees: the fungal spores nest in the heart of the palm and the plant could even die as a result.
What to do if the palm tree is moldy?
If your palm tree is moldy, it is usually due to excessive moisture. You can prevent this by providing sufficient ventilation, only watering when the soil is dry, loosening the surface and minimizing spraying of the fronds. If there is mold in the palm heart, a fungicide should be used.
Mold formation on earth
Here the problem is mostly in the air, because mold spores can be found almost everywhere. If there is enough moist material, warm temperatures and nutrients, the white or yellowish mycelium develops. This usually has little effect on he althy plants, although competition for nutrients could occur. In addition, the dense mushroom lawn may prevent water absorption.
Prevention and Remedy
- Adequate ventilation can prevent mold formation.
- Watere only when the top few inches of soil feel dry. This deprives the mold of its livelihood.
- Occasionally loosen the surface with a fork.
- Replace soil if the infestation is severe.
Mold appears on the trunk
Moisture also forms the basis here, because this is the only way the fungus can settle. Have you perhaps watered the palm tree more frequently from above, causing water to run down the trunk? Excessive spraying to increase the humidity could also be the cause.
Remedy
Carefully wipe off the mold and in future water the palm tree “from below”, i.e. only directly onto the ground. Also, only spray the fronds. If the air is very dry, it is advisable to humidify it several times a day, but only moderately.
Mold in the palm heart
This often occurs after hibernation and especially when high humidity has formed outdoors under the winter protection.
This can be life-threatening for the palm tree and can even cause the plant to die. Act quickly. A well-acting remedy comes from human medicine, Chinosol (€34.00 on Amazon), which you can get without a prescription from the pharmacy. Plant specialist shops also have products available that are very helpful in dealing with mold infestation of the heart of palm. These are dissolved in water and poured directly onto the educational tissue.
Tip
The mealy bugs, which are sometimes found on the leaves, look deceptively similar to mold due to their cottony, white covering. If you look at the white spots under a magnifying glass, the insects can usually be easily identified. In this case, treat with an appropriate insecticide.
