How To Prevent Mold From Growing On Your Beloved Houseplants

For many plant enthusiasts, indoor vegetation is a must. Not only do houseplants add pops of color and personality to a space, but they can also help improve our mental health at home. Unfortunately, mold can turn these leafy friends into a health hazard.

That's not to say you should kick your fern or fiddle-leaf fig out of the house, though! Just follow these tips to keep them mold-free.

Most species of mold spores need two main components to transition into living colonies: a food source and a water source.

The organic material in plants' potting soil offers plenty of edible options for mold spores. Dead debris, such as leaves, can also attract mold. And finally, organic particles floating around in your indoor air, such as skin cells, can also supply mold with life-giving energy.

As for moisture, plants need water to grow just as much as mold does. This can create the perfect opportunity for a spore to start growing right alongside the plant, either in its soil or on the plant itself.

When mold grows on a houseplant, it releases microscopic spores into the surrounding area. Some species also create and release microscopic toxins called mycotoxins, further increasing the number of particles in the area. As long as the mold colony is thriving, it will continue to emit these particles.

Over time, this will decrease indoor air quality as these particles are small enough to become airborne and be inhaled, ingested, and absorbed into the body. Exposure to this poor indoor air quality can trigger a long list of potential symptoms that vary based on factors such as species of mold, the presence of mycotoxins, and the health of an individual's immune system.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to indoor microbial growth. Here are eight things you can do to safeguard your houseplants from mold:

Don't take this information as a sign you shouldn't have indoor plants! By following these mindful practices, you'll create an environment that not only nurtures your plants' well-being but also keeps mold at bay, ensuring a healthy and thriving indoor oasis.

Michael Rubino is a mold and air quality expert and founder of HomeCleanse, a revolutionary company with the vision to end the worldwide health epidemic caused by poor air quality and toxic indoor environments.

As President of HomeCleanse, Rubino specializes in working with people who are immunocompromised or have acute and sustained reactions to mold exposure. He works closely with the company's advisory team, which includes global well-being trailblazers Deepak Chopra's The Chopra Foundation and Gwyneth Paltrow, to achieve the company's mission to improve the quality of life for 100 million people each year by 2030. Rubino is also the founder of Change the Air Foundation, a nonprofit committed to empowering the world to achieve better health by establishing safer and healthier indoor environments.

Through collaboration with over 100 doctors globally, Rubino strives to not only raise awareness globally but also provide solutions to correctly identify and remove the pollutants causing this worldwide health crisis. Rubino specializes in working with people who are immunocompromised or have acute and sustained reactions to mold exposure and has helped heal over 1,000 families so far—including celebrities and athletes. He is a council-certified Mold Remediation Supervisor by ACACa nd IICRC and is a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association.

Connect with Michael Rubino on Facebook @HomeCleanseCo, Instagram @TheMichaelRubino and TikTok @HomeCleanse, and visit www.homecleanse.com.