Saving Your Herbs from Mold and Mildew: What to Look Out For
Creating an edible landscape can be a highly rewarding endeavor, but it does take work to keep things in good order. One thing to think about when storing and caring for your herbs is mold and mildew.
Mold and mildew will ruin your herbs and can cause a variety of health issues. Thankfully, there is a way to spot these problems right away and get rid of them.
What Mold Looks Like
If your plants have mold, you will see a slimy fuzz growth. If you see parts of your herbs looking black or brown, you likely have some bad mold growth.
You still have to check for different types of mold, though, as there are white mold spores that can start off from a mildew appearance. On the other hand, soot-based mold will present in dark patches that can be blackish-green in coloration.
What Mildew Looks Like
Mildew itself is problematic, but it can also develop into mold, which is naturally worse. Mildew looks like the top layer of your herbs has a light brown or grey hue over it.
The texture of it is going to be powdery and fuzzy, and you can see it either on the stem or leaves. Mildew can also look flour-like. This is completely different from the fungal mold that is black, so you will have to check closely to make sure you know what you are dealing with.
How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew
When you start noticing the signs of mold and mildew on your herbs, you will need to remove them as soon as possible. You don’t want it to spread and let your herbs get fully consumed by them.
The fastest way to get rid of them is to remove the affected parts and dispose of them. You need to wash your hands and whatever tool you use so that you don’t spread the disease to other parts of the plant. Make sure to clear the soil of residue as well.
Then, you can take a spray bottle and use a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar. Coat the affected herb and leave it for a few minutes before doing a very light rinse.
How to Prevent Mold and Mildew Growth
While you can remove mold and mildew from your herbs, you will want to make sure that you don’t have to do it again. It is important that you keep an eye on them for any signs of mold and mildew and stop them as soon as you notice.
The most important thing to do is manage humidity levels in the space where your plants are. Even though your plants need moisture, you don’t want things to be conducive to mold growth.
There should be enough exposure to sunlight and good airflow for circulation. On top of that, you should get rid of leaks in the area. Finally, you should spray your herbs with a mixture that is two cups of water and a teaspoon of tea tree oil.
Conclusion
Growing herbs can be a very rewarding experience, but mold and mildew growth can be rather stressful. It is essential to know how to care for your plants so that you can make sure they are always in good condition. When you are growing an edible garden, you want to prevent any issues that will make them inedible.
For more gardening tips, visit Blossom and Broom. We post home and garden content regularly, so check out our other content if you want to learn more!
