How to Get Odors Out of Houseplants
- 1). Determine which houseplant is the culprit. If there's a general smell of rotting soil in a house full of indoor plants, find out which container is causing the odor. Remove the stinking plant.
- 2). Check the water catcher or drainage saucer. Catchers are used to protect the floor and furniture from water and moisture seeping from the houseplants. In some cases, the water in the catchers remains standing too long and become foul smelling. Always empty the water catchers about an hour after watering so that it doesn't become a haven for odor-causing bacteria.
- 3). Remove decaying leaves and plant parts. Fallen leaves that rot on the soil can give off a musty smell.
- 4). Check the soil for fungus and algae. Affected container pots and plants cause odors and allergies and must be taken out of the house.
- 5). Avoid overwatering. Keeping the soil overly moist can cause root rot, which not only gives off a rotten smell but also kills the plant.
- 6). Use soilless growing media for indoor plants. Potting soil that is peat-based and pest-free is odor-free as well. Regular soil, which has compost and dried manure that tends to smell when wet, is best used for plants that are kept outdoors.
- 7). Use odorless fertilizer. Check for available brands at garden centers.
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