Mold? Got a pix? Do you run a little fan? Rosie

Yes, I run a fan 24 hours a day. I try not to put the fan too close because it dried out the wicks of some pots. Should I spray neem oil for now?

I would loosen the top soil layer and carefully dump it off. Add well mixed new soil to replace it. It shouldn't be mold if you run a fan and use a good perlite/soil mix for wicking. I am not sure I would reach for the Neem at this point. I don't know that Neem is going to help with mold. Isn't that for bugs & stuff like that? I have never used it so I don't know. Rosie

The bottle of neem oil says kills mold. I moved to fan closer for now.

Are you certain it is mold and not salt residue from fertilizer? I did not see a plant species listed.

As I said Julie I have never used Neem so I can't advise on that. But make sure the fan blows over the top, not necessarily onto the violets. Soft breeze is the key. Good luck! Rosie

Irina is correct, don't worry about it :)

Irina, Amy, and Rosie,

Thank you so much. I am greatly relieved. Don't want to deal with another problem. The leaves are fine, no PM found.

I think I might found the reason. My fan doesn't oscillate, so the plants not in direct line grew mold. I changed to an oscillating fan. Will see if it helps.

Though I'm not sure my asthma would like mold, I am somewhat charmed by the moss on the soil of my tropical hibiscus. AVs would probably like moss (raising local humidity perhaps).

Moss will obstruct the airflow to the roots and consume the fertilizer. AVs are probably better without. Hibiscus is a shrub, it probably will be happy to coexist with the moss.

Good point Irina. I've never had violet soil become mossy in any case :0