Find out what leaf mold is and how it can help your houseplants. Discover where to find leaf mold (you usually can’t buy it) and how to harvest it and use it on your houseplants.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, we have another installment of houseplant terminology. This way, when you are reading about plants, listening to videos, watching videos about plants, or talking to people about plants, you will know what various terms are and their significance.
So today, we’re going to talk about what leaf mold is. You may read a lot about leaf mold and how to use it in your garden, and you can even use it in your indoor garden. It sounds kind of weird—like what is that moldy leaves? And actually, it pretty much is.
Leaf mold is essentially composted shade tree leaves or just tree leaves in general. It’s called mold rather than compost because, rather than being broken down by heat-generating compost methods (like if you were to build a traditional compost bin in your backyard), leaf mold is derived from leaves that are broken down by a slow fungal process. So that’s where it gets the name leaf mold.
The result is decomposed leaves full of nutrients and good bacteria for the soil. It also makes a great mulch, and it can hold up to 50 percent of its own weight in water. If you want to see leaf mold and gather some for your houseplants (provided there aren’t any signs telling you not to gather anything), you could go out into the woods. Push back the leaves on the ground, and that will expose a crumbly brown material that has a pleasant earthy scent—this is leaf mold.
You can create your own leaf mold from leaves that you shred and place in a pile in a wire rim bin in your backyard or on your porch. They do need to be kept moist and turned occasionally; however, the process takes about a year. That’s why you generally won’t find leaf mold for sale, among other reasons—one being that it’s very moist and that sort of thing.
If you want to use some leaf mold in your houseplants (which I have done), especially as a mulch on top of the soil, you will need to go out and get some or make some.
So, there you go! That is what leaf mold is, why you might want to try it in your houseplants, and where to find it. If you do, maybe you live near some woods and decide to collect some. Generally speaking, most woods aren’t treated with pesticides and things like that, but you do want to try to find a place where it hasn’t been treated. Harvest your leaf mold from there—it’s going to be about two inches down or so. As I mentioned, you will recognize it because it has a pleasant earthy scent and is a pretty coffee brown color.
Leaf mold makes your houseplants very happy because it not only moisturizes the soil but is also full of good nutrients, especially micronutrients, which are really good for the soil. It will also build up the good bacteria in your houseplant soil. As I always mention, you want to try to mimic Mother Nature or Father Nature as much as possible in your indoor garden; that is the way to have a really healthy indoor garden, and leaf mold is definitely one way to do that.
Mulching is also a good way, as well as using regular compost and worm compost.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leaf Mold
What is leaf mold?
Leaf mold is essentially composted shade tree leaves or just tree leaves in general. It’s called mold rather than compost because it is derived from leaves that are broken down by a slow fungal process rather than being broken down by heat-generating compost methods.
How is leaf mold different from traditional compost?
Unlike traditional compost, which is created through heat-generating processes, leaf mold is produced by the natural decomposition of leaves through a slow fungal process, making it rich in nutrients and beneficial bacteria.
What are the benefits of using leaf mold?
Leaf mold is full of nutrients and good bacteria for the soil, makes a great mulch, and can hold up to 50 percent of its own weight in water, which helps to retain moisture in the soil for your houseplants.
Where can I find leaf mold?
You can gather leaf mold by pushing back leaves on the ground in the woods, where you may find crumbly brown material with a pleasant earthy scent. Alternatively, you can create your own leaf mold by shredding leaves and placing them in a pile to decompose.
How do I create my own leaf mold?
To create your own leaf mold, shred leaves and place them in a wire rim bin in your backyard or on your porch. Keep the pile moist and turn it occasionally; the process will take about a year.
Can I use leaf mold in my houseplants?
Yes! Leaf mold can be used in your houseplants, especially as a mulch on top of the soil. It not only moisturizes the soil but also provides essential nutrients.
How does leaf mold benefit my indoor garden?
Leaf mold helps to moisturize the soil, adds micronutrients, and builds up good bacteria in your houseplant soil, contributing to a healthy indoor garden environment.
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