The Real Reason Your Indoor Plants Smell Musty (And How To Fix It)

The next time you walk past your collection of indoor plants, take a quick sniff. If you notice a stale, musty smell, you might want to double-check the soil. As it turns out, your plants' soil health and conditions can have a huge impact on their scent. If you can smell the mustiness from across the room, it may be time to examine your watering habits — the odor could be a sign that you're overwatering your indoor plants.

If you tend to overwater your plants, it's clear you are dedicated to taking care of them; they just might not need as much hydration as you think. Overwatering a plant can cause mold, fungus, and root rot, which can happen when roots are so oversaturated with water that the lack of oxygen damages or kills them. Waterlogged roots are also more vulnerable to organisms that cause further rot. Poorly-draining soil can compound the issue even more, essentially choking out your plants. Thankfully, testing whether your plants need more water is easy. To check, simply insert your finger into the dirt up to your first knuckle, about an inch deep. If the soil is still moist and clings to your skin, you don't need to add more water. Wait until it's dry before watering again.

If your plants are slowly drowning from being overwatered, don't worry — there are a few tactics you can try to bring them back to life. First, remove any dead or wilting leaves. If the plant is in the sun, temporarily move it to a shadier area so it won't require as much water. You can move plants back after they've healed. Next, check your pot's draining ability, adding extra holes if needed. Ensure that the plant is never sitting in excess water, since this can lead to root rot. 

Your best bet is to re-pot the entire plant and add new soil for a fresh start. Avoid heavy soils like clay and opt for a mixture of potting soil, perlite, peat moss, and vermiculite. You may need to improve your soil quality this time around — check that it's at the proper pH for your plant's specific needs, use a mix that drains well, and amend store-bought soil to improve the life of your plants.

After about a week, you should be able to tell if your plant is going to survive the overwatering or not. You should notice signs of improvement, like healthier leaves and a lack of odor. To make sure you never overwater your plants again, always try a quick finger soil test before reaching for your watering can.