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Old 08-04-2007, 06:14 PM posted to alt.home.lawn.garden
Noozer Noozer is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Apr 2007
Posts: 2
Default Indoor plant soil smells funny.

Not quite sure what to make of it. I'm sure it's not healthy, but the plant
doesn't seem to mind. It's a Ficus in a 24+" wide pot. We've had this plant
for more than seven years, with a couple transplants during that time.

When I water this plant I get a sickly sweet odor from the soil. It smells
very much like I'd expect flat cola sodapop to smell. The small whiff I get
from it makes me stop inhaling quickly, so I'm sure that I should be
avoiding it.

My problem is that I don't know what's causing it. The soil doesn't seem
overly damp. With the depth of the pot, I guess it could be too wet at the
bottom, but there is a tray under the pot and the weep holes are open. The
Ficus, while not thriving, isn't showing any signs of distress either.

So, any idea what this is and how to stop it? Can I take soil from an indoor
plant somewhere and have it analysed at a reasonable cost?

I'm located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

Thanks!

P.s. If there's a better group to ask this in, I'd like to know about it.