OT: Plant soil smells funny.

Sorry that this is off topic. Tried posting to alt.home.lawn.garden with no responses...

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.

Reply to
Noozer
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Try rec.gardens. It doesn't have as much traffic as here, but you should get a reply or two.

-Felder

Reply to
Felder

There could be some kind of rotting or disease going on there. Maybe someone dumped a cola on the plant? Potting soil should not have an unpleasant odor. If you don't want to repot it, take it outdoors and flush it out using the garden hose (run the water slowly for an hour or so), drain well, then don't water it for at least 2 weeks.

Reply to
Phisherman

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