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Why is my plant steaming/releasing a visible vapour?

amyburgesstribeamyburgesstribe Posts: 5
edited December 2018 in Plants
I have a Pilea Depressa in my room which I have kept for a few months all fine, i water it a bit every few days.
Today I saw there was some light yellow looking leaves near the soil so I was picking them out (most of them were dead and not attached to the plant), as I was doing this I noticed every so often the plant was almost steaming? The plant isn't warm or near something warm so I doubt it actually was steam but I was slightly concerned and confused as to why it was releasing a vapour/gas that was visible. I can't see anything about this online so wondering if anyone would be able to shed some light on this strange occurance!
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  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Maybe fungal spores? Is there any mould or similar growing in the soil or on the plant?
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • amyburgesstribeamyburgesstribe Posts: 5
    wild edges said:
    Maybe fungal spores? Is there any mould or similar growing in the soil or on the plant?
    There's nothing particularly obviously fungal but that could well be, thank you
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree with wild edges, it does sound like fungal spores. I know what you mean about it looking like steam though @amyburgesstribe !  :)
  • amyburgesstribeamyburgesstribe Posts: 5
    AnniD said:
    I agree with wild edges, it does sound like fungal spores. I know what you mean about it looking like steam though @amyburgesstribe !  :)
    Thanks so much. Do you think it's something to worry about? Like that it's not particularly good to have it in my room and be inhaling it?
  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813
    I should watch The Day of The Triffids..............I have no knowledge but on a common sense level I would put it outside as breathing in anything alien is not good
    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It's very possible that now you've removed the dead leaves, the problem has resolved itself @amyburgesstribe . Must confess, I'd not heard of this plant, so l did a bit of searching! At first l thought you may be overwatering, but l see they like to be kept fairly moist. Also they're an indoor plant,  so putting it outside wouldn't do it any good. I don't know how big it is, but l would suggest if possible, you take it out of it's pot and check it over really carefully for any dead and dying leaves tucked away that you might have missed. I assume you water it from the bottom ? Unless your room is really small you should be okay, if it's well aired- l think you would have to be very unlucky to be affected by the spores.
  • amyburgesstribeamyburgesstribe Posts: 5
    If anyone is still interested I realised that the 'gas' is being released when the tiny flower buds open, they kind of explode to reveal a cross of 4 smaller flowers and release a powder or gas of some sort, I managed to catch it on video so that was an interesting discovery, you learn something new everyday!
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    It could be releasing pollen like this Pilea?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0YzBwcp8c
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    You learn something new every day! 
  • amyburgesstribeamyburgesstribe Posts: 5
    madpenguin said:
    It could be releasing pollen like this Pilea?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0YzBwcp8c
    Yes that is exactly it, thank you!
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