Mike, you have good nerves not to freak out seeing that on your corn! Impressive slime mold! I found a lovey hot pink one in the woods earlier this year, I always have newfound respect for the variety of life on this planet when I come across one of those, in any color. It isn't likely to hurt that corn plant and may in fact help a little by freeing up some nutrients from the mulch. Just let it dry out and it will disappear on its own. It's probably ending its crawling cycle now and has climbed up to better spread its spores on the wind. Cheers!

today....It had moved all but out of the box and resembled berry cobbler!!!! it had reddish ooey gooey looking stuff (just like if you cut holes in the top of a pie crust and the inside oozed up and out). I didn't get my camera out because I actually had to move that bed and it disturbed it. Weird stuff to be certain!!!!

Slime molds (not really a mold or a fungus) really don't have much to do with decomposition but ingest bacteria and organic compounds that are already decomposed. They are very common on mulch, manure, compost, etc. But they can also be observed moving across sidewalks and other surfaces. Fascinating organisms, and not at all harmful in any way.

your plants need the following: air, sun, water/humidity,heat ... a bunch of other things... think of it this way .... they are all full sun, summer plants .... mimic what they need outdoors and you will be further ahead .... first .... they all grow in the summer ... soil temperature NEVER fall very far .... if you are in a cold zone and trying to do this on the window sill .... they might be getting too cold at night .... leading to root rot .. if you have a furnace.. they are struggling for lack of humidity .... i agree you are probably over-watering ... and it is real tricky in the house .... in the winter .... i would suggest you tend toward letting them all dry between waterings ..... if you are relying on the sun through a window pane .. they are starving for light .... these plants need 8 to 12 hours of sun .... direct ... in the alternative ....16 hours under standard fluorescent lights no more than a few inches above them will suffice ... since you will need a light set up .... you will be able to add humidity .... research propagation .. and see if you can get a fresh start .... your plants came into the house with bug eggs in the soil ... and since they are food plants... you can not use a systemic to rid the soil of the bugs.. ergo ... you have to start over .... with cuttings.. in an isolated area .. if possible.. and then ... sterilize some media.. and keep them clean ..... other than saying they get light and water.. you have provided little if any information to exactly what you are doing in regard to the culture of your plants ... we cant help without more info .... the injuries you are experiencing are not the problem ... the weakening of your plants is the problem .... grow a strong plant ..... and the other things disappear .... and i sure hope these things aren't in clay pots .... they are nearly impossible to use in a house .... too wet.. too dry ... etc .... mint, as i recall .. roots freely ... if you still have a sprig or two that is in good shape .... slice the end.. and root it in a cup of water ..... off hand.. i don't know about the others .... good luck ken