i dont really think of mums as houseplants ... and boy that doesnt look like mum foliage ... it should probably be outside ... in full shade to harden it off ... and that would probably take care of molds and mildews ... to some extent ... most likely.. the media is keeping the soil too wet ... and the problem is actually in such.. rather than on the plant ... PM is a late summer problem when nights stay very warm.. and there is excess humidity in the air ... hence the word MILDEW ... i have never head of such indoors .. and outdoors.. never this early in the season ... of course, subject to where you are ... and some plants are just hairy... and look like that.. and that is why i am wondering if it really is a mum ... can we have a pic of the plant in general ... ken

Doubt it's verticillium. But it would definitely help us decide what it is if you would post a picture or two of the plants overall.

Nanelle: Could very well be the overwinters. PM is airborne, but it needs living tissue to survive. They say it thrives best in dry, mild conditions, but I see the symptoms mostly later in the season when we get the monsoonal humidity coming up from Baja. My guess is it digs its heels in during the spring without any evidence and by the time late summer and fall kicks in, the symptoms are visible. Like I said, peppers do a pretty good job of just shrugging it off, but once you got it, it's pretty hard to control each year. So, if I overwintered, I would cut them down to nubs in the winter, treat them with neem throughout the winter, and maybe do the same in the spring and summer. With cucurbits(squash, melons, cukes), it's much more harmful. One day, your palnts are looking great and the next thing you know, the foliage is covered with it and the plants just stop performing. So, shortly after they have some foliage, I start treating. Fungi are much easier to control BEFORE the symptoms show up. Are they the earthboxes? I doubt it. But make sure they get as much direct sun and air circulation as possible. Supposedly, these are conditions that make it inhospitable for the spores to reproduce. Kevin

Hi Heather ... Some good news ... your brown spots are not a real concern. It is common to have small blemishes on some African Violet leaves. If whole leaves start to turn brown, ... that's reason for concern. You plants and leaves all look good. I do see some Powdery Mildew. You'll see that from time to time. I'd assume that most of your plants are Optimaras, or some other widely sold variety, ... which will show Powdery Mildew sometimes (especially in warm humid weather), ... BUT not to the detriment of your plants, generally. Some African Violet varieties are MORE PRONE to experience Powdery Mildew than others. I have one plant with a touch of it now. Also ... thrips come with the territory with plants from local retailers )i.e. WalMart, Home Depot, LOWES, etc.). Thrips can be successfully eliminated. I use Bayer Tree & Shrub Protect and Feed Granules. Typically, you can get a supply of this product for about $20-$25 dollars. I put about a teaspoon of the granules in the saucers for my violets ... and then water (from the bottom) with plain (i.e. non-fertilized) water for a few months. In time, the Thrips will be gone. Note that the granules have a strong smell when you first start to use them, ... but after a day or so, ... the smell will be gone. And be careful to NOT FERTILIZE during these treatments ... as the granules have fertilizer in them as well. P.S. Thrips are not nearly as bad as mealy bugs or mites. They are a nuisance, ... but manageable.