Most plant lovers want to see flowers or new leaves appear on their houseplants; what they don’t want to see is mushrooms growing in their flower pots.
Mushrooms growing in houseplants is a pretty common occurrence, but with the right course of action, you can get that fungus gone for good.
This post contains referral links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase.
What causes mushrooms to grow in houseplants?
Mushrooms in houseplants are caused by fungal spores that find their way into the soil. These spores become thin strands of fungus that eventually grow into the mushrooms you see in your plants. Spores can be introduced through the air, transferred from clothing, or can come from contaminated soilless growing mediums, like perlite or peat moss.
The most common type of mushroom found in houseplants is the yellow houseplant mushroom (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii). It is a light yellow mushroom that have either a round of flat cap.
Are mushrooms growing in houseplants dangerous?
The mushrooms you find growing in your houseplants are generally not dangerous to you or your plants, as long as they are not ingested. While this is easy for adults to remember, young children or pets might not be so careful around these fungi. If you find mushrooms growing in your houseplants, be sure to move your plants away from pets or little ones, or simply remove the mushrooms.
Tips for getting rid of mushrooms in houseplants
Mushrooms in houseplants are unattractive, but thankfully, there are several ways to get rid of them. These are some of the easiest methods to get rid of mushrooms growing in houseplants.
Remove the mushrooms
The easiest and quickest way to get rid of mushroom is simply to remove them from your houseplants. Removing the mushrooms removes the source of fungal spores and keeps them from spreading to your other plants.
The downside to this method is because you are only removing the visible fungus, there could still be fungus in the soil, which will cause the mushrooms to come back. If mushrooms continue to reappear after trying this method, you’ll want to consider trying one of the other options on our list.
Repot your plant
Another easy solution is to repot your plant. Replacing the soil will remove the fungus living in the soil, and this should stop your mushroom problem.
Because some of the older soil will still be on your plant’s roots, there is a small chance that mushrooms could return, even after repotting. However, the chances of mushrooms regrowing are much less than if you simply remove the mushrooms from the soil.
Scrape off the top layer of soil
If repotting your entire plant seems daunting, scraping off the top 2 inches of soil and replacing it with fresh soil may help. However, there’s a chance that this will not remove all of the fungus, so keep that in mind before pursuing this solution.
Use fungicide to eliminate mushrooms
Fungicide can be a very effective method for getting rid of mushrooms in houseplants. You’ll want to follow the directions on the fungicide you choose, but it will usually involve drenching the soil with the product.
If you’re looking for a more natural option, cinnamon is a natural fungicide, and can be used to kill fungus in houseplants, including mushrooms.
It may take more than one treatment to fully get rid of mushrooms, but this method usually gets the job done quickly.
Make environmental adjustments
Houseplant mushrooms love warm, humid conditions. Adjusting the temperature and humidity of your air or the moisture of your plant’s soil can help eliminate the recurrence of mushrooms. However, this is something to be careful with; many plants love warm, humid conditions as well, so make sure your houseplants don’t suffer for the sake of removing fungus.
Conclusion
Mushrooms growing in houseplants are a nuisance, but thankfully, they are not harmful to your plants. They are also easily removed with some simple actions. Follow the mushroom removal method that works best for you, and your plants will be beautiful and fungus-free in no time!
