Mushrooms In Your houseplants? Why They Are A Good Sign
Have you noticed little round balls or caps sticking out of your houseplant’s soil? You’re certainly not the only one! Based on the posts we see every day in the HPH Facebook group “what the heck is this in my plant?!” is a really common question. Today we’re going to take a look at some common fungi that may pop up in your pots, and why they’re there.
What Kind of Mushroom Are They?
The majority of the mushrooms that you see growing in your potting soil are Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, formerly named Lepiota lutea, which are small and varying shades of yellow. These are so frequently seen in pots in greenhouses and homes that the common names are plantpot dapperling and flowerpot parasol. You may first notice small bright yellow little balls in the soil, which, as the cap expands to release the white spores, they will become a much paler color. The cap of these little beauties, when not fully matured, is oval shaped and about 1-2 in, or 2.54-5.08 cm, tall, and will become more bell-shaped as they get older. If you look closely you will see that the cap has interesting patterns of bumps and lines. Although this mushroom has gills, they do not attach to them stem, which is also only a few inches tall.
What Do They Do For The Plant?
Although there are types of parasitic mushroom, these are definitely not one of those! In fact, they are what is called a saprotrophic mushroom, which just means that they feed on dead organic matter. This means that they will feed on the dead roots, decaying potting material, insects, etc, and then release the material back into the soil in a way that can be used by the plant as food. Basically what this all means is that these mushrooms break down the large bits in the potting mix and turn them into something that benefits the plant.
To Remove or Not To Remove?
This is entirely up to you. Yes, they can spread readily and some people don’t like the look of them in their pots. Also, there is different information about their toxicity level, so it is best to keep them out of reach of children and pets. If you choose to attempt to remove these, you should know that it is actually pretty difficult and would most likely involve you completely changing out the potting mix in the pot. For those who have them and keep them, they definitely add some interest to your potted plants and can be a good conversation piece for the next time someone comes over.
Do you have more questions or are looking for more plant inspiration, information, or pictures? Want to show off your own pot dwelling mushrooms, plants, or just talk with like-minded people from across the globe? Check out HPH on Facebook to join our global community of plant lovers! Ω