Fungus isn’t fun, but it happens. Here’s why mushrooms appear on your houseplants’ soil and what you can do to prevent it.
If you’ve noticed sneaky mushrooms appearing in your houseplants’ soil, you’re not alone. The fungus is attracted to damp conditions and can be annoying, but usually not harmful. Let’s try to get rid of it.
Here are some things you need to know to find mushrooms in your houseplants and get rid of them:
Seeing mushrooms popping up in your potted plants can be annoying and off-putting. While generally harmless these fuzzy fungi are not something most people want lingering in their living spaces or gardens.
The good news is that with some adjustments to care and maintenance, you can stop mushrooms from taking over your potted plants. Here are the best tips and tricks.
Why Do Mushrooms Grow in Potted Plants?
Before diving into solutions, it helps to understand what causes mushrooms to grow in container plants in the first place
The main culprits are:
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Spores – Mushroom growth begins when microscopic spores are present. They easily spread through air, water, and soil. Once settled, they germinate if conditions allow.
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Moisture – The #1 factor mushrooms need to thrive is a consistently moist environment. Wet soil provides an ideal habitat.
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Organic matter – High levels of decaying material in soil also encourages fungal growth.
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Poor drainage – When waterlogged soil prevents excess moisture from draining, fungi flourish.
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Low light – Mushrooms prefer shady, low light areas. Poorly lit plants tend to be more susceptible.
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Humid conditions – High humidity provides sufficient moisture for prolific mushroom growth.
By understanding these factors, you can take steps to make your plants less accommodating to mushrooms.
How to Remove Existing Mushrooms
If mushrooms have already popped up, removing them right away can help slow their spread. Here are some tips:
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Wear gloves to avoid direct contact and wash hands after handling mushrooms. Some varieties can irritate skin.
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Use a spoon or dull knife to scrape away mushrooms and lift off the top 1-2 inches of soil where spores are concentrated.
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Discard the contaminated soil and mushrooms in a sealed plastic bag, not your compost pile!
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Top off the pot with fresh, sterilized potting mix if needed after scraping away soil.
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Quarantine the plant away from other containers to prevent spore spread.
This process will likely need to be repeated as mushrooms often recur. But it can provide temporary relief while also employing preventive measures.
Preventing Future Mushroom Growth
The best way to stop mushrooms for good is through prevention by modifying the conditions that allow them to thrive in container plants:
Allow soil to dry out between waterings
The #1 priority is letting the soil dry out more between waterings. Fungi need consistently damp conditions, so allowing pots to dry out disrupts the habitat.
Use your finger to test moisture levels and water only when the top few inches of soil become dry. Avoid keeping plants in soggy soil or saucers of water.
For tropical plants that prefer moisture, aim for moist but not continually wet soil. Improve drainage as needed.
Improve drainage
Make sure your container plants have adequate drainage holes at the base. Repot into planters with more or larger holes if current pots retain too much water.
Add perlite, gravel, or other amendments when repotting to improve drainage and aeration.
Elevate pots off saucers or surfaces so excess water can escape. Don’t let them sit in puddles.
Increase light exposure
Position plants in the brightest spot available indoors or outdoors to discourage fungal growth. Mushrooms prefer dim conditions.
Avoid dense shade and increase sunlight where feasible without scorching leaves.
Turn or rotate plants regularly so all sides receive adequate light.
Use fungicides
Apply fungicide drenches or powders to soil as a protective barrier against spores germinating. Products with trichoderma strains are safe for indoor use.
Always follow label instructions carefully regarding dosage and repeat applications.
Fungicides work best as a preventive measure, not once mushrooms are present.
Reduce humidity
In areas prone to high humidity like basements and bathrooms, use fans, dehumidifiers, and air circulation to keep moisture levels down.
Group plants together away from moisture sources to limit exposure.
Misting plants frequently also raises ambient humidity – cut back as needed.
Replace potting mix
Old, spent soil with lots of decaying matter encourages mushrooms. Refresh pots annually or biannually with new sterile mix.
When repotting, clean pots thoroughly with soap and water before refilling to remove spores.
If mushrooms are severe, replace soil and thoroughly wash the plant’s root ball.
With extra vigilance and a few simple adjustments to care, you can curb excess moisture and humidity to make conditions much less accommodating for mushrooms in your potted plants.
What to Do If Mushrooms Persist
Even with your best preventive efforts, those pesky mushrooms may occasionally return. Here are some extra remedies to try:
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Scrape away mushrooms and top layer of soil as soon as they appear to contain the problem.
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Spread sand, pebbles, gravel, or wood chips on the soil surface to prevent spores from taking hold.
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Apply cinnamon powder, a natural fungicide, liberally over the soil to inhibit growth.
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Consider repotting into a brand new container if mushrooms won’t go away.
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As a last resort, discard the plant entirely if fungi are severe and risks outweigh benefits.
When mushrooms become a losing battle, letting go of the plant so spores don’t spread may be the wisest solution.
Are Mushrooms in Soil Harmful to Plants?
Mushrooms growing in your houseplants’ soil are generally harmless to the plants themselves. But they can indicate:
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Consistently over-wet soil
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Poor drainage
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Old, low quality potting mix
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Decaying organic matter
So while the mushrooms alone don’t damage plant roots or health directly, the conditions that allow them to thrive are far from ideal.
Improving care for the issues above benefits your plants beyond merely eliminating mushrooms. Healthier roots and better soil foster stronger, vibrant growth.
Are Mushrooms in Potted Plants Toxic?
Many mushroom species are toxic to humans and pets when eaten. While ingesting a small number of mushrooms likely won’t cause major issues for adults, they can impact children and animals if consumed.
When scraped away during removal, handle mushroom debris carefully and discard where it won’t be accessed. Never add to compost piles.
Wear gloves during the process and wash hands after. Keep potted plants with recurring mushrooms out of reach of kids and pets.
For outdoor containers, check that species are not dangerously toxic before allowing mushrooms to remain. When in doubt, remove all fungi.
While not typically life-threatening from limited exposure, it’s smart to exercise caution when dealing with unknown mushrooms in your home and garden containers.
Enjoy Mushroom-Free Plants!
Don’t let pesky fungi dampen your enjoyment of potted plants. With some diligent adjustments to watering, drainage, light exposure, and soil conditions, you can successfully prevent mushrooms from cropping up in your containers.
Implement good prevention habits when caring for all your houseplants and outdoor pots. Deal with any occasional mushrooms promptly. Your plants will thank you with vibrant, healthy growth free of unwanted fungi.
Are the mushrooms dangerous?
They won’t cause any harm to your plants, but they are toxic to humans and animals if eaten.
It won’t hurt your plant if you decide to leave them alone—maybe you like the way they look.
What causes mushrooms in houseplants?
The spores that grow into mushrooms are tiny, so they can float in from anywhere. They may have drifted into your plant’s soil during the growing process. They may have come from another plant in your home, or even brushed off your clothes.
They love moisture. They particularly thrive in summer, when the soil is moist and warm. Overwatered plants with very wet soil are more likely to grow mushrooms.
How To Get Rid Of Mushrooms In Houseplants
FAQ
Why are mushrooms growing in my potted plant?
What kills mushrooms but not plants?
How to get rid of mushrooms in soil?
What fertilizer stops mushrooms from growing?
How do you get rid of mushrooms in a pot?
Try plucking them out by the stems rather than the caps along with some of the surrounding soil. If this does not do the trick, you can try removing the top half-inch of the soil. Should the mushrooms still be an issue, repotting the plant in a new pot with new soil would be another method for dealing with the issue.
How do I keep mushrooms out of my houseplants?
This will also help keep mushrooms out of your other houseplants. Scrape the soil – Scraping the top 2 inches (5 cm.) of soil off the houseplants pot and replacing it may help, but the fungus may regrow and the mushrooms will return. Change the soil – Changing the soil may possibly help with getting rid of mushrooms.
Can You repot mushrooms in potted plants?
Unfortunately, this may not entirely resolve issues with mushrooms in potted plants. The spores could still be attached to parts of the plant roots. If you do not want to repot the plant, you could change the top layer of soil. To do this, remove the top 2” (5 cm) of soil and replace it with a fresh potting mix.
Do mushrooms grow in potting soil?
Mushrooms love to feed on the decaying organic matter in the indoor plant medium. If your indoor plant has rich fertile soil, there are possibilities of mushroom growth in the soil. More or less, all potting soils contain components like peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, coco coir, barks, sand, etc.