Who doesn't know it? As soon as the freshly planted flower pots are on the terrace, brown mushrooms are already growing in the ground. On the one hand it looks unsightly and on the other hand you don't know whether the fungi can harm the plants. So what to do?
What to do if there are brown mushrooms in the flower pot?
Brown mushrooms in flower pots are caused by high humidity and humus-rich soil. They are usually harmless, but should be removed. To get rid of them, repot the plant, use high-quality potting soil, pay attention to water drainage and avoid waterlogging through drainage. Ventilate houseplants regularly.
Why do mushrooms grow in potting soil?
In nature, fungi occur wherever decomposition processes are involved. They also love high humidity and humus-rich soil. Soils with a high proportion of peat or peat substitutes contain many organic substances that are decomposed by fungi. High-quality potting soil contains little peat, so fungi are less likely to grow here. If you water too much and the water cannot evaporate sufficiently (in the case of plastic pots), there is also a good basis for fungus to form.
Are the mushrooms harmful?
First of all, the fungi are not dangerous to the plants. However, there are fungi that spread over a large area and form an almost waterproof layer on the potting soil. After a while, insufficient water and oxygen can penetrate the soil and cause damage to the plant.
Furthermore, mushrooms release spores into the air when they are ripe. These tiny beads can be inhaled. Allergy sufferers may react with asthmatic attacks. In any case, the fungi must be removed.
Immediate measures if fungi appear in the potting soil
If you observe fungal growth in your flower pots, you should immediately move the infected pots outdoors (for houseplants). Ventilate your home so that possible fungal spores are blown out. Then the potting soil needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
- Repot the flowers outdoors.
- Remove all soil from the pot.
- Shake the plant well too.
- Clean the pot with a brush.
- Rinse with vinegar water.
- Replant your plant.
- Use high-quality potting soil (€12.00 on Amazon) with high mineral content and little peat.
- Make sure there is drainage in the bottom of the pot.
- Introduce drainage made of expanded clay or clay shards into the flower pot before planting. In this way you prevent waterlogging and deprive fungal growth of an important basis.
- Do not water the plant until the soil is dry.
- Make sure your houseplants are ventilated regularly. This prevents excessive humidity.
