It doesn't happen every day: small mushrooms actually grow on the potting soil of your houseplant. What kind of mushrooms are they and are they dangerous? Find out about this and what helps effectively in this article.
Why is there a yellow fungus growing on my potting soil?
Cheap potting soil usually contains a high proportion of humus in the form of peat. Thisorganic materialdecomposes over time and provides anideal breeding ground for fungi. In high-quality potting soil there are fewer organic substances and therefore fewer fungi.
What are these mushrooms on my potting soil?
If you find yellow mushrooms in the flower pot, it is probably theyellow umbrella mushroom(Leucocoprinus birnbaumii). You can recognize it by its sulfur yellow color on the stem, cap and fins. It can grow on houseplants at any time of the year. If you don't fight the fungus, it will disappear on its own. However, it will grow again next year at the same time in the same place.
How do you fight yellow fungus in potting soil?
To get rid of the fungus, you should repot the plant. Be sure to work outdoors. Proceed as follows:
- Carefully remove the plant from the pot and dispose of the soil in the household waste.
- Clean the root ball under running water without damaging the fine roots.
- Clean the flower pot thoroughly, ideally with vinegar water.
- First fill the pot with a drainage layer made of broken pottery or expanded clay.
- Carefully reinsert the plant and refill with good soil.
How can you prevent yellow fungus on potting soil?
To avoid fungal infestation, you should take the following measures:
- Use high-quality potting soil without peat. Peat substitutes such as bark humus, wood or coconut fibers are better.
- Ensure good drainage in the pot and avoid waterlogging.
- It is best to water from below.
- Allow the soil surface to dry slightly regularly.
- Ensure regular air exchange through good ventilation.
- Keep humidity low.
Is the yellowish fungus in potting soil dangerous?
According to current studies, the wrinkle umbrella is initially an optical impairment. However, it isnot suitable for consumption and in this case it can even be poisonous. Fungus gnats often like to settle in heavily infested potting soil to lay their eggs.
Tip
It is not enough to simply tear off the fungus superficially
If you only remove the fungus superficially, that is, if you tear out the fruiting body, it won't help much. The actual fungus, the so-called mycelium, grows underground and can only be removed by replacing the soil.
