Getting Rid Of Mushrooms Growing In Houseplant Soil

by johnah on October 30, 2020

What are Brown Mushroom?

Brown mushrooms (Mushroom) are fungi that grow on decaying organic matter such as dead leaves, wood chips or even animal dung. They look like little black dots with white spots. They have no solid color but rather they vary from light tan to dark brown. The most common type of brown mushrooms are Leucoagaricus species. Other types include Lepiota species, Agaricomycetes species and other genera such as Penicillium species.

The spores of these fungi produce a foul odor when disturbed which makes them quite unpleasant to humans. However, the smell dissipates after some time so it doesn’t really bother anyone else much.

How do You Get Rid of Mushrooms Growing In Your Plant Soil?

You can get rid of mushrooms growing in your plant soil by using the following methods:

1. Chemical Methods – These are not recommended because they don’t work very well and may cause damage to the plants.

Also, if you use too much chemicals, you will destroy all the beneficial microorganisms in your soil which would result in no good results.

2. Physical Removal – You can pull out the mushrooms by hand.

This is very time consuming and it may be difficult to remove all of them as they grow in clusters. Also, you will have to dispose of them and this too is a hassle.

3. Soil Fumigation – This is done by mixing two tablespoons of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water.

The container should be plastic or glass and not metal (metal will result in a chemical reaction). Using a spray bottle is an easy way to apply the bleach solution. Soak the soil generously and make sure it is well-distributed.

Leave for 30 minutes and then rinse with a lot of water.

4. Compost Tea – You can brew a batch of compost tea using a mixture of manure, grass clippings, old flowers and water.

Soak your soil in the tea and this will kill the mushroom roots.

Whether you are starting from scratch with new potting mix or amending your old mix, you’ll want to make sure you don’t add too much organic matter or you’ll have to deal with things like the mushrooms again in a few months.

5. Indoor Organic Fungicides – There are several organic fungicides such as ‘Pool Guard’ that are safe to apply to houseplants and are available at most garden centers.

6. Soil Amending – If you’ve been growing in the same soil for a long time, you may need to start over with new soil if the conditions are right for mushrooms or other root pests.

Amend your soil every few months with organic matter to prevent this from happening again.

7. Use a Coated Soil – You can use sterile potting mix or buy an uncoated soil and then spray it with a clear varnish.

The coating will seal the soil so nothing can grow in it. Make sure you use only plain water-based varnish and not the oil-based version.

Where Should You Place Your Indoor Plant?

There are several factors that affect plant growth and health such as temperature, light and water. All of these things should be considered when you are placing your plants. While there is no such thing as a perfect location, there are certain places that are better than others.

The best place to put your plants is definitely an area that is sunny most of the day. If this is not possible, look for an area that is brightly-lit throughout the day. Without proper lighting, the health of your plant will decline.

If you have a choice, go for a south-facing window. East or west work as well but only in the morning or evening (respectively). North-facing windows are not preferred as they get very little sunlight.

If you have no choice, however, placing your plant in a north-facing window is better than no window at all.

There are also special “grow lights” that can be purchased to supplement natural lighting if necessary. These are often used by indoor gardeners who grow specialized plants or vegetables.

Just remember that while light is important, it is not the only factor in plant growth. Your goal, as a new grower, should be to provide your plant with a good balance of all the major factors – light, water, nutrients and temperature. If you can do this, you should have success with your plant.

What Type Of Water Should You Use?

Water is possibly the most overlooked part of plant growth. Most people just use whatever water they have available – tap water or bottled water from the store. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. While water is certainly not as important as nutrients or light (for example), it still has an effect.

If you use highly-treated water, your plants may not get the nutrients they need. If you live in a city and your water is said to have extra chlorine in it, for example, this may harm your plants. If, on the other hand, you are using well water that has not been treated at all, you run the risk of your plant not getting enough nutrients.

The best thing to do is to test your water to see if it needs to have anything added to it. If it does, you can either add nutrients yourself or buy a liquid fertilizer with the right blend of nutrients in it. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer and water your plants well before applying.

What Type Of Soil Should You Use?

As we mentioned earlier, it is best to use a soilless mix – also known as a potting mix. This has a combination of different ingredients, such as sand, peat moss, vermiculite and coco fiber, to name a few. This type of mix is light and provides good aeration for your plant’s roots. It also retains just the right amount of moisture so you don’t have to worry about watering quite as often.

If you want to make your own potting mix, follow the guidelines below:

? One part peat moss or humus

Sources & references used in this article:

Planter container for indoor air purification by BC Wolverton, JD Wolverton – US Patent 5,351,438, 1994 – Google Patents

Top dressing treatent for soil by US Patent 3,067,542, 1962 – Google Patents

Moisture retainable soil covering with integral fertilizing capabilities by SI Mason Jr – US Patent 3,940,884, 1976 – Google Patents

The effect of different growing media on cucumber seedling production, fruit yield and quality under greenhouse conditions by OM Sawan, AM Eissa, AF Abou-Hadid – … for Better Yield & Quality in …, 1997 – actahort.org

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