Who does not 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 ugly and on the other hand you don't know whether the fungi can harm the plants. So what to do?

Mushrooms in flower pots are mostly harmless

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. Soil with a high peat content or a proportion of peat substitutes contains many organic substances that are decomposed by fungi. High-quality potting soil contains little peat, so mushrooms grow less frequently 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 fungal growth.

Are the mushrooms harmful?

First of all, the fungi are not dangerous for the plants. However, there are fungi that spread out and form an almost waterproof layer on top of the potting soil. After a while, insufficient water and oxygen can penetrate the soil and damage the plant.
In addition, mushrooms release spores into the air as they mature. These tiny globules can be inhaled. Allergy sufferers may react with asthmatic attacks.
In any case, the mushrooms must be removed.

Immediate measures when fungi appear in the potting soil

If you observe fungal growth in your flower pots, you should immediately move the infested pots outside (in the case of indoor plants). Ventilate your home so that possible fungal spores are blown out. Then the potting soil needs to be replaced in a timely manner.

  1. Repot the flowers outdoors.
  2. Remove all soil from the pot.
  3. Also shake off the plant well.
  4. Clean the pot with a brush.
  5. Rinse with vinegar water.
  6. Plant your plant again.
  7. Use high-quality potting soil with a high mineral content and little peat.
  8. Make sure there is water drainage in the bottom of the pot.
  9. Before planting, place a drain made of expanded clay (€19.73) or potsherds in the flower pot. In this way you prevent waterlogging and remove an important basis for fungal growth.
  10. Only water the plant when the soil is dry.
  11. Make sure that indoor plants are aired regularly. This avoids excessive humidity.

Category:

Garden design