I appear to have bought a contaminated batch of Asda Smartpric compost. In repotting several plants I'm now seeing the prolifi fruition of a cream to brown coloured fungus. A mass influx of tin off-white protrusions from the soil of my houseplants became heav clusters of diarrhoea coloured fungus, up to 3 cm diameter, close t the base of the afficted plants. These 'shrooms are showing no mercy.
I suspect we are dealing with the famous "Honey Fungus", but am in nee of some closure. I'd be eternally grateful for some expert advice on th subject. I have several images which I can email.
Serious? What if they're highly toxic? What is a large porterhouse? I that a steak or something? (???) Is this just good old "garden banter"
Thanks very much for the suggestion, you're obviously a very creativ person. Whilst I am an avid fan of fried mushrooms, and indeed frie food of all sorts, my primary concern is the plants themselves.
If you send me the pictures, I can probably identify the mushrooms, at least to Genus.
It's common for mushrooms to pop up in new potting soil. Colonies of fungal filaments called mycelia grow in the soil and when a sufficient mass is reached, produce fruiting bodies which are the mushrooms you see. The Honey Fungus colonizes large rotting roots of living trees and requires a substantial amount of substrate to form a fruiting colony, so is not likely to be the one you are dealing with.
Mushroom fungus fruits by producing primordial fruiting bodies near the top of the soil which take up water quickly and expand to full size in a matter of a few days. By simply stirring the top 1/2-1" of soil with a spoon or your fingers every few days you will disturb the formation of these primordia and prevent mushroom fruiting. Some species require light to form mushrooms and placing a layer of something like coarse gravel over the soil may inhibit mushroom formation
Most of the lignophilic and coprophilic mushroom species volunteering in commercial potting soils are not likely to interfere with the health of your plants. The big problem with these contaminated soils is the potential for "damping off" of seedlings when used for germination.
Most likely you will be fine if you do nothing. The fungus will deplete the levels of nutrients it requires to produce mushrooms within a flush (periodic display of fruiting bodies) or two, and the mycelium will die. The fungus is not competing with your plants for nutrients in the soil. On the contrary, mushroom fungi are primary decomposers whose role in nature is to break down complex organic matter and make simple nutrients available for plants and, eventually, other life forms.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.