Succulents are beautiful pot plants with fleshy stems or leaves. Some of them have flowers and some have spikes. On the other hand, mushrooms or toadstools are a type of fungus with a fruiting body, which grows on top of soil or its food source. However, if mushrooms are growing on your succulents, is a sign of damp soil.
Your soil formula is way too damp for the good health of your succulent to the point that it’s causing the growth of mushrooms on it. Why on earth there are mushrooms growing in my succulents? How to treat fungus on your succulents? How to prevent this phenomenon to happen in the future? Let me take you on a journey for you to explore these basic problems for the betterment of your succulent plant.
Why Are Mushrooms Growing in My Succulents?
Mushrooms in your succulent or your succulent pot are not your worst enemy. But it can be a signal of the actual mastermind behind it. Which is damp soil. Mushroom is a type of fungi, and all fungi need moist soil and a damp environment to grow. On the contrary, succulents are plants of drylands and bloom to their fullest in a less humid atmosphere. These two seem to stay too close in the same pot for having very different characteristics.
To ease your pain I would gladly like to inform you that most fungi create a type of bond with plant roots, called mycorrhiza. The fungus turns nitrogen into a form with the help of bacteria usable by plants. It helps to protect the plant from infections by acting as the first layer of defense from soil pathogens. Plants share some of their sugar made by photosynthesis with the fungus. According to science, 90% of world fungus has a mycorrhizal relationship with a fungus.
With all the benefits it’s still bad for your succulent plant to grow in such an environment that’s suitable for fungus. The damp soil and humidity in the air a causing hamper the growth of the succulent. Also, there are chances of dullness and root rot, and eventually dying cacti or echeveria.
How to Stop Mushrooms from growing in my succulents?
Even though mushrooms are not harmful to succulents we still don’t want them in our succulents. It shows the sign of bad plant parenting. To avoid the mushroom growing on your succulent there are some steps you might want to follow
Place it in a sunny atmosphere:
Humidity can be a big issue when it comes to the health care of your succulents. Keep them in a place where there is enough sunlight arriving at the succulent pot. If you are keeping them in a greenhouse and the weather is low then use artificial light and heat sources.
Do not water it too much:
If the atmosphere is not a problem then chances are your watering techniques are. Succulents are known for their low maintenance. You usually don’t need to water them too much. If the sun is not too high then once a week is enough. Remember, when you water your plant, the soil should always be dry. There should be no water from before.
And make sure your pot has enough holes for the water to run out of the pot.
Use soil with a good drainage system:
More than half of a succulent’s problems come from soil not suitable for it. Always make sure to have big particles and pieces in your succulent soil for it to drain better. It doesn’t matter how carefully you water it if the soil absorbs and locks too much moisture in them.
How to Remove the Mushrooms that are Already in the Succulent Pot?
To do the job of putting out the mushrooms from your succulents, you have to understand the mushrooms better.
The fungus lives underground. What we see are mushrooms that are just the reproductive organ of the fungus. The bulk of the organism is made up of “mycelia” (plural of mycelium) which are basically like plant roots and stems all rolled into one structure.
Even if you get rid of the mushroom the plant is still there doing its work. And within weeks you will be able to catch a new glimpse of mushrooms on your succulent. But there is still hope and here are some ways for you to get rid of them
Change the potting soil:
Succulents are very tolerant towards repotting, so you shouldn’t have any problems with changing the soil. Just take the soil out and make another formula for your succulent plant. Even so, most soils have mycelia in them. It leaves a chance of another mushroom growth. The solution to this problem is to sterilize the soil before you use it. And to do the job, spread it on a baking sheet and put the soil in the oven at 250 degrees F for 15 minutes.
Use a fungicide:
The problem of mushrooms growing on your succulent is not a serious one. Still, if you feel like all those tactics and detail caring are not doing their job then you can use a fungicide. It’s not a necessary step to follow but it’s surely worth it for the sake of your mental peace and the goodness of your succulents.
Are Mushrooms Harmful to succulents?
The answer is no! you are not supposed to have any trouble with your succulents, mushrooms growing from them. However, it isn’t a good idea to let them grow for various reasons. An obvious is that it makes the succulents look ugly. But more importantly, it says a lot about your atmosphere and water techniques.
As mushrooms grow in humid air and succulents thrive in a dry environment, it possibly cannot be a good thing for them to be in the same place and same time. So, your succulents are better off without your soil pests.
Closure
It’s understandable if the mushrooms in your succulents concern you. But there isn’t much to worry or fear about as it is a mere problem. Just make sure to water your plant correctly and use the right soil. This way it will help you with your concerned mind.
A small tip: Try keeping a day-to-day journal of the journey your succulent is having to manage its problems better. May your succulent be so plump and pretty, that it looks like it landed in heaven’s garden. And happy plant parenting to you!