Mushrooms growing in the soil of pothos plants are a common occurrence. Many gardeners are curious about why this happens and what, if anything, they should do about it. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why mushrooms grow in pothos soil and offer some tips on how to deal with them.

Why Are There Mushrooms in Pothos Soil?

There are mushrooms in pothos soil because the soil is fertile and contains organic matter that mushrooms need for food. In addition, pothos plants are often grown in pots or other containers that provide the right environment for mushrooms to thrive.

Mushrooms need darkness and moisture to grow, and the soil in pothos pots is often dark and moist. The lack of sunlight also helps mushrooms to grow. Plus, potting soil contains nutrients that mushrooms need, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

All it takes is some fungi spores to land in the right spot and you’ll soon have mushrooms growing in your pothos soil. The spores can come from the air, animals, or other plants. Once they land in a favorable environment, they will start to grow.

How to Remove Mushrooms in Pothos Soil?

So, now that we know why there are mushrooms in pothos soil, what should you do about it? If you don’t like the look of mushrooms in your pothos pot, you can remove them.

Just pull them out of the soil and dispose of them. Make sure you dispose of them far away from any other potted plants, as you don’t want to spread the spores and have to deal with more mushrooms.

Using a fungicide is a good idea to kill any spores that are in the soil. This will help to prevent mushrooms from growing back. You can find fungicides at your local garden center or online. I use this neem oil fungicide and it works great.

Neem oil is a natural fungicide that is made from the seeds of the neem tree. It’s safe to use, doesn’t harm the environment, and is effective at killing fungi spores.

To use neem oil, mix it with water according to the directions on the bottle. Then, pour it into a spray bottle and spritz the soil of your pothos plant. Make sure to get the underside of the leaves as well. Repeat this every few weeks or as needed.

Preventing Mushrooms in Pothos Soil

If you’d like to prevent mushrooms from growing in your pothos pot, there are a few things you can do.

1) Sunlight

The number one thing you can do is to make sure your pothos plant gets enough sunlight. Mushrooms need darkness to grow, so the more sunlight your plant gets, the less likely it is that mushrooms will take over.

If you’re growing pothos indoors, put it in a bright spot near a window. If you’re growing pothos outdoors, make sure it’s in a spot that gets a few hours of in-direct sunlight each day.

2) Less moisture

Another way to prevent mushrooms is to make sure the soil isn’t too moist. Mushrooms need moisture to grow, so letting the soil dry out between waterings will help to discourage them.

Only water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Plus, monitor the humidity around your plant. If it’s too high, mushrooms will be more likely to grow.

Pothos plants like humidity, so you don’t want to make the air too dry. But, if you find that mushrooms are a problem, you may need to sacrifice some humidity in order to prevent them from growing.

3) Drainage

Another way to prevent mushrooms is to make sure your pothos plant has good drainage. Mushrooms need moist soil to grow, so if the water drains out quickly, they will have a harder time growing.

To improve drainage, add some perlite to your potting mix. Perlite is a type of volcanic glass that helps to aerate the soil and improve drainage. Also, make sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom so that water can seep out.

4) Potting soil

Fourth, use sterile potting soil when repotting your pothos plant. This will help to prevent mushrooms from spores that might be in the soil. You can even use neem oil to treat the soil before potting your plant.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent mushrooms from growing in your pothos soil. If you do find mushrooms growing in your pot, you can remove them and treat the soil to help prevent them from coming back.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are mushrooms in pothos soil because the soil is fertile and fungi spores can land in the right environment and start to grow.

By following some simple tips, you can help to prevent mushrooms from growing in your pothos soil. If you do find mushrooms growing in your pot, you can remove them and treat the soil to help prevent them from coming back. Thanks for reading!

Do you have any tips for preventing mushrooms in pothos soil? Share them in the comments below!