I have a potted plant with a fungus growing in the soil. It
is bright neon yellow and grows like a mushroom, but with no cap on top.
The plant is in the basement near a window. The soil is damp and I’ve
avoided watering for awhile to let it dry out. What do you think the
growth is, how to get rid of it, and will it be harmful to my plant? I
keep plucking them, but they grow back.
I have had questions about the yellow houseplant mushroom before, and I
am guessing you are seeing the same thing. It is called Leucoprinus
birnbaumii.
Michael Kuo’s website, MushroomExpert.com has information about Leucoprinus. Excerpt:
“This little yellow mushroom and its close relatives are the subject of
many frantic e-mails to MushroomExpert.Com, since it has a tendency to
pop up unexpectedly in people’s flower pots–even indoors! The brightness
of its yellowness exhibits some rebelliousness, but it often creates a
striking contrast to the green houseplants that surround it.
“Leucocoprinus birnbaumii won’t hurt you, unless you eat it. It won’t hurt
your plant. It won’t hurt your pets or your children, unless they eat it.
There is no getting rid of it, short of replacing all the soil in your
planter (and even then it might reappear). Since it makes such a
beautiful addition to your household flora, I recommend learning to love
it–and teaching your children to love it, too.
“You might also impart the idea that mushrooms are very, very cool–but
shouldn’t be eaten. Perhaps your child would like to become an awesome
and famous mycologist some day. I would love to encourage your child’s
interest in mushrooms by putting his or her drawing of Leucocoprinus
birnbaumii on this Web page (at least temporarily).
“Leucocoprinus birnbaumii is probably poisonous; do not eat it. Handling
it, however, won’t hurt you.”