Mushrooms in container soil - friend or foe?

puschkinia · January 2022

Hi everyone,

I have a young, ~1m Brown Turkey fig tree potted into a ~20cm pot. The soil is a mix of John Innes #3, perlite, and some fresh compost-enriched topsoil (supposed to be good for new raised beds, though it looks very twiggy. Not sure if that's good or bad?).

The tree is in a plastic pot with drainage holes, then I wrapped bubble wrap around it to protect it over winter and placed that into the container I'd originally wanted to plant in, which is too big for the tree. The tree's in my south-facing front garden, sheltered by a wall behind & to the side.

I noticed that mushrooms have started to grow around the tree (picture attached). I tried to see whether I could figure out what they are (checked eg here - https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/garden-mushroom-identifier/) but I'm not sure. I'm also not sure whether they're a bad sign and I need to repot it. Does anyone have any advice please?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/9h/36zebwik0bw2.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/f3/8ajtssmcweu0.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/b9/aiqhptzj7wsd.jpeg

thevictorian · January 2022

I can't identify them but often see these pop up in the areas where I have bark mulch and they seemingly do no harm. I would guess they are simply the fruiting bodies of a fungi that is feeding on the decaying wood in your compost and that they won't hurt your fig.

Dovefromabove · January 2022

They'll be breaking down the organic matter in the compost into a form that's accessible to the roots of your fig tree. They'll disappear as quickly as they came. I wouldn't be at all concerned about them

puschkinia · January 2022

Thanks so much @thevictorianzFH0qqPW & @Dovefromabove

Makes perfect sense that they're breaking down the compost, didn't think about that.

Mushrooms in container soil - friend or foe?

Posts