# Mushrooms! In my jade plant! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740 "2013-08-08T19:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/1 "2013-08-08T19:48:11Z")
So, what the what? I have a number of jade plants at the moment, and have grown them often in my life. This week I had a new experience: mushrooms popped up in one of the plants. Here’s a picture – [http://i.imgur.com/d0Jq85l.jpg](http://imgur.com/d0Jq85l) Why did it happen? How did it happen? In case the photo doesn’t show it, they’re slightly green too which I think is weird ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/2 "2013-08-08T21:33:35Z")
☹ houseplant lovers? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/3 "2013-08-08T22:01:32Z")
Very cool, looks like maybe an _Amanita_ with those warts. Folks over on MushroomObserver can ID it if teh Dopers can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/4 "2013-08-08T22:24:03Z")
I’d guess a combination of non-sterile soil, (e.g. Miracle Grow Potting Mix) and a slight case of over-watering. Every once in a blue moon, I get mushrooms in a houseplant, and it I usually take as a sign to let the plant dry out a bit more between waterings. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/5 "2013-08-08T22:26:14Z")
There’s a small yellow mushroom which is quite common in potting soil, _Leucocoprinus birnbaumii_. But people have found all \*sorts \*of interesting mushrooms in houseplants. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/6 "2013-08-08T22:30:17Z")
too wet. could also be a rotten root section feeding it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/7 "2013-08-09T00:28:16Z")
Our first thought was that it was a Lepiota due to the scaly cap but it’s hard to tell from the back lighting. Agreed that the bulbous base is reminiscent of Amanita. After looking through the book a bit, I’m leaning towards [Leucocoprinus birnbaumii](http://www.mushroomexpert.com/leucocoprinus_birnbaumii.html). Don’t eat it, but I’d be thrilled to have mushrooms growing in my indoor garden! I’ve paid good money to grow oysters and shiitakes. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/8 "2013-08-09T02:01:15Z")
Wow, how did I miss that post? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/9 "2013-08-09T12:37:47Z")
Miss what post, Mike? So I take it the mushrooms won’t cause any problem to the plant? Ironically I recently decided that I was in fact giving them a little too much water and did cut back. But I guess I did not cut back soon enough! I’ve got a couple more photos, without the backlight. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/10 "2013-08-09T12:45:51Z")
Cool. Do a spore print!! [Here is how.](http://www.mushroomprints.com/how-to-make-a-spore-print/) ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/11 "2013-08-09T12:49:26Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > So I take it the mushrooms won’t cause any problem to the plant? Won’t cause problems, may possibly be beneficial- the fungus breaks down materials in the soil which the plant can then easily digest. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mushrooms-in-my-jade-plant/665740/12 "2013-08-09T15:34:46Z")
[http://imgur.com/BMg4iaP](http://imgur.com/BMg4iaP) Here’s another view.