Fungus growing in orchid bark compost

[Terry Crynant]

I have found what I think are fungus fruiting bodies growing throughout a translucent pot containing wood-bark chips .
They are visible throughout the compost including growing out the bottom of the pot and out the top growing under the plant.
The body is about 8 mm by 5 mm and are on stems over 40 mm long.They are silver grey in colour.
I do not think the fungus is attacking the orchid which is coming into flower again.
Has anyone else had this fungus?
I would be grateful for any advice on whether I should re-pot to try to get rid of the fungus or leave alone.

[ALToronto]

I have mushrooms growing on my mounts. They don't harm the orchids directly, in fact, they may even benefit them, but they do hasten the decomposition of the wood (or bark in your case).

My mushroom-growing mounts are also growing live moss, and the orchids on them have the best roots.

[euplusia]

Excellent photos. The fungus does not directly harm the orchid. It shows that the stage of decomposition has come to a point when repotting is overdue.
You can leave the plant in the pot for the next 3 months. With the beginning of the next growing season in March you have to replace the potting medium. It is not beneficial to repot a flowering orchid, and after flowering plants want to stay undisturbed to recuperate.

[Terry Crynant]

Thanks for the replies.I also put the photos on i-spot which is a natural history identification site run by the open university here in the UK. They think it is an immature Mycena. I post more photos as they grow to see if they can identify the species.

[Bud]

Sometimes there are beneficial fungus that have a symbiotic relations with the plant as the fungus that help make sugar for the ghost orchids....I am sure this kind of fungi doesn't harm your orchid, or else you will see a deterioration of the roots and bulbs. I see a couple of browning of the tip of the leaves maybe due to fertilizer deposits on the roots which can be remedied by flushing the pot under the sink....there is also pleating of a new leaf growth on one of the bulbs meaning there is a moisture issue(either too much water or less water)