Mushrooms growing on my mounts - Orchid Board

ALToronto · #1 10-09-2013, 07:04 PM

No, not just fungus - actual mushrooms, stems, caps and all. I used well-seasoned wood branches that had been aging outside for several years. I guess they aged better than I realized. These branches are part of my living wall.

I made the mistake of not baking them prior to using them. I ran a torch flame over them quite thoroughly, some even lit up a few times. But I guess the flame wasn't enough to kill the mycelium that had set up a home deep inside the branch that is most affected. So now I have two encyclias and two catts happily growing on it, and once in a while, up pops a little brown mushroom. I pick them off as soon as I see them, of course, but that doesn't kill the mycelium. Now the mycelium has spread to the outside of the branch, it looks like rusty-coloured dense cob webs. It's covering one of the catt's roots.

So - is this anything more than just a nuisance? If I need to get rid of it, what should I use that won't harm the orchids? Sulfur spray is not a solution in this case. Replacing the branch is also not an option.

Orchid Whisperer · #2 10-09-2013, 07:10 PM

I haven't had mushrooms on a mount, but I have had them in plants potted in bark.

I have yet to see any harm caused (fair warning; this is my experience with my plants and their mushrooms).

Laserbeak · #3 10-09-2013, 07:28 PM

Actually I think that's kind of cool, just as long as the fungus is not harming the orchid.

ALToronto · #4 10-09-2013, 07:53 PM

I agree that it's kind of cool - this sort of thing must happen in nature all the time. I wonder if the orchids are getting any additional benefit from the mycelium. Unfortunately, it looks so ugly! I'll try peroxide and a Q-tip, but I get the feeling I'll be doing this forever.

For the future, is there anything I can treat wood with to kill any mycelium that may be lurking inside?

orchidsarefun · #5 10-09-2013, 07:54 PM

good question. Since its indoors, I would be a little wary of anything fungal. Isn't mold a fungus for example ? Spores released by your fungus may cause allergies and other nasty things....
Zerotol should eliminate the problem, it's safe to use indoors.

Leafmite · #6 10-09-2013, 08:11 PM

I don't think mushrooms hurt other plants. They sometimes grow in my potted plants and I just leave them be.

Laserbeak · #7 10-09-2013, 08:48 PM

Leafmite is right, virtually all if not all mushrooms just feed on dead organic material, not living hosts. I'd let the mushrooms grow and not pick them, I think it'd look interesting!

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------

They may actually be beneficial. If part of a root of the orchid dies, the mycelium from the mushroom will colonize it and keep nasty bacteria and mold that could spread to the living plant out.

AnonYMouse · #8 10-09-2013, 09:23 PM

I think if you boiled then baked it, it should take care of any living thing on/in the wood. But I don't think its a 100% permanent solution. All it takes is one errant spore on a random breeze.

Laserbeak · #9 10-10-2013, 03:14 AM

Actually you would have to autoclave it or use a pressure cooker.

ALToronto · #10 10-10-2013, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laserbeak

Actually you would have to autoclave it or use a pressure cooker.

I agree - regular boiling wouldn't reach deep enough. However, since I make large mounts, with large branches, it's just not going to happen.

You can read more about this mounting experiment on my blog:

My Living Wall v. 2.0 - Concrete Elegance