How to get rid of mushrooms in plants soil ?

Fungi can be both beneficial and harmful to crops. However, the appearance of certain types of fungi in the soil is one of the most common problems in cultivation, especially in indoor cannabis cultivation. If measures are not taken in time, the consequences can be catastrophic for the specimens and you risk losing everything. In order to prevent this, we will explain below how to get rid of mushrooms from the soil of cannabis plants.

How to identify mushrooms?

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms, part of the fungi kingdom, which reproduce through spores and usually appear in warm, dark and humid places. In addition, these organisms can sometimes seriously damage the crop. Usually, by the time they show up, it is already too late. That is why it is important to learn to differentiate them from other phenomena that occur in substrates and can cause confusion, as well as to recognize beneficial fungi.

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One of the first symptoms is the appearance of spots in the soil of the plants. The first thing to check for is cabbage or salt, as these accumulate in the soil, resulting in a white, lawn-like spot that hardens.

In order to identify mould, it is necessary to check how the substrate is distributed. At first, they appear in small, punctual clusters, but over time they colonise the whole soil, even the pot or the leaves. For beneficial fungi, the colour seen is white, while for harmful fungi the culture will show red and green tones.

Why do fungi appear?

This can be caused by various factors:

• Excessive humidity. It is possible that the plant is over-watered or does not drain properly, which results in increased humidity. In addition, the climatic conditions or humidity levels in the grow room also play an important role.
• High temperatures. This is a major factor as it acts as a catalyst for fungi and pests.
• Poor aeration of indoor crops.
• Excessive watering
• Decaying matter on the soil, such as dry leaves. Although small amounts may favour the specimens, too much will cause fungi to develop.

How to prevent harmful mushrooms

A good way to eliminate fungi is to prevent them, or reduce the likelihood of their occurrence.

• Cleaning. This is essential for cultivation, as it prevents the appearance of fungi and parasites. Therefore, before cultivation, the room and utensils should be disinfected with bleach.
• Watering control. This will depend on the variety chosen. However, it is possible to use drip watering. This method consists of dosing the water, as the plants consume the moisture through the micropores in the pot.
• Be careful and look out for potting soil with good drainage to avoid problems. To improve drainage, you can also place expanded clay or perlite balls at the bottom of the pot.
• When growing indoors, choose a ventilation system that allows air to be renewed or recirculated inside the grow. The air in the grow room should have optimal humidity, temperature and CO2 levels. To achieve this, it is useful to have an extractor fan, an intravenous fan and various fans that prevent heat accumulation.
• Temperature control. Keep an eye on the proximity of the lamps to the plants and select the lamps best suited to the growing conditions.
• Remove excessive debris, such as dead leaves.

Eliminating soil fungus from cannabis plants

Once this type of mushrooms has established itself in the substrate, it can only be removed from the soil. To do this, the following steps must be taken:

Remove the affected soil

When a layer of surface mould is detected, the first thing to do is to remove it with a small shovel, dipping it into the pot between 1 and 2 cm, removing the first layer. Then stir the soil to aerate the substrate and remove any residual moisture. The plant should be allowed to air out for one day.

Disinfecting the pot

In cases where mould achieves the bottom of the pot, you’ll be able to choose whether to transplant it to a new pot or if you prefer to disinfect it, to do so, it’s recommended to:

• Throw away the soil and wash the pot with warm water and some soap or vinegar.
• Rub with a scourer or a brush.
• Wait for a few minutes, and rinse with abundant water. Try to dry it under the sun, allowing it to be ready to receive the new plant.

Do not water the plants until the soil is dry. If any leaves or parts of the plant are affected, cut them.

Use of fungicides

Fungi are likely to appear, as fungal spores spread. Therefore, it is advisable to use different fungicides or make a natural one to prevent them from reappearing. Some products such as baking soda, cinnamon or apple cider vinegar act as natural fungicides. You can also buy some products designed for this purpose such as Multiprotection by Boom, Fungi Boom or Killer Boom.

Fungi in the substrate are common, so it is necessary to prevent their appearance by controlling the conditions in which the cannabis is grown. If this is not enough, fungi can be eliminated from the soil of the plants in a simple way by following the steps explained above, intending to achieve healthy and strong plants.