How to get rid of neon yellow mushrooms in your houseplants – and stop them from ever coming back

If you've spied some precarious-looking yellow mushrooms sprouting up in your houseplants, don't fear, these are fungi Leucocoprinus birnbaumii, also known as the 'Flower Pot Parasol' or 'Plantpot Dapperling'.

Happily, their looks belie their character, as they are harmless, and none of your beloved houseplants will be affected by their presence. That said, spotting yellow mushrooms in houseplants is a sign that you're making one of the most common indoor plant mistakes.

Here's everything you need to know about these odd-looking yellow mushrooms in houseplants, and how to prevent them.

What are these yellow mushrooms?

These mushrooms (pictured above) are the fungi Leucocoprinus birnbaumii.

It is a species of gilled mushroom, easily recognizable by its minute size, and bright canary yellow, oval shaped cap. They can sprout singly or in clusters, and despite looking alarming (especially their shockingly neon color), they are harmless.

Why do they grow in houseplant soil?

These dainty pollen-yellow mushrooms thrive in humid environments, so they very often appear in houseplants, where the environment is warm and the houseplant's soil is moist.

As such, it's worth taking heed of our advice to ensure you know how to water houseplants properly

Our houseplant expert and Gardens content editor here at Homes & Gardens Tenielle Jordison, explains why they might be cropping up in your indoor plants.

'Yellow mushrooms in houseplants are more common than you might expect,' she explains.

'The good news is they're harmless to plants, but they are an indicator that you probably aren't watering your houseplants correctly. Just like other fungi, these mushrooms thrive in moist, dark conditions. If they crop up in your houseplant's soil, it means the soil is probably oversaturated, also potentially indicating houseplant root rot as these fungi feed on decaying organic material.'

'Of course, the other concern with too-wet soil is that it can attract a wide range of common indoor plant pests, like fungus gnats,' she notes.

Tenielle Jordison

As our in-house houseplant expert here at Homes & Gardens, Tenielle writes on a range of solutions to houseplant problems, as well as other 'how to' guides, inspiring garden projects, and the latest gardening news.

How to get rid of yellow mushrooms in houseplants

Since this mushroom won't bring your houseplants any harm, if you can tolerate leaving it alone and allowing it to live its life as a new, albeit unexpected addition to your household flora, then that is the easiest course of action.

Should you want to be rid of it, the solution is to repot your indoor plants with new potting mix, and even potentially a new pot.

'When you spot yellow mushrooms, it's best to repot your houseplant with fresh potting mix,' explains Tenielle. You can use a houseplant compost like this potting compost available on Amazon.

Observe the roots when doing this, pruning away any mushy and damaged plant material.

'Going forward, monitor moisture levels in your houseplant's soil and only water when your houseplant's soil has partially dried,' notes Tenielle.

If it's still wet to the touch, it isn't time to water. It is worth investing in a soil moisture meter, like this modestly priced hygrometer sensor available at Amazon, to make sure you are not overwatering.

Make sure to dispose of the mushrooms, too, as they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Overwatering is one of the most common summer houseplant care mistakes. Since the temperatures are soaring, it makes sense to water our indoor plants a lot more.

Even if you don't go heavy on the watering, sometimes these yellow mushrooms in houseplants simply appear from time to time. It might be quite fun to simply leave them be, and let them bring a bit of sunshine, yellow optimism to your houseplants.