Emily Johnson
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant odour, which has been described as resembling rotting flesh or dung. While they are often considered unwanted in gardens due to their strong smell and unusual appearance, stinkhorn mushrooms are not harmful to plants or the soil. In fact, they can be beneficial as they break down organic matter and contribute to improving soil fertility. Although they are difficult to eradicate completely, some methods to control and remove stinkhorn mushrooms include uprooting them, using a mixture of boiling water and bleach, or sprinkling lime on the affected area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Reddish orange, octopus-like, straight stem, wiffle ball-like, horn-like, penis-like, dragon egg-like, column-like |
| Odor | Putrid, rotting meat, dung |
| Taste | Insanely stinky |
| Reproduction | Spores in slime carried by flies and other insects |
| Habitat | Tropics, temperate regions, lawns, mulch beds, bare soil, Florida |
| Diet | Rotting organic matter, mulch, decomposing hardwood mulch, dead roots, underground stumps, sawdust |
| Benefits | Breaks down rotting material, beneficial for soil, helps landscapes and gardens in Florida |
| Drawbacks | Unpleasant odor, short-lived, seasonal, attracts insects |
| Removal | Uprooting, using bleach or lime (may harm other plants), boiling water, fungicides and disinfectants (ineffective), removing organic matter, reducing soil moisture, plucking, using Heinz Tomato Ketchup |
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What You'll Learn
Uproot the mushrooms
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant odour, which is often described as the smell of rotting flesh or dung. While they are often considered unsightly and unwanted, stinkhorn mushrooms are not harmful to plants or landscapes. In fact, they contribute to the recycling of plant debris, breaking down organic matter and improving soil fertility.
If you are dealing with stinkhorn mushrooms, one option for removal is to uproot the mushrooms. This method requires some physical labour and can be challenging, as stinkhorn mushrooms can be difficult to eradicate completely. Here are the steps you can take to uproot the mushrooms:
- Put on a pair of disposable latex gloves to avoid direct contact with the mushrooms and their odour.
- Locate the base of the mushroom, which is typically underground and resembles an egg-shaped structure.
- Using a shovel or trowel, dig beneath the mushroom until you reach its egg-shaped base. Ensure you remove the entire mushroom, including its below-ground portion.
- Place the removed mushroom in an airtight plastic bag. Seal the bag tightly to prevent the spores from escaping.
- Dispose of the bagged mushroom with your regular trash collection. Do not discard it with yard waste, as the bag could rupture and release spores.
- Dig up and remove the top layer of soil in a 6-inch radius around the area where the mushroom was removed. Stinkhorn spores can remain in the soil, so it is important to excavate and dispose of potentially contaminated soil.
- If the mushrooms grew in media other than soil, such as tree bark, mulch, or decaying plant material, remove and dispose of those materials as well.
While uprooting stinkhorn mushrooms can be effective, it is important to note that the fungi may still return. Stinkhorn hyphae can remain in the soil or mulch, and the spores can be spread by insects, leading to future mushroom growth. Therefore, it is essential to be diligent and repeat the removal process as needed.
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Use bleach or lime
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant odour and unique appearance. While they are not poisonous and generally stick around for only a few days, you may want to get rid of them due to their strong smell. One way to do this is by using bleach or lime. Here's how:
Using Bleach
To kill stinkhorn mushrooms with bleach, start by mixing equal parts boiling water and bleach in a large bucket or saucepan. It is important to perform this step in a well-ventilated area. Then, pour the hot bleach solution directly onto the mushrooms and the surrounding area. This method will kill the existing mushrooms and prevent new ones from growing. However, it is essential to note that this solution is toxic and will likely harm or kill other plants it comes into contact with. It may also contaminate the soil. Therefore, it is recommended to dig out the mushrooms at their base and remove the soil within a 6-inch radius before applying the bleach solution. Alternatively, you can dilute the bleach with hot water and spray it onto the infected areas.
Using Lime
Lime can also be used to get rid of stinkhorn mushrooms by making the soil uninhabitable for the fungus. Sprinkle lime powder over the mushrooms and the surrounding soil using a shovel or trowel. Be careful when handling lime, as it is a caustic substance. Additionally, make sure to follow the directions on the lime package, as you may need to wet the soil before or after applying the lime.
While using bleach or lime can be effective in killing stinkhorn mushrooms, it is important to consider the potential impact on other plants and the soil in your garden. These methods may harm or kill nearby plants and alter the soil's properties. Therefore, it is recommended to try other control measures, such as removing underground stumps, dead roots, and sawdust, or replacing old hardwood mulch with pine needles, straw, or chopped leaves.
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Remove immediate soil
Stinkhorn mushrooms are a smelly reddish-orange mushroom that may resemble a wiffle ball, an octopus, or a straight stem. They are not poisonous and are nearly impossible to kill. They are beneficial to the soil of your garden and only stick around for a few days.
If you want to get rid of stinkhorn mushrooms, you should start by removing the immediate soil. There may be spores or other undeveloped mushrooms in the soil immediately surrounding the mushroom you’ve removed, so it's important to take precautions when handling the soil. Here are some steps to follow:
- Put on a pair of disposable gloves, such as cheap latex gloves, to protect your hands from the smelly and sticky substance produced by the mushrooms.
- Using a shovel or trowel, dig up the top layer of soil in about a 6-inch radius around the removed mushroom. Make sure to remove any decaying plant material, such as tree bark, mulch, or other loose organic matter, along with the soil.
- Place the excavated soil and any removed plant material in a plastic bag. Seal the bag firmly shut to prevent the spores from escaping.
- Dispose of the sealed bag with your regular trash collection. Do not place it with yard waste, as rupturing the bag could allow spores to escape and create new mushrooms.
By removing the immediate soil and any plant material that may contain spores, you can help prevent the spread of stinkhorn mushrooms and reduce the likelihood of them reappearing in the same area. However, keep in mind that stinkhorn mushrooms can be challenging to eradicate completely, and they may return even after your best efforts.
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Use boiling water
Stinkhorn mushrooms are a smelly reddish-orange mushroom that may resemble a wiffle ball, an octopus, or a straight stem. They are not poisonous and are beneficial to the soil of your garden. They are also seasonal and don't last very long. If you want to get rid of them, you will need to commit as they will keep coming back.
One way to kill stinkhorn mushrooms is to use boiling water. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Put on a pair of disposable gloves. Stinkhorn mushrooms are smelly, and this will protect your hands from the odour.
- Mix equal parts boiling water and bleach in a large bucket. This mixture will be toxic, so be careful not to spill it on your plants or soil.
- Pour the mixture directly onto the stinkhorn mushrooms. Do this while the water is still hot. The combination of boiling water and bleach will kill the mushrooms and prevent new ones from growing.
- Dig out the mushrooms at their base and remove the surrounding soil. Stinkhorn mushrooms have an egg-shaped base that is underground. Remove the mushrooms and soil to ensure that all traces of the fungus are gone.
- Place the mushrooms and soil in a plastic bag and seal it shut. Don't put the discarded mushrooms and soil with your yard waste, as the bag could rupture and spores could escape.
- Dispose of the bag in the trash.
Using boiling water and bleach is an effective way to kill stinkhorn mushrooms, but it is important to be careful with this method as it can harm other plants and contaminate the soil. If you want to avoid using chemicals, you can simply dig up and dispose of the mushrooms, or try to prevent them from growing in the first place by removing decaying organic matter and reducing soil moisture.
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Tolerate them
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known for their unpleasant odour, which has been described as similar to decomposing flesh, rotting feces, and sewage. Despite their smell, stinkhorn mushrooms are not poisonous and are, in fact, beneficial to the soil in your garden. They break down rotting material into a form that plants can use for nourishment, contributing to the recycling of plant debris into nutrients that improve soil fertility.
If you can tolerate the smell, it may be best to simply leave the stinkhorn mushrooms alone. They are nearly impossible to kill, and even aggressive attempts to remove them may not be successful. The mushrooms may also only stick around for a few days or weeks anyway, as they are seasonal and short-lived.
If you are concerned about the smell, there are a few things you can do to minimise it. Keep your windows closed to reduce the odour indoors. You can also try to handpick the stinkhorns in their immature "egg" stage and throw them away in a sealed bag. However, this may not be effective in eradicating the mushrooms, as the hyphae will remain in the soil or mulch and will eventually produce other stinkhorn mushrooms.
Instead of trying to remove the stinkhorn mushrooms, you can also try to prevent them from appearing in the first place. Stinkhorn mushrooms grow on decaying organic matter, so removing underground stumps, dead roots, sawdust piles, and decomposing hardwood mulch can help deter them. You can also replace old hardwood mulch with pine needles, straw, or chopped leaves, or consider using live groundcovers instead of mulch.
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Frequently asked questions
If you want to avoid using chemicals, you can dig out the mushrooms at their base and dispose of the soil in a 6-inch radius around them.
To prevent regrowth, you can pour a mixture of boiling water and bleach directly onto the fungus. Alternatively, sprinkle lime over the mushrooms and surrounding soil to make the area uninhabitable for the fungus.
Wear cheap latex disposable gloves to avoid getting your hands dirty and smelly. Put the gloves in an airtight plastic bag and throw them away immediately after removing the mushrooms.
Stinkhorn mushrooms grow on rotting organic matter, so removing decaying organic matter like sawdust piles, dead roots, and underground stumps can help prevent their growth. Additionally, replacing hardwood mulch with composted pine bark mulch may also help.
