Houseplant clinic: what are the tiny mushrooms growing in the soil of my plant?

These are the fruiting bodies of fungi that live in compost. They are toxic if eaten but not harmful to plants

What’s the problem?

I’ve noticed tiny mushrooms popping up in my houseplant’s soil. Are they dangerous, and should I be worried?

Diagnosis

What you are seeing are the fruiting bodies of fungi that were already present in the compost – they’re very common and usually nothing to panic about. These fungi thrive in moist, organic-rich soil, and mushrooms appear when conditions are just right, often after a period of regular watering and warm weather. While not harmful to your plant, they are toxic if eaten, so keep them out of reach of children and pets.