Conditions perfect for mushroom growth in home

Are you seeing mushrooms sprouting inside your home because of water damage from Hurricane Irma?

Don’t be alarmed if the ’rooms are popping up in expected places.

“It’s not surprising given our circumstances,” said Rose Béchard-Butman, NatureScape outreach coordinator for Broward County. “It’s humid and hot. Mushrooms are a fungus, and that is ideal growing conditions for them.” So what should someone do? Butman is not a “mushroom expert” but suggested that people reach out to those who do remediations for mold “and have them check that out. I would assume that the treatments for the mushrooms would be the same as for the molds.”

Mike Orfanedes, a horticultural agent at the University of Florida IFIS Broward County Extension Office in Davie, suggested having good ventilation to decrease moisture, which mushrooms need.

If you have power in your home, turn up the air conditioner to reduce humidity inside, he said.

He also recommended removing the mushrooms “because fungi goes through a life cycle process, and most of them will release spores.”

He suggested using bleach. “Household disinfectants would certainly seem to do some good,” he added.

Once the mushroom is removed, he added that it might be a good idea to place a fan in front of the affected area to dry it out further.

“You are trying to dry it down and reduce the humidity and discourage future growth,” he said.

He added that it may also be a good idea to call a professional to check the wall.