Fungi Ideas, Tips & Guides

I’VE BEEN TAKING WALKS lately, relishing the extended fall I know can’t last, enjoying the press of sole to soil before it gets slippery out there—before it’s winter. A handsome stand of mushrooms has been catching my eye the last few weeks, and you know me: always curious.

FIRST, A LITTLE SCIENCE LESSON: Fungi don’t have chlorophyll, so they cannot make their own food (like plants do), nor can they ingest it (like animals), except through absorption from their surrounding environment. Most fungi are saprophytes, meaning they feed on dead or decaying material, like the leaf litter of the forest floor—or the debris in your compost heap. Their second critical role: Most of the plant kingdom depends on symbiotic fungi called mycorrhizae, which inhabit the plants’ roots, to live. (Thank you for patiently listening to that.)I MADE PIZZA THE OTHER DAY (no, not a mushroom pizza), something I do a lot from scratch, and when the yeast acted oddly I did what any 21st century human does: I looked for an explanation online. I still don’t know what caused my yeast to misbehave, but here’s what I learned: The kind of yeast you bake with (or make beer or champagne with) are unicellular fungi, technically sp

You might not know how to grow oyster mushrooms—or that growing your own is even possible!—but it’s actually quite simple. Better still, with good initial preparation, you can end up with several years’ worth of harvests. Including shades of blue, pink, and even bright gold, fungi in the Pleurotus genus are colorful, prolific, and they’ll grow in everything from gallon buckets filled with straw to newly cut logs, mulch, or sawdust. So, whether you want to be a casual mushroom grower or think you might want to try organic mushroom farming someday, starting with oyster mushrooms makes good sense.

Generally poisonous plants cause harm either by ingestion or touch. Both the phenomena are dangerous especially for people with certain allergy and sensitivity: dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, itchiness are usual symptoms. They can be harmful for pets too, that is why the best option is to remove them securely as soon as you find them in your garden.

If you have a small gardening area but still you want to plant veggies, then employ these Best Tricks to Grow Vining Vegetables Like Never Before!

Many fruit, nut, and landscape trees can succumb to root rot caused by three types of fungi and a group of water molds (that used to be considered fungi); these include the fungi Armillaria, Phymatotrichum, and Xylaria and the water mold Phytophthora.The trees show varying symptoms from these different di

Cultivating fungi at home is a fantastic way to see just how amazing nature is.With just a few tools, mushroom spawn plugs, and the prop

When it comes to maple trees, the foliage gets all the attention… and why wouldn’t it?In addition to having an iconic shape and providing bountif

Just in case there weren’t enough white waxy insects for you to tell apart already, such as scales and mealybugs, here is another fluffy type.Now introducing the shrub- and tree-loving woolly ap

If you live in a temperate zone, chances are that you have encountered powdery mildew in your garden.Powdery mildew is a worldwide menace, with hundreds of specie

Daylily, Hemerocallis spp., is a flowering perennial in the Asphodelaceae family that brightens summer gardens in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.It sprouts from a rhizome and has bare, slender stems

These Common Bird of Paradise Problems and Solutions will guide you into growing and maintaining a healthy specimen indoors and outdoors!

Beautiful trees and plants are an excellent way to upgrade your property’s look to its best and what could be better than to see them thrive fast and healthy. This guide will give you all the Tips to Grow Plants and Trees Faster!

Trichoderma is a genus of soil-dwelling fungi found all over the world that are highly effective at colonizing many kinds of plant roots, and inhibiting fungi that cause many types of diseases. It was one of the first types of biofungicides commercially available.One strain in particular, T. harzianum T-22, is

There is no one rule that fits all when it comes to taking care of plants, and you have to be careful to make sure they stay healthy and happy. To help you do that easily, we have some great Tik Tok Plant Care Hacks.

Tiny microorganisms in the soil play a vital role in the plant’s overall development. If you too want to make the best use of them, follow these Tips to Increase Soil Bacteria in the Garden!

A lightning strike can be a devastating blow to any tree, causing irreversible damage to its structure and health. However, you can still bring your beloved tree back to life and restore it to its former glory by following these Best Tips to Repair a Tree Struck by Lightning!

The Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves are many and that makes it one of the most important plant you can have in your collection.

Soil is far more than just dirt. Treating soil like dirt is one of the worst things we can do. If you underestimate the importance of soil in a garden, there is little chance of creating a successful and productive garden which can stand the test of time.

One of the main distinctions between plants and animals is how they respond to stimuli. Humans have brains, where stimuli are understood and responses formed. “Emotional” responses are merely complex responses to complex social stimuli.

It’s that time of year. Along with the singing birds and croaking frogs, there’s the sound of chainsaws and stump grinders as some people remove trees from their properties.

Fungus gnats are a common pest among houseplants. These small flies tend to go unnoticed at first, slowly building their populations by laying eggs on the soil of our container plants. Their larvae feed on fungi and organic matter in our potting soil and nibble on plant roots as well. Over time, their numbers grow, and you begin to notice the adults hovering above the soil surface when you water your houseplants. Fortunately, fungus gnats are more a nuisance than anything. And they are easy to control. Learn how to get rid of fungus gnats and apply strategies to avoid having problems with them in the future. 

Healthy soil is the key to growing a beautiful and thriving garden. Building and nourishing the soil begins with getting to know what type of soil you have. Knowing your soil type will help you in selecting plants best suited for your growing conditions and guide soil amendment decisions. Soil type also affects how long and how often you need to water the garden and plays a role in nutrient availability. Learn how to identify your soil type so you can hone garden management strategies and build a healthy base for your plants.  

Are parts of your plants covered with black splotches or a dark coating?If so, it’s possible they are suffering from

You may know that many plants don’t grow well – or at all – under walnut trees. This fact has been observed and documented since the first century AD.But what about pecan trees? Do they h

Are your Indoor Plant Leaves Turning Black? It’s a sight that can dampen the beauty of your green oasis. But fear not! There’s a solution. Here are the reasons behind this phenomenon and simple yet effective solutions to bring your plants back to life!

Copper pennies contain pure copper, which has great antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, conductive, and biostatic properties. It can also be helpful in a variety of other ways in the yard! Let’s have a look at some amazing Penny Uses in the Garden!

Succulents are colorful and fun to grow. Many folks collect miniature species, like Echeveria, Haworthia, and Lithops, to display decoratively in their homes.We link to vendors to help you find releva

While there are many scientific ways and gadgets to determine your soil quality, they can either be a little time-consuming or expensive. But one quick and straightforward way to do this is to Bury 2 White Underwear in the Garden. Confused? Read more below!

By Taylah Montez

Imagine this scenario with me: you’re examining your fruit trees, several that you’ve been growing for years.Much to your horror, most of your apples have come down with

When it comes to dogs, they can put anything into their mouth lying around. So, you have to be careful about what they are eating! If you are wondering, Can Dogs Eat Walnuts, then you have come to the right place!

Stress relief comes in many forms, from self care and better sleep to your daily diet—and the latter could include a medicinal herb called ashwagandha. In fact, if you’ve ever reached for a supplement that’s designed to ease stress, it’s likely it contained ashwagandha.  

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just plop some seeds into the soil, add water, and have yourself a dozen new orchids?Unfortunately, growing orchids f

Give your houseplant a lustrous makeover to boost your lively home decor with these excellentDIY Leaf Shiner Recipes for Lush & Glossy Houseplants that’ll leave your plant foliage with a shine like never before!

We all know what makes lilacs fabulous – it’s those spring days when you’re walking outside and you suddenly get a whiff of a heavily floral fragrance.That’s when you look around and, yep, your lila