White Mushroom Fungus Growing Inside Barn

Defining White Mushrooms

• White mushrooms are the structures certain fungi create for the purpose of reproduction. Fungi spores are carried from the wind into an area, and they'll stay there until conditions become optimal for mushroom growth. The spores send out growths called hyphae to decompose nearby wood, leaves and other organic matter for food. These nutrients are then used to grow the white mushroom, which then releases new spores to reproduce elsewhere. Fungal spores may lay dormant in an area for years before conditions become optimal for reproduction; once that happens, the mushrooms grow fairly quickly.

Ideal Growing Conditions

• Areas that have a lot of organic matter are ideal for mushroom growth. Barns often have a lot of dirt and debris in them, which is why the mushrooms sprouted there. If the barn has a wood floor that is starting to rot, mushrooms will take advantage of it, because the rotting wood is an excellent source of nutrients. Moist and darkened places are ideal for fungal growth, though mushrooms will sometimes sprout in direct sunlight as well.

Risks

• Mushrooms should be deemed hazardous because some varieties are poisonous and there is no simple way of knowing if the white mushrooms in your barn are toxic or not. A swallowed mushroom can kill the organism that consumed it. If you have children or pets, assume that all mushroom growth is hazardous and take immediate action to keep kids and pets away from them while also removing the mushroom growth.

Removal and Prevention

• Pull the mushrooms out of the ground directly for immediate removal. However, the fungus that caused it to grow is still in the ground, so the mushroom grows back quickly if further action isn't taken. Remove any excess moisture in the barn by dumping any standing water and using a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air. Clean the barn to remove organic material such as dirt, leaves and rotting wood. Apply a fungicide to the areas where the mushrooms were growing to kill off the spores that caused the growth.