FUNGUS: Joy or Pain?

I've been growing a Cypress bonsai for some years now. It's a slow-grower but it looks rather nice. However, this year I see some dark brown  fungus on the soil. Should I be amused or horrified?

I for one, normally am amused. It is very normal for fungi to grow in your soil. They assist roots. If you have no odd behaviour of the plant, I would not worry.

I'd only caution you against keeping your tree too wet.

leatherback wrote:I for one, normally am amused. It is very normal for fungi to grow in your soil. They assist roots. If you have no odd behaviour of the plant, I would not worry.

Thank you, leatherback. I only noticed the condition 2 days ago and (so far) I've observed no ill-effects. It's very interesting to find out it can assist roots. I didn't know that.

JimLewis wrote:I'd only caution you against keeping your tree too wet.

Thank you Jim. Yes, I understand. I've been growing this Cypress as bonsai for several years now and this is the first time fungus has developed. But it's no surprise as I recently read that the cypress loves LOTS of water during the growing season. We've had some uncharacteristically hot days the last week or 2 and I've been extra liberal with the watering jug.

F-EW wrote:
Thank you, leatherback. I only noticed the condition 2 days ago and (so far) I've observed no ill-effects. It's very interesting to find out it can assist roots. I didn't know that.

Have a look at http://www.colinlewisbonsai.com/Reading/mycorrhiza.html

Jelle.

leatherback wrote:

F-EW wrote:
Thank you, leatherback. I only noticed the condition 2 days ago and (so far) I've observed no ill-effects. It's very interesting to find out it can assist roots. I didn't know that.

Have a look at http://www.colinlewisbonsai.com/Reading/mycorrhiza.html

Jelle.

Thank you, leatherback. I've read through and it appears that all three : Ectomycorrhizae - Endomycorrhizae – and Ectendomycorrhizae are directly related to and attached to the roots. The conclusion then is that the sort of surface-soil fungus on my plant are signs of over moisture of the soil and most likely not beneficial to the plant. I think that I'd better allow the soil to dry well and take it from there. Perhaps increasing the grit mixture at the next re-potting.

What do you mean with surface-soil fungus? The mushroom is the reproductive part of the fungus that lives in the soil. Mycchoriza actually fill the whole rootball.

leatherback wrote:What do you mean with surface-soil fungus? The mushroom is the reproductive part of the fungus that lives in the soil. Mycchoriza actually fill the whole rootball.

I'm merely going by the description of Ectomycorrhizae, Endomycorrhizae and Ectendomycorrhizae as I understand (or misunderstand) it.
EDIT: I understand much better now. Thank you!

On a different note, I love the macro shot. I get a sense of a temperate rainforest. Kudos

Toshiro wrote:On a different note, I love the macro shot. I get a sense of a temperate rainforest.  Kudos