Topic: What Is This Nasty Stuff?

[Dianna]

I was putting some water in the ponds yesterday and decided to water the elephant ears while I was at it. I noticed a dark black "cloud" in my mulch. I kept watering it because I thought it was one of those exploding mushrooms. Imagine my surprise when I saw what looked like vomit after the dust cleared. What is this nasty stuff?



Do I need to scoop it away from my elephant ears?

[Tina]

It is another fungus like mushrooms. I do get rid of it when I find any growing.

[Dianna]

Thanks, Tina. I guess I will try to find me some gloves and get rid of it tomorrow then. The stuff really looks gross out there...

[Tina]

use a plastic bag just like scooping after a dog. It will also smell if I remember correctly.

[bestofour]

how long has the mulch been in place?

[Dianna]

Thanks for the tip about the bag, Tina. Now I just have to find a clothespin for my nose, too...

Sheri, the mulch has been down since November 13 of last year...

[bestofour]

is it just in that 1 spot?

[Dianna]

Today I was out at the pond cleaning filters and the nasty spot is gone! I don't know where it disappeared to but I looked all around the area and didn't see a dot of yellow. It was getting dark, though. I did, however, find another splatter of yellow by the sago palm...

That is some nasty stuff!

[barleychown]

That would be dog vomit fungus.    It is some gross looking stuff, but is harmless.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/sam21/dogvomit.htm

[Dianna]

Yuck! What nasty stuff. I am not sure I like the idea of it just appearing in my mulch. I wonder if there is something you could do to keep it from happening?

Thanks for the name to google, Sarah, and the link...

Tina, the black cloud from this mess really looked like the mess we have with mushrooms around here sometimes. From the link that Sarah posted I realize now that it was spreading spores.