Being more than simply a smelly and unsightly stain on walls, ceilings and other surfaces, mold is a living organism that can grow and reproduce like all forms of fungus. To help you understand how it can quickly spread through your home before you even realize it’s there, we at American Hometown Services would like to look at the life cycle of mold.

What are the Life Stages of Mold?

Below are the four stages of mold’s lifecycle.
Stage 1 – Hypha. With a cell called a hypha, the initial stage begins. Through the release of enzymes, this minute, thread-like cell feeds on cellulose, wood and other organic materials. It grows into a mycelium, and the resulting cluster of hyphae forms the visible portion of molds as the hypha absorbs the nutrients.
Stage 2 – Mycelium. Some of the individual hyphae develop spores on the ends once the mycelium is created. Spores are cells that reproduce asexually in fungi and certain plants such as ferns, as you may recall from high school biology. In the formation of spores, available light, oxygen and ambient temperature all play roles.
Stage 3 – Spores. Released into the air are the microscopic spores, where they drift until settling in a new area with the requisite water and nutrients to fuel reproduction. Spores are hardy organisms, despite their size and seemingly delicate nature. Even under inhospitable hot and dry conditions, in many cases they can remain dormant for years.
Stage 4 – Reproduction. The mold life cycle comes full circle as spores settle in and begin reproducing. They begin generating new hyphae as the spores absorb moisture and nutrients from their new home. The process continues indefinitely if left unchecked.

Does Mold Come Back After Treatment?

Just as roots do for plant life, hyphae act as roots, anchoring mold to its substrate and absorbing nutrients. It inevitably returns as the remaining hyphae begin a fresh mold lifecycle while mold may initially appear to be gone. In such cases as when it feeds upon dead or decaying trees, leaves and other organic debris, the the mold life cycle plays an important part in the balance of nature. Where ingesting spores through your respiratory system can cause allergic reactions and other health problems, problems arise indoors.

How Do You Stop Mold from Growing?

Ultimately, the only way to interrupt the mold life cycle is with traditional mold remediation, a physical removal of affected surfaces by a trained and experienced professional. In order to keep mold spores from repopulating an area and to remove excess humidity in the air which provides an additional element needed for mold hyphae reproduction, the best treatment to break the mold life cycle will be one where the surfaces in the environment are treated.

Mold Remediation & More in Quincy, Macomb, Hamilton, Warsaw & East Alton Illinois | Hannibal, Missouri

With the help of American Hometown Services our team of professionals can provide your home with mold remediation services to eliminate the mold growth. Anything that is savable is properly treated, and materials that are unsalvageable is properly disposed of. If you find mold, call us as soon as possible to minimize the spreading of mold.