Photo: no rights reservedCC0 1.0via iNaturalist
Lead-colored puffball Plant Care
Bovista plumbea
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With its round, puffy fruiting bodies resembling small puffballs, this plant originates from North America and Asia. Plant collectors are drawn to its unique appearance and interesting texture, making it a desirable addition to any collection.
Every 7–14 days
Bright indirect
60–75°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Lead-colored puffball?
Water Lead-colored puffball every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it bright indirect light. It prefers temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 2 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Lead-colored puffball Native To?
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
What Is the Lead-colored puffball?
Lead-colored puffball (Bovista plumbea) belongs to the Agaricaceae family within the Bovista genus. Lead-colored puffball is native to Europe,North America.
Lead-colored puffball displays a clumping, compact growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Lead-colored puffball produces none.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Lead-colored puffball?
Bovista plumbea requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Lead-colored puffball Need?
Lead-colored puffball thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Lead-colored puffball in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Lead-colored puffball Prefer?
Bovista plumbea grows best at temperatures of 60–75°F. Lead-colored puffball prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
60–75°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Lead-colored puffball?
Well-draining, nutrient-rich mix. Good drainage is essential for Lead-colored puffball to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Lead-colored puffball?
Feed Lead-colored puffball every 2 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 2 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Lead-colored puffball?
Repot every 1-2 years. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Lead-colored puffball?
Lead-colored puffball can be propagated through spores.
Is the Lead-colored puffball Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Lead-colored puffball, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
Never eat a wild mushroom based on an app identification. Many mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes, and edibility must never be judged from an app.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Lead-colored puffball?
Lead-colored puffball is susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Lead-colored puffball is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Bovista genus (family Agaricaceae) — search all Bovista species in the plant lookup.
Lead-colored puffball thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Bovista plumbea, family Agaricaceae — World Flora Online.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Lead-colored puffball, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Public domain, CC0 1.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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