You’re Journey Has already Begun!
Now its time to start growing.
Before Your Kit Arrives
Location & Light
Indirect Light: Place the grow kit in a location with indirect light, like a windowsill or near a window, but not in direct sunlight, which can dry out the kit.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight can dry out the kit and harm the mushrooms.
Ambient Light: Mushrooms don't need a lot of light, but they do need some exposure to ambient light.
Identify Your Space
When setting up your mushroom grow kit, choose a spot with indirect light, stable temperatures between 55-75°F (13-24°C), and high humidity (around 90-100%). Make sure the area is well-ventilated, dark, clean, and free from direct sunlight or strong drafts. Most importantly, confirm that your chosen space can consistently meet these conditions.
Airflow
Good Air Circulation: Ensure good airflow around the grow kit, but avoid placing it in a drafty area.
Ventilation: Ensure it has some ventilation to allow for oxygen exchange.
Avoid Confinement: Don't completely enclose the kit in a small, airtight container, as this can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide.
Temperature
Ideal Range: Maintain a temperature between 55-75°F (13-24°C).
Optimal Yields: While mushrooms can grow within this range, 23°C (73.4°F) is often considered ideal for optimal yields.
Avoid Fluctuations: Try to keep the temperature stable and avoid large fluctuations.
Humidity
High Humidity: Mushrooms thrive in a humid environment, ideally 90-100% humidity.
Mist Regularly: You will mist the grow kit regularly with a spray bottle to maintain humidity, especially if the environment is dry.
Other Tips
Cleanliness: Keep the area where you're growing mushrooms clean to prevent contamination. (away from chemicals, and animals)
Read Instructions: Always follow the specific instructions provided with your mushroom grow kit.
Experiment: Once you have a good foundation, you can experiment with different methods and techniques to optimize your mushroom growing environment.
Now you’re ready!
Once you have identified and readied your space, you’ll be ready to start your kit immediately when it arrives.
Remember it only takes 2 minutes to start inoculating your grain bag!
Starting Your Kit
Items Required:
Sterile grain bag (with rubber injection port and white/black port covering)
Spore syringe (with needle)
Alcohol wipes or isopropyl alcohol
Paper towels or clean cloth
Step 1 - Inoculate the Grain Bag
IBefore you begin the inoculation process, ensure your workspace is as clean as possible. Having a sterile environment from the start greatly reduces the risk of contamination. Gather all of your materials (grain bag, spore syringe, alcohol wipes) so you can work efficiently and prevent unnecessary exposure to the air.
Sanitize & Prepare
Sterilize Injection Port: Wipe the bag’s rubber injection port with an alcohol wipe.
Prepare Spore Syringe:
Shake the syringe for 5 seconds.
Remove the black cap and attach the sterile needle, avoiding direct contact with hands.
Inoculate:
Insert the needle into the bag through the injection port, ensuring you don’t pierce the other side.
Inject the spore solution into the grain.
2. Allow Air Exchange & Conditions
Airflow: Remove the blue sticker covering the white air filter on the bag. Keep the bag upright with the filter at the top.
Maintain Warmth: Store in a dark place at 73-77°F (23-25°C). Use a space heater if necessary, but keep it at a safe distance from the bag.
Mycelium Colonization
Step 2 - Wait & Shake
This phase involves patience. The mycelium (mushroom “roots”) is spreading throughout the grain. Avoid rushing; complete colonization ensures a stronger defense against contaminants. Keep temperature conditions consistent to give the mycelium a stable environment in which to thrive.
Monitor Colonization
In 10-20 days, the grain should start turning white. Wait until at least 60-70% of the grains are colonized.
2.Shake the Bag:
Gently break up the grain to redistribute the mycelium. Till grain looks brown (ish) again.
3.Return to Warm, Dark Area:
Let it sit another 10-20 days until thick white mycelium covers most of the grain.
Tips & Troubleshooting:
Too Cold? Colonization may stall if temperatures drop.
Wet Grain? Could be too hot or lacking fresh air. Shake gently and ensure air exchange is adequate.
Proceed Early if Needed: If you suspect contamination, move on to Step 3 sooner rather than waiting.
Move to Spawn
Step 3: Move Spawn (Colonized Grain) into Tub to Colonize the Substrate
Now you’ll combine your fully colonized grain (spawn) with a bulk substrate in a larger container. The key here is cleanliness, temperature stability, and patience.
Proper prep of the substrate is crucial to minimizing contamination risks.
The mycelium (mushroom “roots”) is spreading throughout the grain. Avoid rushing; complete colonization ensures a stronger defense against contaminants. Keep temperature conditions consistent to give the mycelium a stable environment in which to thrive.
Prepare Substrate:
Boil 1½ cups of water; pour over the substrate in a heat-safe container.
Cover and wrap to retain heat for 3-6 hours, allowing it to cool completely.
3.Combine Grain & Substrate:
Sterilize scissors and a spoon with alcohol and/or a lighter.
Shake the grain bag to break up clumps, then cut it open.
Mix the grain into the cooled substrate in the clean tub, leveling the mixture.
Press down around the edges so the tub’s ventilation holes remain unobstructed.
2. Clean the Tub & Lid:
Wash thoroughly with hot soapy water, then wipe down with alcohol.
4.Seal & Incubate:
Place fresh white air-exchange filters over the tub’s holes, then cover each filter with a blue sticker to keep in moisture.
Put on the (white) lid and store in a warm, dark place for 3-8 days.
Exposed grains are okay; just ensure even mixing.
Fruiting Chamber
Step 4: Fruiting Chamber
Once the mycelium has taken hold in the substrate, it needs fresh air, higher humidity, and some light to trigger mushroom formation. Think of this as creating a mini ecosystem—maintain a balance between airflow and humidity so mushrooms can thrive.
Check Colonization:
Wait until about 70% of the substrate surface is covered in mycelium.
2. Prepare Terrarium:
Swap the white lid for a second, inverted tub to form a humidity dome.
Clean the second tub just like the first
3.Light & Temperature:
Provide soft or indirect light.
Maintain 73-77°F (23-25°C)
5.Mist & Fan:
If tub walls are dry, lightly mist with distilled water.
Once pins (tiny mushrooms) form, fan 2-4 times daily for 10-15 seconds.
Mist sparingly after fanning to keep humidity up without soaking the substrate.
4. Increase Airflow Gradually:
Remove one blue sticker from a ventilation hole each day.Swap the white lid for a second, inverted tub to form a humidity dome.
Harvesting
Step 5: Harvest & Dry
This is where your patience pays off. Observe the mushrooms closely so you can harvest them at peak quality. Harvesting too soon or too late can affect taste and texture. Drying them properly ensures they stay fresh and won’t spoil.
Harvest Time
When the caps begin to spread, it’s time.
2.Removing Mushrooms:
Use gloves or clean hands.
Twist and pull gently, or snip with sterilized scissors.
Remove any substrate clinging to the stems.
3. Drying Your Harvest:
Best done with a food dehydrator at around 130°F (54°C) for 4+ hours.
Mushrooms should be “cracker dry.” If they bend, keep drying.
Store in a dark, dry place or freezer—avoid the fridge.
Without a dehydrator, look up oven-drying methods for an alternative.Provide soft or indirect light.
Second Flush
Step 6: Start Your Second Flush
Just because you’ve harvested once doesn’t mean you’re done! Mushrooms often produce multiple flushes. After harvest, prepare the environment again so the mycelium can channel its energy into a second (sometimes third) round of growth.
Clean Up:
Remove leftover mushroom tissue from the terrarium.
2.Re-Hydrate:
Lightly mist or add moisture to restore humidity levels.Use gloves or clean hands.
3. Repeat Fruiting Conditions:
Return to the process in Step 4.
Harvest again following Step 5 guidelines.