Know what kind of mushroom you’re trying to grow and what they need before you begin. Basically, give the mycelia what it needs to thrive. Make sure your mushroom substrate is nutrient-rich. Don’t try to cultivate a wood-loving species on straw. That means don’t try to grow a warm-temperature mushroom in cold weather.
MONOTUB PRIMORDIA HOW TO
The key to learning how to grow mushrooms is to create an environment that’s conducive to the species that you’re cultivating. Just be aware that when you introduce fresh air you also introduce the possibility of contaminants and lower humidity levels. If you’re growing in a sealed environment, you may want to open it a few times a day for fresh air. Don’t place things in areas with no air exchange. Solution: Make sure your project has a flow of fresh air. Without any air exchange carbon dioxide levels build up and your mushrooms will emerge as stunted, spindly things that are all stalks and no caps. Mushrooms don’t need as much fresh air as we do, but they still need it. Do a lot of reading before you do something like this. Getting equipment such as a flow hood, autoclave, or pressure cooker (right) is often necessary. Pasteurization of straw is one of these methods.įor some indoor projects like growing from spores, you’ll want to maintain strict sterility in order to avoid contamination. Follow obvious rules like washing your hands and not working next to the litter box.ĭepending on the type of project, you may want to prepare your substrate first to discourage micro-competitors. Keep cleanliness in mind by maintaining a good working environment. Solution: This is often easier to do when trying to grow mushrooms in outdoor beds. Even if it does produce mushrooms, you probably won’t want to eat them. Your mycelium needs to take over and remain in control of your substrate, or it will lose out to mold and other micro-competitors.įailing to take this into account will lead to bugs, mold spores, and other unhealthy things taking over your project. The microbial world is a constant battle of good versus evil. A bed should have adequate drainage, and not be in an area where it will sit in water and encourage mold. Keep this in mind if you’re trying to grow your own mushrooms outside as well. If you’re using bags or bins or some other indoor method, don’t over-water and make holes in the bottom for water to run out. If you’re using a mushroom growing kit, don’t let it sit in water after you’ve misted it. Although we want to keep our growing media moist, and may even soak it for a day at first, leaving it in standing water is just asking for trouble. Standing water encourages bacterial growth and mold, two things that compete with your mycelium. Too much moisture can lead to a soggy substrate, mold, and standing water. The opposite of the above problem, and it does happen. A cheap hygrometer will help you do this. If you cultivate inside under sterile conditions, you’ll need to monitor moisture and humidity levels more carefully. Make sure to mist or water when you see and feel things drying out. Solution: Pay attention to moisture and humidity levels! If you grow mushrooms outside, make sure that you keep your bags or bed slightly damp. I was left with hard work wasted, and guilt over baking my poor mycelium. I then patted myself on the back for a job well done, went on vacation, and totally forget about it for a while.Īs you can imagine, everything dried out in the hot July temperatures. See the picture to the right? I created this outdoor mushroom project with cardboard, straw, and mycelium during one summer. Mushrooms themselves are mainly water, so if you let the mycelium dry out or the humidity level get too low then nothing will happen. Mycelium, the underground vegetative growth of a fungus, needs a moist environment to thrive and produce mushrooms. Let’s look at these reasons in more detail: 1. So without further ado, and in no particular order, I present to you…… Reasons Your Mushrooms Are Not Growing Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World Even if you’re a veteran, it never hurts to come back to the basics.įor more information on how to grow mushrooms and troubleshooting I’d highly recommend Paul Stamets’ books: If you’re just learning to grow mushrooms, review this list to save yourself both time and heartache. I’ve listed eight big ones below, along with practical solutions. It’s happened to me many times!Īlthough many factors may influence your success, there are some common mistakes that can be easily avoided. Yet it can be really frustrating to start out with what you believe is a successful mushroom project, only to have it produce nothing. The important thing is to keep trying and learn from your mistakes. Learning how to grow mushrooms is like any skill.
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