Mushroom Grow Kits You Must Have in Your Home

5. How Long Does It Take to Grow Your Own Magic Mushrooms?

To grow magic mushrooms from start to finish there are four main stages:

•  Inoculation 

• Germination

• Colonization

• Fruiting cycle

Once the spores are introduced to the substrate it takes about a week for germination to begin. After about 2 to 4 weeks the it is fully colonized and the fruiting cycle begins which typically lasts around 2 weeks.

Depending on the species of the mushrooms the complete process takes between 4 to 6 weeks from inoculation to fruiting.

Now that we have covered the essential information let us go through further steps of growing and harvesting your own mushrooms.

6. Instruction on How to Grow your Mushrooms

Preparation:

Most mushroom growing kits include containers and the substrate that you will need. The grow kits typically come with pre-sterilized supplies but it is always good to take the necessary precautions.

Prep your space, preferably a small room in your house where you can maintain hygiene. Use sterilized gloves and a face mask while entering this rooms. Clean the entire room using a disinfectant. Sterilize your containers or grow bags with rubbing alcohol and paper towels. If you have obtained your own substrate, then make sure to sterilize it by placing it in boiling water for 15 minutes, drain all the excess water, and let it cool down completely.

Spores:

Spores usually come in form of liquids in syringes or stamps. We recommend using a syringe as it is less likely to get contaminated. The syringe containing spores is usually pre-sterilized, however, if you feel the syringe has been contaminated then use a fire source to sterilize the tip of the needle by heating it until it glows red. Once the syringe is sterilized make sure it does not come into contact with any surface and it is fully cooled down before moving to the next step.

Inoculation:

We need to introduce the spores into the substrate to begin the germination process. This is the process of creating the birthing cake. 

To do this we need to sterilize the inoculation container as harmful bacteria and microbes can take over the medium and completely ruin the cultivation process. Your grow kit may have one large container or several small ones, if using one container then insert the syringe into the substrate and inject about 1 cc of the liquid into the medium, take the syringe out, re-sterilize, and inject into a different part of the substrate. The idea is to spread the spores throughout the medium so the mycelium can grow faster and evenly. If you’re using several smaller containers then inject each container once and move to the next one after sterilizing the syringe.

Germination:

Once you complete the inoculation process you need to close the lid and keep the container in a warm dark place such as a closet or a sterilized box with a lid. Ideally, the temperature must be kept steady and around 80 to 85 Fahrenheit. 

Leave the container for the next few days for the germination process to begin. 

During the germination process, it is important not to introduce light to the container and maintain an underground type of ambient for the mycelium to grow optimally. Avoid checking on your grow kit for at least five days.

Colonization:

After five to seven days a white substance must be formed within the substrate. This is mycelium and indicates that the initial stages have been completed successfully. Now the mycelium must colonize the medium completely. Leave the container for another two weeks (sometimes more) until the mycelium has reached complete growth.

Fruiting Cycle:

 After the container is completely colonized it is time to begin the fruiting cycle. Because the mycelium has been in an air-tight container, most of the moisture present has been already consumed. Clean your hands and take out the birthing cake, by now it must be firm and hold together because of the mycelium growth. 

Place the birthing cake in a sterilized plastic bag or plastic container and fill it with cold filtered water. Close the bags and let the birthing cakes sit for 12 to 24 hours. Once the medium has been rehydrated you can begin the fruiting process.

Your grow kit will have a separate container for the fruiting cycle called the fruiting chamber. Make sure to sterilize the container. Most grow kits come with vermiculite or pearlite, make sure to sterilize them by soaking them in a solution of boiling water and hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 10:1. 

Spread a layer of pearlite or vermiculite on the bottom of your fruiting container. The pearlite and vermiculite act as insulators to help maintain the optimal humidity levels of the fruiting chamber.  

Place your birthing cake on top and spray it well with filtered water. There should be enough room in the fruiting chamber where mushrooms can sprout. Close the lid and place the fruiting chamber where it receives indirect sunlight.

Now you must wait for the fruiting cycle to complete. During this time the chamber must be sprayed with filtered water twice a day to increase moisture. Make sure there is enough air circulation where you place the container and open the container once or twice a day for fresh air.

During the fruiting cycle, the humidity level must be ideally at 85% and the temperature not lower than 70 degrees. 

You can do a smell test to make sure mycelium is healthy. Basically, a foul smell can indicate that the substrate and mycelium have been contaminated in which case the complete medium must be discarded.

Once the growth cycle is completed, it is ready to harvest. Mushrooms can be harvested when the caps are opened, ideally, before the gills are completely exposed. Harvest the mushrooms by twisting and snapping them off from the base close to the substrate or use a sharp knife to cut the stem. 

A harvest of mushrooms is called a flush. Remember there are ways to reuse the birthing cake for multiple flushes. Once you are an experienced grower you can try this advanced method.  

Your harvest of fresh mushrooms can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to five days. If you wish to keep them longer then you must dry the mushrooms. However, a traditional method of preserving mushrooms in jars of honey can extend the time that fresh mushrooms can be stored. Place mushrooms in a glass container and cover them completely with honey. Store in a cool dark place.

Remember there are many ways to grow mushrooms and with a little bit of experience, you can even create your mediums and grow kits. However, several problems can occur along the way regardless of the method you may use or the species you are trying to grow.

7. What are the Common Challenges and Possible Solutions in Growing Mushrooms?

Contamination:

The Fungi loves to grow in dark moist conditions, unfortunately, other microbes and bacteria grow in such environment as well. In the early stages of colonization, contamination can be a major problem and disrupt the entire process.

 The solution is to maintain personal hygiene and use disinfectants such as rubbing alcohol to keep the growing space as sanitized as possible. Keep the pets and unwanted visitors away from your growing space. 

Train yourself to recognize contamination so you can discard them as soon as possible. For example, healthy mycelium is white, any part of the grow kit that is turning, yellow, brown, or black is a sign of contamination and must be removed immediately to avoid the spreading.

Maintaining the Ecosystem:

Remember, we are trying to recreate the natural habitat for the mushrooms to grow, therefore, elements such as humidity and air can impact the growth. Too much humidity, lack of fresh air, or the wrong ambient temperature can affect the growth and the final yield negatively. 

If you are in a dry environment ensure that the medium is well-hydrated before inoculation and during the fruiting cycle. If water is collected at the base of the container try creating drainage holes. 

During the fruiting cycle make sure to open the container regularly to provide fresh air or use a fan to circulate the air around the container. Use an accurate thermometer to maintain the right temperature in the growing room. During the fruiting cycle make sure to choose a room that provides the minimum required light. Constant monitoring of these factors is the key to successful growth.

Patience:

As exciting as it could be to harvest your mushrooms, you must enjoy the process and remain patient for the growth cycle to complete. Harvesting your mushrooms too early can result in a low yield and rushing through the process can cause contamination.

As a beginner, it is best to use grow kits and follow the instructions carefully for the best result.

8. BOTTOM LINE: Trust the Process 

Even though the idea of growing your mushrooms can be intimidating at first, one must remember that not only it is more pleasurable to consume mushrooms grown by your own hands, but also much safer to obtain your mushrooms this way. You will be entirely sure about the species of the mushrooms and less likely to face legal issues. 

Growing mushrooms is like a meditation and the harvest can nourish your body and mind.

Be patient and trust the process…