DIY Grow Kit (sporeless oyster mushroom)

Includes:

• Sporeless oyster mushroom mycelium 100g (millet, Pleurotus ostreatus)

• Straw pellets 1.8 kg

• Cultivation bag 1 pc OR 6 pcs of breathable tape pieces

This oyster mushroom DIY kit is suitable for those who want to grow their mushrooms from scratch. The process is quite simple: Add water, mix the ingredients, and let the mycelium grow. Keep it moist and harvest the mushrooms! Detailed instructions below:

1. Start by washing your hands. Fold the edges of the cultivation bag outside to the filter. Boil 2.5 liters of water and pour it into the cultivation bag over the straw pellets. The bag can withstand boiling water, but be careful not to burn yourself. Let it cool for a moment and stir the contents with a disinfected spoon so that all pellets become moist and break down. Open the edges of the bag, leave the spoon in the bag, fold the mouth of the bag downward, and let it cool for 6-8 hours or until the temperature of the substrate is below 30 degrees Celsius.

2. Remove the spawn pouch from the refrigerator and squeeze it until the spawn crumbles loose. Open the bag and pour the spawn into the cultivation bag. Mix with the spoon left in the cultivation bag so that the mycelium mixes everywhere, including the bottom and corners of the bag. You can also shake the bag from the outside.

3. Stand the bag upright and tap it bottom-first against the table a couple of times to compact the substrate slightly. Fold the mouth of the bag closed and seal it with clothespins or tape. However, leave the white filter opening free so that the mycelium can breathe. Leave at room temperature for about 14 days, during which time the mycelium will completely colonize the substrate. The bag does not need to be kept in the dark, but protect it from direct sunlight.

4. Once the mycelium has completely colonized the substrate, fold the empty upper part of the bag tightly under the substrate (also the white filter opening – it is no longer needed). You can use tape if necessary to keep the bag tight. Cut a 5-10cm X-shaped incision in the front of the bag with a sharp and disinfected knife. The substrate does not mind if you cut its surface. Spray plenty of water over the incisions with a spray bottle.

5. If possible, move the bag to a slightly cooler (e.g., 15-18 degrees Celsius), humid, and well-lit place (avoid direct sunlight) to provide optimal conditions for mushroom growth and to get a higher yield. Growing indoors at room temperature is also possible; however, avoid placing it near fans, heaters, heat sources, or air conditioners.

6. Keep the substrate moist at the incisions until harvesting. This is important because the mushroom pins easily dry out in the dry air of apartments. Spray the incision and the inside walls of the bag moist a few times a day, or cover the substrate with a paper or plastic bag to maintain moisture. Do not seal the bag tightly as the mushrooms also need plenty of fresh air. You can also make small holes (about 1cm in diameter) in the bag for ventilation. Spray the incision and the inside walls of the bag moist a few times a day. When the mushrooms start to grow bigger, remove the bag and continue spraying directly onto the mushrooms.

7. Harvest the crop when the edges of the mushroom caps begin to straighten. Oyster mushrooms grow in clusters, always harvest the entire cluster at once by grabbing the base of the cluster and gently twisting and pulling. Cut off any residue of substrate and store the harvested mushrooms in the refrigerator, for example, in a paper bag. Usually, you can get a second (although often smaller) harvest from the used substrate about 3-4 weeks after the first one if you keep it moist until the next harvest. The spent substrate can be composted, disposed of as organic waste or used in the garden as soil conditioner or mulch.

If you do not succeed in getting mushrooms to grow within 2 months following the instructions, please contact us, and we will look into it  together! The yield depends on the growing conditions; a typical yield is about 600-900g of fresh mushrooms.

Using your own container instead of cultivation bag:

If you want to grow mushrooms in your own container instead of the cultivation bag, you can choose 6 pieces of breathable tape pieces in your order, which you will need to cover the air holes in the container. The cultivation bag contains a breathable filter, so no tape is needed for it. Follow the above instructions but replace the cultivation bag with your container: Make 3-6 holes about 10-15mm apart on the sides and/or lid of the container, and disinfect the container. Cover the holes on the outside with the breathable tape. Hydrate the straw pellets in a separate, disinfected, and sufficiently large container (the straw pellets expand multiple times when hydrated), let cool and mix in the spawn. When filling the container with the substrate, compact it lightly by pressing and fill it to the brim (you can make the final compaction by pressing the lid in place). Do not remove the tapes so that the mushroom pins do not dry out; the mushrooms will push them aside as they grow. If you grow a second crop, put new tapes over the holes, fill the container to the brim if it has sunk, and add some water to the container. You can reuse your container, but clean and disinfect it thoroughly first.

Enjoy and best of luck with your cultivation!