How to Setup a Mushroom Grow Kit

Growing mushrooms at home is a super fun and rewarding hobby. Some of the most popular mushrooms like lion’s mane, oysters, and many more are very easy to grow at home with no prior experience or equipment needed. In this article you will learn how to grow delicious gourmet mushrooms in just 10 days!

Mushroom Grow Kits

Mushroom grow kits are a great starting point for beginners. They are very easy to use, require no specialized equipment or experience, and can be used to grow some of the most popular and delicious mushrooms out there. While grow kits can be a very convenient way to start a mushroom cultivation project, it is very important that you source a high quality grow kit from a reputable source. Many of the mass produced grow kits that you can find in big box stores or large online retailers lack a healthy and vigorous mycelial colony. These mass produced kits are often poor quality and can be discouraging for beginners since they often fail to produce any mushrooms. You will have a much better chance of success if you purchase grow kits from smaller companies that focus on quality and not on mass producing kits.  Here at Mother Mycelium, quality is our number one priority. We make each kit by hand with extreme attention to detail and ensure that only fresh and vigorous kits are sold. Our grow kits work so well that we guarantee each kit to produce!

How to set up a mushroom grow kit

Once you receive your grow kit from a quality supplier, it’s time to set it up and get growing! Ready-to-fruit mushroom grow kits typically include a ready-to-grow mushroom block, instructions, and a humidity tent. Some may also include a spray bottle for misting. Start by setting up the grow kit according to the included instructions. We always recommend placing the block in a location where it will receive indirect natural light with temperatures around 60-75 degrees (depending on variety). Place the humidity tent over the mushroom block and spray the humidity tent heavily with water. If the grow kit did not include a spray bottle, we recommend buying a fine mist sprayer. TIP: avoid spraying the block and/or mushrooms directly and spray only the humidity tent instead.

Fruiting conditions and Harvesting

Spray the humidity tent each day so that moisture is always present, especially when the mushrooms are starting to form. Some varieties (like blue oyster) may require more fresh air to grow properly so you may need to remove the humidity tent periodically to let in fresh air. If you notice the mushrooms look “leggy” and have long stems and small caps, then remove the humidity tent more often to let out C02 and let in fresh air. If you keep the block sufficiently humid, you should have fully matured mushrooms in about 10-14 days (this time may vary depending on variety and temperature). When the mushrooms are ready to harvest gently twist and pull them from the substrate block. Check out our video for more details on how to tell when the mushrooms are ready to harvest. Now you are ready to cook and eat! There are many great mushroom recipes online these days. If you are not quite ready to eat them yet, you can dehydrate them or store them in the refrigerator for 10+ days. We recommend storing mushrooms in paper bags or plastic containers lined with paper towels.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The most common issue we see with mushroom grow kits is that the block is too dry. If the mushrooms never start to grow or pin at all, that is a good sign that there is not enough humidity. If you don’t see any activity after 1-2 weeks you can try to trigger the block to fruit again by taping over the original slit and cutting a new one. Be sure that there is always moisture present in the humidity tent. If you still don’t see any activity after another week or so, the grow kit may be passed its prime.

Another common issue we see is not enough fresh air. If this happens, the mushrooms are still good to consume, they may just not have that pristine and beautiful appearance. You will know the mushrooms need more fresh air if they look very “leggy” and have long skinny stems, and very small caps. If you see signs of oxygen starvation, remove the humidity tent regularly and fan the mushroom block to get rid of C02 and introduce more fresh air.

The last issue we commonly see is that the block is too wet or has been sprayed directly. If you spray the mushrooms or the mushroom block directly, they can become waterlogged. This will result in stunted growth and sometimes can cause issues with contamination. Avoid spraying the mushrooms directly and spray only the humidity tent.

If you’re having other issues with your grow kit, feel free to reach out to info@mothermycelium.com. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the cultivation process.

Now that you have your first grow under your belt, you can start exploring more of the cultivation process. You can learn to make your own mushrooms blocks, learn how to prepare grain spawn and cultures and more! Check out our blog for more cultivation information!