Mushrooms love 3 things: oxygen, humidity, and temperature.

Oyster Mushroom Grow-at-Home Instructions

First watch day by day as the mushroom mycelium fully colonizes the substrate. It should take about another week for the mycelium to grow and feed off of the substrate. By April 4th the substrate should be white with mycelium. At that time follow the instructions below.

You will need: scissors or sharp knife, spray bottle, strong tape, and a small garbage bag or tote.

1. Find a good spot for your new mushroom to grow. Not too hot, not too cold, not in direct sunlight.

2. Cut an “X” with 3 inch lines in the middle of the bag. Be careful not to cut into the substrate. This will allow the mycelium to sense the oxygen and signal it to start fruiting.

3. Push the air out of the top of bag and tape it down making sure the top of the bag is wrapped flat around the side. Now the mushrooms know exactly where to grow.

4. Give your bag a good misting.

5. Mist 3 to 4 times a day. Keep that humidity up and those mushrooms happy.

6. In a few days you will start seeing pins growing out of the hole. Keep it up.

7. Keep misting and watching those mushrooms grow each day.

8. Oyster mushrooms caps curl up to release their spores. You want to harvest them right before this happens when the caps are still slightly curled under. Once you start noticing them flatten, harvest!

9. To harvest, grab the mushrooms at the base and twist/pull them off of the block. Make sure you take all of the mushrooms at that time.

BONUS

Bags could produce the much loved “second flush”. The whole process begins again with a second (but smaller) harvest. Keep misting and watch for new growth for the next week. More flushes may follow.