When growing mushrooms, the environmental conditions can make or break your colony. Factors like temperature, humidity, and even light levels, can lead to a successful harvest or quite the opposite.
In the guide below, we provide a checklist of the ideal mushroom-growing conditions so you can reach success on your first try!
The Ideal Mushroom Growing Conditions For Each Stage
From setting up your substrate to harvesting the fruits of your labor, the mushroom-growing process occurs in several stages. Each stage comes with its own needs, and different environmental factors will lead to different outcomes. So, what does each stage of the mushroom life cycle need, and how can you ensure you follow the requirements when growing mushrooms at home?
Spawning Phase
Spawning is the initial stage of mushroom growing, where you introduce your mushroom spawn (living mushroom culture) into your chosen substrate.
How To Set Up Your Substrate For Spawning?
Your choice of substrate and how you set it up is the first deciding factor in whether you’ll have a successful harvest or not. The right substrate:
-
Has the right mix of nutrients - most mushrooms need a combination of protein, sugar, starch, lignin, fats, and nitrogen. Always do your research into how to choose the best substrate for your chosen mushroom strain, or buy an All-in-one grow bag ready-picked for you.
-
Has the right acidity - the pH levels will vary depending on the mushroom species, though most types thrive in a slightly acidic environment with a pH between 6-7.
-
Has a good structure - it needs to enable air exchange for proper ventilation
-
Is fully sterilized and free of contaminants - any remaining organisms such as bacteria or other fungi will compete for nutrients and can compromise your mushroom culture.
During inoculation, we recommend using specialized mushroom growing bags with secure filer patches to avoid contamination. However, you can also grow mushrooms in buckets, monotubs, and any other containers. Store your container in a clean environment with good air circulation and you will greatly reduce chances of contamination.
All you need to do is spread the mushroom spores on top of your substrate, mix well, then cover with a damp newspaper. Make sure to keep a good airflow, and set a starting temperature of around 73 F (or 23 °C).
Colonization Phase
Colonization is the phase when your mycelium is actively growing through the substrate. At this stage, maintaining the ideal conditions is key if you want a successful colonization. The most important things to consider are:
Temperature
Maintaining the appropriate temperature range is essential in helping your mushrooms grow and thrive. Too low of an ambient temperature is likely to slow down mushroom growth. High temperatures might speed up the colonization process, but they also increase the contamination risk.
The optimal temperature range will depend on the type of mushroom you're growing. Here are a few key temperature levels to remember when growing some of the most popular mushroom varieties:
-
Oyster Mushrooms: 75-85°F (24-29°C)
-
Shiitake Mushrooms: 72-78°F (22-25°C)
-
Button Mushrooms: 70-75°F (21-24°C)
Moisture
During colonization, your mushroom mycelium needs a high level of moisture to grow properly. We’re talking about a moisture level of about 90-95%, which is essential for successful growth.
You can achieve the desired ambient humidity by keeping your grow bags in damp environments such as garden sheds, basements, or even bathrooms under sinks. You can also use additional humidity control tools such as:
-
Humidifiers
-
Misting systems
-
Humidity domes
Air Flow
In order for your mushrooms to properly colonize and enter the fruiting stage, you need to create the right conditions for fresh air exchange. Not having the right amount of ventilation can even lead to your mushroom mycelium dying, due to a process called thermogenesis.
In short, your mushrooms produce heat while they feed and grow, increasing the inner temperature of your substrate. Because of thermogenesis, the deepest parts of your substrate will always be hotter than the ambient temperature and may cause your mycelium to overheat - unless you ensure proper ventilation to cool the substrate down.
You should make sure the internal substrate temperature is kept between 77- 89°F (25-32°C). This can be done by simply keeping the room a couple of degrees below the required temperature, or by installing fans and ventilation systems.
Proper ventilation also prevents the buildup of carbon dioxide, which can inhibit the growth of your mushrooms.
Light Levels
Most mushrooms will thrive in very low light levels. However, you don’t need to keep them in complete darkness. Simply use a box, dark room, cupboard, or basement and your mushrooms will be more than happy.
With the appropriate conditions, you should be able to see mycelium growing within 2-3 weeks.
Fruiting Phase
The fruiting phase is the stage when mycelium starts showing up above the surface of your substrate, and fruits (the edible mushroom body) start growing.
As your growth process continues, it’s important to adjust the environmental conditions to match the needs of the current stages. Here are the most important considerations for the fruiting phase:
Temperature
During the colonization stage, we recommend lowering the overall temperature bit by bit. By the time your mushrooms start fruiting, the ideal temperature you should aim for is about 10°C.
There are a few obvious telltale signs that temperature is not optimal for mushroom growth, including:
-
Slow or stalled mycelial growth
-
Abnormal/deformed fruiting bodies
-
Reduced yields and mushroom abords
Moisture
At this stage, it’s critical to maintain humidity levels between 80-95%. Simply mist your mushrooms with water twice a day and you should see a thriving culture fruiting soon right before your eyes.
Light Levels
While it’s true that most mushrooms thrive in the dark, some species need a bit of light to facilitate fruiting. That is because, when growing in the wild, mushrooms use sunlight to know when they have reached the surface so that they can start producing mushrooms.
It’s enough to place your mushrooms in a shaded spot near a window to help them receive indirect sunlight. Be careful - direct sunlight can increase your substrate’s temperature and dry your mushroom bodies.
Key Takeaways On Mushroom Growing Conditions
If you’ve reached this point - congrats! You’re now fully equipped with the knowledge you need to give indoor mushroom growing a try and succeed on your first harvest. As a takeaway, always remember to:
-
Monitor the pH levels of your substrate - you can adjust as necessary using natural additives like crushed eggshells or gypsum
-
Store mushrooms in a humid environment - install a hygrometer to constantly monitor your humidity, and adjust as necessary
-
Use heaters or coolers to keep the temperature steady and within the required ranges
-
Keep light levels to a minimum
-
Use fans and ventilation systems to keep substrate airflow steady
Mushroom Grow Kits - Beginner Mycologist’s Best Friend
If you’re just starting out on your mycology journey, mushroom grow kits are the easiest, most convenient way to get a successful harvest first try.
At Mushroom Spawn Store, we supply mushroom grow kits, mushroom grow bags, and DIY supplies that make indoor growing as simple as possible. Get yours today and explore the magical world of mushroom growing!
