A Simple Way to Grow Mushrooms Indoors - FreshCap Mushrooms (2024)

I’m always looking for simple and effective ways to grow mushrooms at home.

You see, I ‘m a bit of a mushroom growing nerd- so I don’t mind going down the rabbit hole to try and find the best growing methods. Unfortunately, that usually involves specialized equipment and techniques that most beginners do not want to deal with.

But not all mushroom growing has to be so complicated!

In a recent indoor oyster mushroom grow, I wanted to see the minimum viable technique that anyone can do at home- without anything other than some pre-made spawn, some simple materials and a few tools that most people should have kicking around the house.

Growing Indoors

I’ve already shown how a similar method can work forgrowing oysters outdoors, but for many growers, the climate is just not condusive to year-round growing.

Basically, if you want fresh mushrooms all year, you need to find an indoor growing method that works for you!

However, growing indoors does have its challenges. True, you don’t have to worry about bugs- but getting a suitable and balanced environment that is humid while still providing enough fresh air is a real art. Solutions to this problem vary from a simpleSGFC(shot gun fruiting chamber), to simply draping some plastic over your grow or even building a full blown automated indoor greenhouse.

A successful indoor mushroom grow requires that you watch your mushrooms very closely, and being able to respond to their needs as conditions change.

For this particular grow (outlined below), I started in a 4 tier mini greenhouse, but I eventually moved it to a modified SGFC in order to get more fresh air for better looking fruits.

Sterilizing vs Pasteurizing

Differentsubstratesrequire different preparations before they can be used to grow mushrooms. Most nutrient-rich substrates, like supplemented sawdust fruiting blocks and rye grain, require full sterilization. Without proper treatment, they would quickly fail due to contamination.

For substrates with lower levels of nutrition, like straw or non-supplemented hardwood sawdust, you can get away with simple pasteurization. This means that there is no need for polypropylene grow bags expensive sterilization equipment.

For this particular grow, I usedhardwood fuel pelletsfor a substrate. This allowed for a simple pasteurization using nothing but boiling water from a tea kettle and a small plastic tub. Even though hardwood sawdust is a substrate that is relatively low in nutrition, oysters absolutely love it- and have no problem fruiting prolifically from it.

A Simple Way to Grow Mushrooms Indoors - FreshCap Mushrooms (1)

Hardwood fuel pellets, a great substrate for growing oyster mushrooms indoors when used without supplementation.

Step By Step Indoor Grow

What You’ll Need

A Simple Way to Grow Mushrooms Indoors - FreshCap Mushrooms (2)

STEP 1: “PASTEURIZE” AND HYDRATE THE PELLETS

Add boiling water to the pellets in order to pasteurize and hydrate the substrate at the same time. Use the same ratio as forsupplemented sawdust fruiting blocks– namely1.25 liters of water for every 5 cups of pellets.

Place the pellets in a suitable container. For this grow, I used a plastic tub that measuring about 12” x 16” x 5” deep. It comfortably held about 6 lbs of substrate.

Bring the water to a full boil and pour directly over the pellets. The pellets will quickly dissolve into loose sawdust, but it helps if you mix them around a bit.

Once evenly wetted and broken up, pack the sawdust tight into a corner so as to try and retain the heat for as long as possible. You could also cover it and wrap it in a blanket for the same effect.

NOTE:I use the term “pasteurization” loosely here, because this by no means a full pasteurization, which is usually done by heating the substrate to between 65-82 Deg C for at least 45 minutes. Hardwood pellets are relatively sterile as is and have a low chance of contamination, so this method of pasteurization works quite well.

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STEP 2: ADD SPAWN

Once the sawdust has completely cooled, addspawn.

Add the spawn at a 10-20% ratio by weight to the amount of substrate you have. The higher the spawn rate, the better your chances that the substrate will fully colonize before contamination gets a chance to settle in.

Thoroughly mix the spawn until it is evenly distributed throughout the substrate. The more distributed the spawn, the more “inoculation” points you’ll have, and the faster the substrate will colonize. Although this does not need to be a totally sterile process, it is advisable to wear nitrile gloves or wash your hands thoroughly before spawning, especially if you use your hands to break up the spawn.

For this grow, I used1 quart (about 1 lb) of Blue Oyster spawnthat has been in the fridge for a number of months. It was way over colonized, as you can see in the picture. It took a while to break it up evenly! I was a little bit worried about the viability of the spawn due to it’s age- but as you’ll see it still worked out pretty well.

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STEP 3: COVER AND COLONIZE

After mixing the spawn, cover the top surface of the substrate with a layer of plastic wrap. Here, I placed the saran directly on top of the substrate. Poke holes in the covering with a knife to allow the mycelium to breath as it’s colonizing. Using the saran wrap- as opposed to using a lid or immediately applying a casing- allows you to watch the colonization unfold.

Simply leave the covered substrate on a shelf, out of direct sunlight. Watch it closely to make sure colonization is progressing normally without contamination, and that the substrate is not drying out. You may have to mist it with a spray bottle if you live in a really dry climate.

The substrate should be fully colonized after1-3 weeks of inoculation, depending on spawn rate.

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STEP 4: FRUIT!

Once the substrate is fully colonized, it’s time to fruit!

For this particular grow, I applied a casing layer consisting of purevermiculite. This helps retain moisture in the substrate, which is essential for pin formation and fruiting, but it is certainly not necessary. If you are able to keep a consistently humid environment, then exposing the entire top of the substrate to fruiting conditions should work just fine.

You should expect to see the first pins appear a few days after full colonization, depending on the environmental conditions.

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Blue Oysters require a ton of fresh air, and this fact cannot be overstated. I started this grow in a4 tier mini greenhouse, but the oyster were just not getting enough fresh air. I eventually moved them out of the greenhouse and covered them with a tote peppered with ½” holes (the bottom half of a shotgun fruiting chamber). This provided just enough fresh air for the oysters to develop into better looking, meatier fruits.

Blue Oysters also grow really fast, so you’ll need to check your mushrooms every day to see when they are ready for harvest. Typically this is right before the cap starts to curl upward – a sign that they are about to drop spores.

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STEP 5: HARVEST AND SECOND FLUSH

When the fruits have reached the size you desire, it’s time to harvest. Do so by simply twisting the stem of the mushroom and pulling up. You’ll get a lot of vermiculite on the stem, but this can easily be brushed off. Oyster stems are not all that desirable, so you’ll probably end up discarding with most of it anyways.

After harvest simply place the tray back in the fruiting chamber, or cover it again with saran wrap so that the substrate stays moist. A new flush should appear in 1-2 weeks. Watch for signs of contamination. If you see any green mold, or anything other than fluffy white mycelium and mushroom pins- then it’s time to throw it out.

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Why Oysters?

Oyster mushrooms are some of the easiest to grow. They are relatively resilient to contamination, and can grow well on a variety of substrates. As mentioned earlier, the biggest challenge is ensuring you get enough fresh air to the fruits.

This method should work with all types of oysters (including blue, pink, yellow, pearl ect), and is made super simple by being able to start with pre-made spawn. Making your own spawn is awesome, and should eventually be attempted by any grower- but if you are looking for a quick an accessible way to get into the world of growing, then pre-made spawn is the way to go.

You can check it outhere!

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Posted by

Tony Shields

Hi' I'm Tony. I've dedicated a ton of time to learn all about the amazing world of mushrooms- and would love to share that information with you! I am particularily passionate about growing mushrooms, and teaching others how to do the same.

A Simple Way to Grow Mushrooms Indoors - FreshCap Mushrooms (2024)

FAQs

A Simple Way to Grow Mushrooms Indoors - FreshCap Mushrooms? ›

One of the benefits of growing your mushroom varieties instead of wild-harvesting them is that you can be sure you're not picking a toxic mushroom. Cremini, enoki, maitake, portobello, oyster, shiitake, and white button mushrooms can all be grown indoors, but each type has specific growing needs.

How do you grow mushrooms indoors for beginners? ›

Mushroom Box Kits
  1. Step 1: Moisten the Block. Mist the block three or four times a day with spring or well water or collected rainwater. ...
  2. Step 2: Cover the Block. Cover the block with plastic after each misting to hold in the humidity. ...
  3. Step 3: Harvest Mushrooms. ...
  4. Step 4: Repeat.
Mar 6, 2024

What is the fastest way to grow mushrooms at home? ›

  1. Step 1: Location. Find a suitable location in your yard. ...
  2. Step 2: Lay A Bed Of Straw And Woodchips. Lay down a bed of organic material in which the mushroom mycleium can thrive. ...
  3. Step 3: Wet the Bed and Innoculate With Your Spawn. ...
  4. Step 4: Keep Wet and Wait. ...
  5. Step 5: Harvest and Enjoy.

Is it safe to grow oyster mushrooms indoors? ›

One of the benefits of growing your mushroom varieties instead of wild-harvesting them is that you can be sure you're not picking a toxic mushroom. Cremini, enoki, maitake, portobello, oyster, shiitake, and white button mushrooms can all be grown indoors, but each type has specific growing needs.

How do you grow mushrooms for dummies? ›

How to Grow Mushrooms
  1. Grow mushrooms indoors. ...
  2. Provide the right growing medium. ...
  3. Inoculate your mushrooms. ...
  4. Keep mushroom spawns warm to start the growing process. ...
  5. Keep your crop moist but not wet. ...
  6. Harvest your mushrooms after a few weeks. ...
  7. Eat freshly harvested mushrooms within a couple days.
Nov 4, 2021

Where is the best place to grow mushrooms inside? ›

Simply open your kit, put it in a spot with indirect light and temperatures between 50 to 75 °F (10 to 24 °C), and mist it with water twice a day. Humidity is very important when growing mushrooms indoors. If your mushrooms are too dry, they'll stop growing.

What makes mushrooms grow the best? ›

Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter. They often spring directly from dead trees. Plants, on the other hand, grow from seeds and require plenty of sun and soil, and don't do well in overly damp environments.

What are the easiest edible mushrooms to grow at home? ›

In this guide, we'll focus on three easy-to-grow mushrooms: Wine Cap, Shiitake, and Blue Oyster. From indoor growing to garden cultivation, these varieties offer simplicity and delicious rewards for all skill levels.

How long do indoor mushrooms take to grow? ›

How long mushrooms take to grow varies a lot depending on the type of mushroom you're growing and the method you're using. It can take anywhere from as little as three days to as many as 60 days.

How often should I mist a mushroom? ›

How often do I water my mushrooms? Using a spray bottle of clean tap-water, mist the exposed mycelium from your cut twice each day. Continue this process daily as you see your baby mushrooms begin to grow. Mushrooms like wet conditions, if you are running your AC or things look dry don't be afraid to add more water!

What are the easiest mushrooms to grow in a bucket? ›

Best mushrooms to grow in buckets

They grow quickly, are less sensitive to environmental factors than many other mushrooms, and maybe grown on a variety of substrates. Bucket culture is ideal for side fruiting oyster mushroom species such as white, pink, blue, or yellow oyster mushrooms.

How to grow mushrooms at home without spores? ›

To generate mushrooms without spores, one must first grow the mushroom tissue culture known as mycelium. An agar plate, a sterile petri dish with agar as a growth medium, is required for this. In the right environment and temperature, the agar will support fungal culture.

How to grow mushrooms indoors step by step? ›

  1. STEP 1: “PASTEURIZE” AND HYDRATE THE PELLETS. Add boiling water to the pellets in order to pasteurize and hydrate the substrate at the same time. ...
  2. STEP 2: ADD SPAWN. Once the sawdust has completely cooled, add spawn. ...
  3. STEP 3: COVER AND COLONIZE. ...
  4. STEP 4: FRUIT! ...
  5. STEP 5: HARVEST AND SECOND FLUSH.

What is the cheapest way to grow mushrooms? ›

Another easy, inexpensive option for growing mushrooms at home is inoculated sawdust in a plastic bag. These come in kit versions, but you can also make them yourself. Store them in a bathroom where it is dark and moist and you'll start to see flushing pretty quickly.

Which oyster mushroom is easiest to grow? ›

Two good choices of oysters to grow first are:
  • Blue grey oysters. These are the easiest and one of the highest yielding. ...
  • Pink oysters (in pic above). As well as being a stunning colour, these are one of the fastest growing mushrooms, producing fruits in as little as three or four weeks.
Dec 11, 2015

What kind of room do you need to grow mushrooms? ›

Choosing the Right Space

Selecting the right space is crucial when setting up a mushroom grow room. Look for a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area in your home. A basem*nt, spare room, or even a large closet can be transformed into an ideal environment for mushroom cultivation.

How to grow mushrooms from store-bought mushrooms? ›

Cut the ends into small pieces. The best size for growing mushrooms from store bought stems is ¼ inch (6 mm.). You can use a cardboard box, paper bags, or even a plastic bin to layer your medium. Place some of the straw or other moist material at the bottom and add mushroom end pieces.

References

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