How to Grow Mushrooms: Why People are so Obsessed with Fungus
Mushrooms have been fascinating humans for centuries, whether for their culinary delights, medicinal properties or their magic growing process. Unlike plants, mushrooms are in the kingdom Fungi and their physiology and ecology are completely different to the vegetable garden plants we are used to. Since the beginning of time, mushrooms have been revered not just for their nutritional value but for their medicinal properties and unique flavours. Ancient Egyptians thought mushrooms were a gift from the gods and they were only for the royals. In Eastern cultures, mushrooms like shiitake and reishi have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, for everything from boosting immunity to longevity.
Nowadays mushroom cultivation has gone beyond foraging in the woods. With the advancements in growing techniques and the introduction of home-growing kits, it’s never been easier to grow mushrooms at home. Mushroom growing kits make the process simpler by providing pre-prepared substrate and spores, making it for beginners and for fun experimentation. Whether you’re a gardener looking to add to your crops, a chef looking for fresh ingredients, or an individual interested in sustainable living and nutrition, growing mushrooms has many benefits.
In this comprehensive guide, we will take you through the entire process of understanding how to grow mushrooms at home, from learning about their life cycle to setting up your own cultivation system—whether indoors or outdoors.
2. The Mushroom Life Cycle: Spores to Fruiting Bodies
Understanding the life cycle of mushrooms is key to growing mushrooms. Mushrooms don’t produce seeds. They reproduce through spores which are created in the gills, pores or teeth of a mature mushroom’s fruiting body. But this is just the beginning of a wonderful and complex process.
Spores: The Start
Mushrooms start life as spores. Spores are tiny, dust like reproductive cells that are blown by wind, water, insects or animals. Unlike seeds, spores have no stored energy and need the perfect combination of nutrients, moisture and temperature to germinate. The spores land in a suitable environment, like decaying organic matter or soil rich in nutrients, and start the next stage of the life cycle.
Mycelium Growth: The Mushroom
Once the spores land on a suitable growing medium (often called the substrate), they germinate and grow into mycelium—a dense network of fine, thread like structures called hyphae. Mycelium is the feeding structure of mushrooms, like the roots of plants. Through these hyphae the mycelium absorbs nutrients from the substrate by breaking it down with enzymes. Covering the substrate with damp newspaper will help keep the moisture levels for mycelium growth. This stage of fungal growth can take weeks or even months and is essential for a healthy fruiting body later.
Primordia: Mushroom Starts
After growing and colonising the substrate the mycelium reaches maturity. At this point when it feels the conditions are right it starts to form pin like structures called primordia. These tiny structures are early “baby” mushrooms that will develop into full grown mushrooms under the right conditions. Environmental factors like humidity, light and temperature will trigger the transition from mycelium growth to primordia stage.
Fruiting: The Mushroom That Emerges
In the right conditions—often cooler temperatures, enough moisture, fresh air and some light—the primordia grow into mature mushrooms, also known as the fruiting body. This is where mushroom growers will harvest their mushrooms, this is the part we eat.
Understanding the whole life cycle—from invisible spores to a thriving fruiting body—will help growers know when to adjust their environment or switch from one mode to another. You’ll find the life cycle slightly different from mushroom to mushroom but the principle is the same.
3. Environmental Factors for Healthy Mushroom Growth
Most of us have experienced the conditions in which mushrooms love to grow–a damp forest after a heavy rain or the musty smell of decaying wood. These environments provide rich organic matter and the right conditions for mushrooms to thrive. But replicating these conditions in a home setup requires attention to several key environmental factors. You need to understand these needs to have a successful mushroom harvest.
Water & Humidity: Keep it Moist
Mushrooms are 90% water so they need a high humidity environment to produce healthy fruiting bodies. Ideally the humidity should be between 80-95% like the forest floor after a rain. For most indoor setups, misting the area regularly with a spray bottle or using a humidity tent will provide the necessary moisture. Humidity tents can be as simple as plastic bags or as elaborate as custom built chambers. A plastic bag can help maintain the necessary humidity for mushroom growth. In larger grow operations industrial humidifiers help manage moisture levels. Be careful not to over mist which can lead to standing water another common problem that can lead to contamination.
Lighting: Setting the Stage for Fruiting
Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t get their energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. But light still plays a role in mushroom development, specifically in triggering the next stage of growth from mycelium to fruiting bodies. While many varieties don’t need much light to grow, they still need some – low intensity, indirect light. For indoor growers natural sunlight filtered through curtains or the ambient glow from fluorescent or LED grow lights will work. But too much direct sunlight can dry out your mycelium so be careful.
Different mushrooms require different amounts of light–oyster mushrooms need more light than shiitake mushrooms for example–so check the species specific guidelines when planning your setup.
Temperature: Matching the Variety
Like plants, mushrooms thrive in specific temperature ranges depending on the species. Many gourmet mushrooms like shiitake or lion’s mane prefer cooler temperatures 55-65°F (12-18°C) while others like oyster mushrooms do well in warmer temperatures 65-75°F (18-24°C). Having a thermometer in your grow area will allow you to monitor these critical temperatures. For indoor growing it’s relatively easy to control temperature but outdoor mushroom cultivation requires careful timing to avoid extreme heat or cold weather.
A key tip is to match the mushroom species you want to grow with the natural temperature range of your area to minimize the need for external temperature control.
Airflow: Don’t Suffocate Your Mushrooms
Fresh air exchange (FAE) is essential to the health of your mushrooms. While mushrooms love damp environments they still need a steady supply of oxygen for proper development. Poor ventilation can lead to stunted growth, contamination or bacterial infections. Circulate the air in your growing area with fans but be careful of drafts as too much air movement can dry out your growing area. If you are growing indoors using a room with natural airflow or occasionally opening windows can promote better conditions for your mushrooms.
4. Growing Mediums: What Do Mushrooms Grow On?
One of the coolest parts of growing mushrooms is choosing the right substrate—the material mushrooms can break down for food. Unlike plants that use sunlight and CO2 to grow, mushrooms get their energy from decomposing organic matter. So choosing the right substrate can be key to the growth and yield of your mushrooms.
Substrates for Mushrooms
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Straw: One of the most popular and cheapest substrates for mushroom growing, straw is great for oyster mushrooms. Make sure to cut the straw to small pieces (1-4 inches), as this gives more surface area for the mycelium to colonize. Oyster mushroom spores can be used to inoculate the straw substrate and turn it into a growing medium for the mushrooms.
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Wood Chips or Sawdust: Hardwood sawdust and wood chips are great for species like shiitake, lion’s mane and maitake mushrooms. Deciduous trees like oak or maple work best as they decompose slower and provide sustained nutrition.
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Coffee Grounds: Recycled coffee grounds are a popular substrate for urban growers because not only do oyster mushrooms grow well in them but you’re also reusing a readily available waste product—perfect for sustainable growing.
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Coco Coir: This is a fibrous material extracted from coconut husks and is used more and more in mushroom cultivation because of its water retention and neutral pH.
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Manure: For certain specialty mushrooms like button or portobello mushrooms, aged manure can be the perfect environment, especially when mixed with straw or other filler materials.
Sterilization and Pasteurization: Keeping It Clean
Because the substrate is a nutrient rich environment, it’s highly susceptible to contamination by unwanted organisms like mold or bacteria. So sterilization or pasteurization is a crucial step to ensure your substrate only supports mushroom mycelium.
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Pasteurization: Typically done by heating the substrate at 140-160°F (60-70°C) for a period of time, this process kills most pathogens while allowing beneficial organisms to survive.
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Sterilization: A more extreme process, typically using a pressure cooker or specialized equipment to kill all microorganisms, a complete clean slate. Sterilization is most common for substrates like sawdust or grain.
Pasteurization is simpler and can be done at home (even with hot water or steam) but sterilization gives you more insurance against contamination.
5. How Mushroom Growing is Different from Plants
If you’re from a traditional gardening background, mushroom growing can seem like a whole new world. Here are the main ways mushroom growing is different from plant growing:
Energy Source: Decomposers vs. Producers
Plants use photosynthesis to capture sunlight and turn it into energy. They are “producers” in the food chain, taking CO2 from the air and light from the sun to grow. Mushrooms are “decomposers”. They extract nutrients by breaking down organic matter like dead trees, leaves or even kitchen waste like coffee grounds.
Symbiotic Relationships: How Mushrooms and Plants Live Together
In many ecosystems, mushrooms form symbiotic relationships with plants. One example is mycorrhizal fungi which associates with plant roots to help them absorb nutrients from the soil more efficiently. The fungi gets sugars from the plant and the plant gets better water and nutrient uptake. These partnerships show how everything is interconnected in the natural world.
On the other hand, saprophytic mushrooms like oyster and shiitake mushrooms break down dead organic matter without forming symbiotic relationships. Knowing the difference between these types will help you adjust your growing methods accordingly.
Growth Cycle: Short-Season vs. Full-Season
Most plants take an entire season to produce fruit, mushrooms can produce multiple times in a year. In ideal conditions, mushrooms can “flush” (produce fruit) in cycles, often producing harvestable fruit bodies within weeks of inoculating the substrate. Many species can continue to fruit for months with proper care.
6. How to Grow Mushrooms at Home: Basic Steps with Grow Kits
If you’re new to all this and don’t know where to start, mushroom grow kits are the way to go. Grow kits are pre-inoculated blocks of substrate that have already gone through the sterilization or pasteurization process so all you need to do is provide the environment. Using a mushroom kit simplifies the initial complicated steps of the process so you can get started. Once you know how to grow mushrooms you can then move on to more advanced techniques.
Step 1: Inoculating
Most grow kits are pre-inoculated but you can also buy your own substrate and inoculate it with mushroom spawn or spores. Inoculation is the process of introducing mushroom mycelium to the substrate to start colonizing it. This creates the network for the mushrooms to grow. Most grow kits arrive at the stage where mycelium has already colonized a large part of the substrate so they can grow faster.
Step 2: Incubating the Kit
Your grow kit needs a warm, dark place to complete the colonization process. A room that maintains 65-75°F (18-24°C) is good for most mushroom species. Mycelium needs moisture, darkness and some air during this stage. Mycelium will spread throughout the substrate until it colonizes the whole thing.
Step 3: Fruiting
Once the mycelium has colonized the substrate you can move the kit to a place with more indirect light, lower temperature and high humidity. Expose the grow block to fresh air and mist regularly to encourage primordia formation and fruiting. Some kits recommend cutting the plastic wrapping to provide more air during this stage.
Growing with kits simplifies the process of sterilizing substrate or inoculating spores so it’s a more straightforward way to get started.
7. Mycology Supplies for Serious Cultivators
While a mushroom growing kit is a great way to start, serious hobbyists or commercial farmers looking to scale up will want to invest in good quality mycology supplies. Having the right tools and supplies gives you more customization, better yields and more control over the whole process.
Mushroom Spawn and Spore Sources
The quality of your mushrooms will depend on the sources of your mushroom spawn or spores. Find good mycology suppliers that offer healthy strains of mushrooms, either in liquid cultures, spore syringes or colonized mushroom spawn. Some suppliers may even offer specialized strains that perform better in certain conditions. For example, pink oyster mushrooms are a specialized strain that can be sourced from good suppliers.
Sterilization and Substrate Prep Tools
One of the most important aspects of large scale mushroom cultivation is maintaining a sterile environment. A pressure cooker or autoclave is essential for sterilizing substrates especially for advanced growers using synthetic substrates like sawdust or grain. Other must have tools include air filtration systems like HEPA filters which help create a clean environment to prevent contamination.
Misting Bottles, Humidity Tents and Grow Lights
If you’re moving from a mushroom kit to a full grow chamber you’ll need equipment like humidity tents, automated misting systems and grow lights (if your grow room has no natural light). These tools help replicate the ideal conditions for better yields. Humidity tents are great for keeping moisture levels high and grow lamps for simulating natural light in indoor setups.
8. Advanced Techniques for Mushroom Growing
Once you get comfortable with the basic mushroom growing kit methods you may want to try more advanced techniques. These require more precision and more investment but yield more and more variety of mushrooms.
Start Genetics On Agar
Beginning your mushroom cultivation journey with spores on agar is a fantastic way to gain control over the genetics and health of your future mushroom crops. This method allows you to observe and select the best-performing mycelium, ensuring robust growth and reducing the risk of contamination. Additionally, working with agar provides a foundation for advanced cultivation techniques, giving you a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of fungi.
Monotubs & Bulk Substrate Growing
In bulk substrate growing cultivators use large amounts of inoculated substrate to grow mushrooms on a bigger scale. This method involves monotubs, containers, trays or beds filled with the substrate, pasteurization and proper inoculation. Outdoor bulk growing can increase yields as the substrate beds give more space for the mushrooms to colonize. This method also reduces the need for individual care and monitoring of smaller kits.
Outdoor Mushroom Farming
Growing mushrooms outdoors is a great way to produce high yields in a natural environment. Logs and garden beds can be inoculated with several mushroom varieties including shiitake, lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms. Planting mushroom beds in shady areas that mimic forest environments can produce amazing results but you need to consider weather changes and pests.
Outdoor mushroom farming can also involve inoculating logs and letting the mycelium spread within the wood. To do this you need to drill holes into freshly cut hardwood logs and insert inoculated dowels with mushroom spores. It may take longer for mushrooms to fruit outdoors especially in the first year but the results are well worth it.
9. Common Mushroom Growing Issues
Mushroom growing can be so rewarding but it’s not without problems. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.
Low Yields or Stunted Growth
Low yields are usually due to environmental issues, insufficient humidity, wrong temperature, poor light, or uneven air flow. Optimize these for the specific mushroom you’re growing. Make sure your substrate is fully colonized with mycelium before you try to fruit the mushrooms. If you still get low yields despite ideal conditions, check if your substrate has the right nutrients or if it’s contaminated.
Molds and Contamination
Contamination is the enemy of mushroom cultivation. Substrate sterilization is the best way to prevent mold, bacteria or yeast contamination. Keeping your environment clean by sanitizing tools, workspaces and even your hands can prevent other organisms’ spores from germinating. If contamination occurs, remove the affected area immediately and review your sterilization process before you continue.
In an ideal world, mushroom grow kits take care of most of this for you as they are pre-sterilized.
10. Where Do Mushrooms Grow Naturally and What Can We Learn From It?
Mushrooms are very connected to their environment. By knowing where mushrooms grow naturally you can replicate those conditions for optimal growing.
Forests and Fallen Trees
In nature many mushrooms like oysters, shiitakes and reishi grow on decaying wood. Hardwood trees like oak, beech and maple are the natural habitat for these mushrooms. For indoor or outdoor growing use sterilized hardwood logs or wood chips for these species. By mimicking their natural environment you will get healthy and abundant harvests.
Rich Organic Soils
Other mushrooms like morels and wine caps grow in rich soils with organic matter like compost. Create outdoor garden beds by mixing compost and wood chips and you will have a home for these special fungi.
Super Rich Soils (Yeah, Horse Poop...)
Cubensis mushrooms (magic mushrooms) grow on nutrient rich substrates like horse manure. The decomposing organic matter in horse poop provides an ideal environment for cubensis spores to germinate and develop into mycelium which will form fruiting bodies. This natural process is facilitated by the warm and moist conditions found in manure and promotes healthy mushroom growth. Keep in mind that the new modern substitute for growing on horse poop is CVG Substrate (coco coir, vermiculite, gypsum). It performs 99% the same as horse poop, without the stink! Much more hygienic when we are trying to keep things clean.
Looking at natural mushroom habitats we can see the importance of decaying organic matter in the ecosystem. Mushrooms recycle nutrients and help the health of the forest and soil. A basic principle of permaculture and sustainability.
11. Adding Mushrooms to Your Wellness or Diet
Mushrooms have become superfoods in recent years, full of nutrients and compounds that are good for us. They have many health benefits, high in protein, fibre and B and D vitamins and help immune function and antioxidants. Whether you grow them yourself or buy them from the shop, mushrooms are a great addition to any diet.
Immune Boosting
Some mushroom varieties are high in beta-glucans – compounds that modulate the immune system. Shiitake and maitake mushrooms are famous for their immune boosting properties. Studies show these mushrooms can support white blood cell production and fight off infections better.
Brain Health and Cognitive Function
Lion’s mane mushrooms are known as “nootropic” fungi because of their neuroprotective properties. Research suggests they may stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) which encourages brain cell regeneration and cognitive function. Adding lion’s mane to your daily diet – whether as a supplement, tea, powder or cooked into meals – can open up a whole new pathway to brain health.
Nutrition
Mushrooms are high in dietary fibre, vitamins (especially B vitamins like riboflavin), iron and antioxidants. Low in calories and high in protein and immune boosting antioxidants like ergothioneine and glutathione which protect against ageing and cell damage.
12. Easy Edible Mushrooms for Beginners
If you’re new to mushroom growing it’s best to start with mushroom varieties that are easy to grow and low maintenance.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) are one of the easiest to grow because of their fast growth rate and can fruit in a wide range of conditions. They’re versatile, nutritious and good for stir-fries, soups and salads. And they can grow on straw, coffee grounds or hardwood sawdust.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are loved for their rich umami flavour. They are often grown indoors on sterilized hardwood blocks or outdoors on freshly cut hardwood logs. Shiitake take a bit more time than oyster mushrooms but can be a rewarding and tasty harvest.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) has a delicate seafood flavour and is becoming popular for its medicinal properties especially for brain health. It grows well on sterilized hardwood sawdust and requires minimal environmental conditions to fruit.
Easy Magical Varieties
If you are into growing magic, make sure to start with a basic well known variety. We obviously can't tell you what, how, or if you can grow these varieties due to regulations, however the general consensus when getting started in this world is to stay away from albinos, hybrids or anything exotic as they are harder to grow vs older more well known strains.
13. Safety Considerations: Growing Mushrooms at Home Safely
Growing mushrooms is generally safe if you follow the rules but here are a few things to keep in mind to keep your home or garden safe:
Spore Exposure
Most people won’t have any issues from spores but if you have respiratory issues you should take precautions when growing large quantities of mushrooms indoors. Fungal spores can irritate allergies or asthma especially in enclosed spaces. Using fans or an air filtration system near your mushroom fruiting chambers will help minimize the risk.
Toxic Strains
Stick to edible, known mushroom strains when you start with mushroom cultivation. Wild mushrooms can be toxic or even deadly so unless you’re an experienced forager it’s best to avoid wild harvesting.
Mold Management
Make sure your workspace is sterile and you handle all substrates and grow environments with care. Contamination—especially mold—is the biggest risk in mushroom cultivation. Proper sterilization reduces the risk of bad growth.
14. Indoor vs Outdoor Mushroom Growing
Both indoor and outdoor mushroom growing has its advantages. Let’s break down the differences.
Indoor Growing
Growing indoors gives you much more control over temperature, light and humidity. Since mushrooms like steady, moist conditions, growing inside means you can keep conditions more consistent and maximize yields. Indoor growing also protects your mushrooms from pests and bad weather, resulting in cleaner, more consistent mushroom harvests.
Outdoor Growing
Outside your mushrooms grow in a more natural, sprawling formation and often yield bigger crops. Outdoor mushrooms also get richer nutrient sources from compost or decaying wood logs. But outdoor growers have less control over variables like weather and pests. That’s why many growers do hybrid growing, with some part of the cycle indoors (incubation) and part outdoors.
15. The Fun of Growing Mushrooms and Starting Your Mycology Adventure
Growing mushrooms is super fun. Not only do you get to grow your own fresh, nutritious mushrooms for your kitchen, you get to tap into one of the fundamental cycles of the natural world: decomposition and regeneration. As you provide for them, they’ll provide for you with harvests that feed your body and mind.
From small indoor grow kits that make the learning curve easy to large outdoor operations that mimic the mushroom’s natural environment, there’s an option for every enthusiast. As you get deeper into mycology, the possibilities for what you can grow and how you can use these fungi are endless.
Ready to get started? Browse our mushroom grow kits and mycology supplies and start your adventure into one of the most fascinating realms of nature today.
Key Takeaways
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Mushroom Life Cycle: Understanding the mushroom life cycle—from spores to mycelium to fruiting bodies—is key to growing. Fungi are related to animals, they share a common ancestor, which is evident in how they get their food by absorbing nutrients from their environment and their role in decomposing organic matter.
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Environmental Conditions: Mushrooms like high humidity, moderate temperature and good ventilation. Light helps to initiate fruiting but mushrooms don’t need sunlight to grow.
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Growing Substrate: The substrate (organic material mushrooms eat) is key to their growth. Straw, hardwood chips and coffee grounds are popular choices.
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Beginner Friendly Species: Oyster, shiitake and lion’s mane are good species for beginners.
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Safety: Growing mushrooms at home is safe but indoor growers should consider air circulation to avoid spore buildup and all growers should ensure sterile conditions to avoid contamination.
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Indoor vs Outdoor: Indoor is controlled but smaller scale, outdoor is larger scale but more management for pests and weather.
Keep in mind, the Zombie Mushrooms store carries all your myco needs!
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