Basics for Growing Mushrooms at Home

Start with the basics when you first start growing mushrooms at home.

When it comes to cultivating fruiting mushrooms within grow tents, I’ve found using plastic racks to hold your mushrooms offers several advantages. These racks not only facilitate easy cleaning but also eliminate the risk of rusting that’s associated with stainless steel racks in high-humidity environments. For smaller grow tents up to 5 feet by 9 feet, you can maintain adequate humidity levels by incorporating a retail humidifier found in most pharmacies.

To streamline the management of your grow tent’s temperature and humidity, invest in an environmental controller. This invaluable tool liberates you from the constant need to manually monitor and adjust the conditions within your tent and will make growing mushrooms at home easier. Ideally, maintain a humidity level of around 80 percent to 90 percent for most mushroom varieties. As for temperature, a range between 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for cultivating the majority of mushrooms.

In my personal journey, I initially placed my grow tents in the basement. It provided a more stable and consistent temperature environment. However, as I progressed, I took further measures to enhance the temperature control throughout the year. I equipped the grow tents with portable air conditioners to combat the heat during the summer months and installed radiating heaters for the winter season. It’s worth noting that radiant heaters outperform forced-air heat sources in mushroom grow tents, as they don’t significantly reduce humidity levels, which is crucial for successful cultivation.

Choose Your Mushrooms

Before you dive into the world of mushroom cultivation, you’ll first have to decide on what to grow. Here are some of the mushrooms I recommend for hydroponic grow tents when growing mushrooms at home.

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus):

Oyster mushrooms are among the easiest to grow and can thrive on a wide variety of substrates. They’re known for their rapid growth and abundant yields. Oyster mushrooms come in different colors and have a delicate, mild flavor that makes them versatile for various culinary applications.

Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus):

These mushrooms are known for their unique appearance, resembling a cascading white “mane.” They’re relatively easy to cultivate and have the potential to produce a number of desirable fruiting bodies. Lion’s mane has a delicate flavor and a texture reminiscent of seafood, making them a sought-after culinary ingredient.

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma spp.):

Reishi mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional medicine for their potential health benefits. They can be grown in a bag or container without the need for a humid tent, making them suitable for indoor cultivation. Reishi mushrooms have a woody texture and a bitter taste. They’re often consumed in the form of extracts or teas for their potential medicinal properties.

Pioppino mushrooms (Agrocybe sp.):

Requiring a slightly more technical approach compared with some other varieties yet offering rewarding results, Pioppino mushrooms have a rich, earthy flavor and a firm texture. They’re often used in various culinary dishes, adding depth and complexity to the flavors.

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes):

While shiitake mushrooms are a popular culinary choice, they can be messy to grow in grow tents. They require specific environmental conditions and can produce substantial amounts of spores, resulting in a messier cultivation process. Therefore, don’t grow shiitake mushrooms in indoor grow tents unless you have a dedicated space for managing their specific needs.

King oyster mushrooms (P. eryngii):

King oyster mushrooms are rewarding to grow in grow tents. They can be cultivated alongside oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms, but they have a distinct growth pattern. Instead of fruiting from the sides of the unicorn bag, King Oyster mushrooms will typically fruit from the top, producing sizable, meaty caps with a rich umami flavor.

Cordyceps militaris:

C. militaris is fairly easy to grow in a tent, as it primarily requires temperature control. It grows in a bag or container, and its unique and fascinating growth pattern makes it an intriguing choice for cultivation. C. militaris is valued for its potential health benefits and is often used in supplements or as a medicinal ingredient. These mushroom options provide a range of flavors, textures, and growth characteristics, allowing for a diverse and rewarding indoor mushroom-cultivation experience.

Want an easier time growing mushrooms at home? Get a hydroponic grow tent.

Hydroponic grow tents are becoming an increasingly popular way for growing mushrooms at home. They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to set up. They offer several advantages over traditional retrofit or built mushroom farms, including more control over the growing environment. Hydroponic grow tents allow you to control the temperature, humidity, and light levels, which can lead to healthier and more productive mushrooms. When selecting a hydroponic grow tent, consider several factors before purchasing:

What you should know about using a hydroponic grow tent when growing mushrooms at home.

The size of the hydroponic grow tent should align with your cultivation goals and the available space you have. Consider the quantity of mushrooms you intend to grow, and ensure the tent can accommodate the desired yield.

• Shape: Hydroponic grow tents come in various shapes, including rectangular, square, and octagonal. Choose a shape that suits your space and cultivation needs. Rectangular tents may optimize space utilization, while other shapes can provide unique advantages or aesthetics.
• Material: Grow tents are commonly made from canvas or PVC materials. Both options have their benefits, such as durability and light reflection. Consider additional factors between materials and brands, such as tear resistance, light-blocking properties, and overall quality when choosing the material.
• Ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial for a healthy growing environment. The grow tent should have adequate vents or access points for fresh air exchange. This helps prevent the buildup of excess humidity and discourages the development of mold and mildew, which can harm the mushrooms. Mushrooms also produce carbon dioxide and need fresh oxygen to continually produce healthy regular formed fruits.
• Lighting: Sufficient lighting is essential for promoting mushroom growth and development. Different mushrooms may have specific lighting requirements. Ensure the grow tent can accommodate the appropriate lighting setup, such as LED or fluorescent lights, to induce pigmentation in mushrooms or stimulate fruiting.
• Price: Grow tent prices can vary significantly, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Consider your budget, and choose a grow tent that offers good value for the features and quality you need. Balance your investment with the scale and goals of your mushroom cultivation project.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when choosing a hydroponic grow tent that aligns with your mushroom cultivation aspirations and provides an optimal environment for successful growth. Once you’ve chosen a grow tent, you’ll need to set it up.

Before you start growing mushrooms at home, choose a location for the grow tent.

Place the hydroponic grow tent somewhere that receives indirect sunlight. Next, set up the grow tent frame. Then, install the grow tent cover, grow lights, ducting, and similar features. Finally, add nutrient solution. Follow this general order when putting together your grow tent, but remember to also follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions when setting up the components. We wish you the best of luck on your adventure in growing mushrooms at home.

Propagate and myceliate!

Mushroom terms explained.

Stepping into the world of mushrooms and fungi may feel intimidating at first — even just from the new terminology you’re sure to encounter. Here are some key concepts and words to get to know, and you’ll soon find mushroom cultivation is an easy, fun, and accessible activity!

• Cultivation: the intentional and controlled growing of mushrooms or fungi. It involves creating the optimal conditions for the growth and development of the desired species, including providing the appropriate substrate, temperature, humidity, and light.
• Fruiting: the process by which a mushroom develops and produces its fruiting body. It’s the stage where the mushroom becomes visible and ready for harvest. Fruiting typically occurs when the environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, are suitable for the mushroom to complete its life cycle.
• Fruiting body: the visible part of a mushroom that we typically recognize and consume. It’s the reproductive structure of the fungus and is responsible for producing spores. The cap and stem of a mushroom are examples of a fruiting body.
• Harvesting: the act of collecting ripe or mature fruiting bodies from the mushroom cultivation. It involves carefully removing the mushrooms from their growing medium without damaging them, ensuring they’re ready for consumption or further processing.
• Inoculation: the process of introducing or implanting mycelium into a substrate. It’s done by transferring the spawn or mycelium to the growing medium, allowing it to colonize and eventually form fruiting bodies.
• Mycelium: the network of thread-like filaments that make up the vegetative part of a fungus. Essentially, it’s the fungal equivalent of roots and serves as the feeding and nutrient-absorbing structure. Mycelium is usually hidden within the substrate or growing medium.
• Spawn: a substance that contains the mycelium (the fungal equivalent of roots) of a particular mushroom species. It acts as the starting material for growing mushrooms, usually in the form of grain or sawdust that’s been inoculated with the fungus.
• Spores: microscopic reproductive units of fungi. They’re equivalent to seeds in plants and are responsible for the dispersal and reproduction of fungi. Spores are usually produced on the surface of the fruiting body and are released into the surrounding environment.
• Sterilization: a technique used to eliminate or kill any unwanted microorganisms, such as bacteria or competing fungi, from the growing environment or the substrate. It helps create a clean and suitable space for the intended fungus to thrive.
• Substrate: the material on which mushrooms grow. It serves as the nourishing medium for the mycelium. Common substrates for growing mushrooms at home include wood chips, straw, compost, or even specialized mushroom-growing mediums.
• Unicorn bag: a specialized type of plastic bag used in mushroom cultivation. It’s typically made of a breathable material that allows for the exchange of gases while maintaining a controlled level of humidity. The unicorn bag is used as a container for the substrate and mycelium, providing a suitable environment for the mushrooms to grow. Its design and permeability allow for proper air circulation and moisture retention, promoting the development of healthy mycelium and fruiting bodies. The unicorn bag is often sealed to create a mini-greenhouse effect, facilitating the ideal conditions for mushroom cultivation within a compact and easy-to-use setup for growing mushrooms at home.

William Padilla-Brown is an author, teacher, and multidisciplinary citizen scientist practicing social science, mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and additive manufacturing. He founded and is the current CEO of MycoSymbiotics, a permaculture research and production business based in central Pennsylvania focused on innovative practical applied biological science. William and his work have been featured on “Fantastic Fungi,” VICE, Buzzfeed, The Verge, Outside Magazine, and much more.