How Can I Grow Mushrooms?

Fungi propagate their genetic code through the dispersion of spores, and are whats called "saphotrophic" organisms (meaning that they survive by consuming nutrients from their environment)(mostly in the form of detritus and decaying material). Therefore they play a crucial role in the health of any ecosystem, as they are the primary decomposers of both plant debris like cellulose/lignin, and dead/decomposing animal tissue. Furthermore, they have extraordinary capacity to recycle/decompose toxic material, from petroleum oils, to nuclear waste.

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The benefits which Fungi provide are not limited to the ecosystem level, they can also have significant benefit to the individual. Several edible/gourmet species (Lions Mane and Shiitake in particular) promote increased cognitive, cardiovascular, and mental health, while Psychoactive varieties (Psilocybe Cubensis in particular) have shown remarkable results in the treatment of many psychological and physical conditions, including but not limited to; Depression, Anxiety, Addiction, Alzheimers, PTSD, OCD, & Chronic Pain. 

These benefits have catalyzed many to learn how to grow mushrooms, and the greatest information repository known to man (the internet) is filled with forum posts and tutorials. Unfortunately many of these tutorials often leave out key parts of the mushroom growing process. Many online “how-to’s” overlook important details, do not explain why certain parts of the process need to be done, and neglect to include important tips that can drastically increase success rates.

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Tip #1: Before delving into the process of indoor cultivation, you should first understand the mushroom life cycle under natural conditions.

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If mushroom spores are successfully dispersed in an environment with sufficient nutrients and specific environmental conditions, they will germinate, begin to utilize available nutrients, and form what is called “mycelium”. 

Mushroom mycelium consists of a mass of branching root-like strands, each strand a single cell thick, called Hyphae. Mycelium can be described as the vegetative portion of a fungus (where all nutrients and energy are put towards growth instead of reproduction). Mushroom mycelium will continue to grow and spread as long as nutrients are available, and as long as the environmental conditions are congruent with this “stage” of the mushroom life cycle. This part of the life cycle (where the mycelium is growing but no mushrooms growing) is often called “spawning” or “colonization” 

The next step in the mushroom growing process happens once the mycelium has “colonized” its medium (utilized most of the nutrients available). At this point (under natural conditions) changes in environmental conditions (like temperature, light, & humidity) trigger mycelium to switch from a “colonization” state to a “fruiting” state. It is in this fruiting state that mushrooms grow out of the mycelial mat, and mushrooms will continue to sprout until all available nutrients and moisture in the environment are used, or environmental conditions are changed back to conditions congruent with a colonization state.

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Tip #2: When growing mushrooms in an indoor environment certain steps can be taken to increase potency, colonization speed, and yield.

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Most people will begin growing magic mushrooms with a mushroom spore syringe 

Advanced mycologists can clone tissue from exceptionally nice mushrooms by placing a tissue sample in an *agar medium*. This process (called “isolation”) creates a culture that has a narrow (and known-good) genetic profile, which results in faster ‘colonization’ time, higher yield, larger fruiting bodies (mushrooms), and increased potency.

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*Agar is a high-nutrient gelatinous medium, the caveat to working with isolations/agar is that a “flow hood” is highly recommended. (a flow hood consists of a HEPA filter enclosed in a box with a fan situated opposite the filter. This allows filtered are to be continually blown over your workspace)*

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Further isolation from the initial mushroom tissue sample can be done on agar by selecting especially strong mycelial strands and propagating these onto another agar petri dish. All Spores Lab agar cultures are isolates, and will reliably produce better results than inoculating with a spore syringe (which has significantly more genetic variability)

Another way in which yield can be increased when growing mushrooms indoors is through the addition of a high-nutrient & high water-retention “fruiting substrate” when the mycelium has completely colonized its initial medium. Mushrooms will fruit directly out of a spawn medium if given the right conditions, however when the fruiting substrate is added yields are significantly increased. 

Typically a fruiting medium/substrate is composed of inputs that provide nutrients (like worm castings), beneficial microorganisms ( like manure/worm castings/frass), and high-water retention ( like vermiculite & peat-moss).

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Tip #3: The importance of STERILITY

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When you grow mushrooms, you aim to create a perfect environment for fungal growth. Unfortunately this environment is also ideal for bacterial spread, or the spread of other unwanted fungi. Every cubic meter of air (in an unfiltered environment) contains millions of fungal and bacterial spores, and each of these spores can potentially compete with your desired spores/culture if you allow it to.

You must take extreme care to clean/disinfect all the surfaces, tools, and body parts that will come into contact, or even come near your mushroom culture. This is also why colonization and fruiting mediums must be sterilized/pasteurized in a pressure cooker and why a Flow hood is so important when growing mushrooms at scale.

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