If I follow RR's - Mushroom Cultivation (2024)

FAQs

Why isn't my mycelium colonizing? ›

Temperature Fluctuations:

Each mushroom strain has an ideal temperature range for growth. If the ambient temperature veers too far from this sweet spot, colonization can slow down or even halt.

Casing: Casing is the most important step of mushroom cultivation. It involves spreading of a thin layer of soil over the compost. This provides humidity and support to the mushroom.

Fresh air, humidity, light, and temperature are the four main environmental variables that trigger fruiting from fully colonized substrates.

Early mushroom pinning can be identified by the appearance of small, white, or brownish protrusions on the surface of the substrate.

Colonization occurs after inoculation. This is when the mycelium will start to take over the grain that was inoculated with spores. This period usually lasts between 3 to 6 weeks depending on strain and environmental conditions. Ideal conditions for this phase are in a dark place and temperature between 72 F – 80 F.

If the mycelium fails to develop properly during the first two days, reduce the RH and CO2 more gradually. This will stimulate more mycelium growth. This helps, but only to a limited extent. In addition, if the casing soil still shows black during pinhead development, look between the clumps of casing for pinheads.

During the colonization phase, the mycelium needs oxygen to grow and develop. The mycelium uses O2 to break down nutrients and convert them into energy that is needed for growth. Furthermore, O2 is also necessary for the fruiting phase of mushroom cultivation.

Water is running from your hand while squeezing the substrate: This means the substrate is too wet because too much water has been added. Add some more substrate and mix it well before checking again.

In the realm of indoor mushroom cultivation, fans play a pivotal role in creating the ideal conditions for thriving fungi. By using fans to maintain proper air exchange, you establish the optimal environment for mycelium growth and the abundant harvest of mushrooms.

Here are some key factors: 1. Temperature: The optimal temperature for mycelium growth is usually between 24-27°C. 2. Humidity: High humidity levels (around 95-100%) are ideal for mycelium growth.

How long does it take to see mycelium growth after inoculation? ›

After inoculation, the spawn needs time to grow through the substrate. This process is called incubation. Incubation starts with leap off, which is the moment when the mycelium initially leaps off the spawn onto the new substrate. This typically occurs around four days after inoculation.

Mushroom pins stalling is one of the most common problems beginner mushroom growers encounter, and a lack of humidity is generally the cause. Mushroom pins need high humidity levels of between 85 to 95% while forming, and if they dry out, they'll stop growing.

In home cultivation, it's the white-ish growth we see on substrate blocks, plates, and jars. Mycelium can appear transparent or opaque, bumpy, fluffy, crystalline, webby, hairy, wispy, filamentous or clumpy and will often excrete an odorless, yellow liquid called exudate.

Primordia often appear as a balling up of mycelium strands which will eventually develop a cap and a distinct stipe. Primordium may also be referred to as Hyphal Knots.

Avoid mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem and a bulbous or sack like base called a volva. You may be missing out on some good edible fungi but it means you will be avoiding the deadly members of the Amanita family. Avoid mushrooms with red on the cap or stem.

Alternating between the spawn and substrate allows for faster colonization than putting all the spawn on top. In supplemented sawdust this typically means shaking the substrate after inoculation to distribute the spawn evenly.

Not Enough Moisture

Mycelium, the underground vegetative growth of a fungus, needs a moist environment to thrive and produce mushrooms. Mushrooms themselves are mainly water, so if you let the mycelium dry out or the humidity level get too low then nothing will happen.

The most common reasons for slow mycelium growth are substrates with incorrect moisture content or those that don't have enough air exchange. But even if your substrate is perfect, other factors can affect the growth rate of mycelium.