Mushroom cultivation requires a high level of commitment. It also takes a lot of reading and specialized equipment. For example, a laminar flow hood and a pressure cooker are necessary for sterilizing substrates and grains.
One common mistake is not sterilizing the substrate well enough. This can cause contamination. Another mistake is using too much supplementation. Mushrooms need a nutrient-rich substrate that is also breathable.
1. Not Providing the Right Substrate
Mushrooms require a substrate to grow, and different species of mushrooms have unique requirements, which are supplies that make growing mushrooms easier. This means that you need to research the best materials and methods to use for each type of mushroom before implementing them.
Substrates can contain all sorts of organic matter, including hay, straw, coffee grounds, compost and manure. However, these materials can also harbor mold and other (undesired) fungi that can outcompete the mushroom mycelium and ruin the harvest.
As such, it’s important to sterilize or pasteurize any substrate material you’re using before inoculating it with mushroom spores or mycelium. If you don’t, you could end up with a contaminated crop that produces low yields or worse. Not to mention, a contaminated substrate is difficult or impossible to clean up, which can lead to contamination of your entire operation. Also, a good amount of air must be able to flow through the substrate during colonization.
2. Not Providing the Right Temperature
With the advent of mushroom growing kits and a growing range of friendly fungi, it has never been easier to try your hand at cultivating these curious crops. But there’s a lot that can go wrong, especially when it comes to fostering the right conditions.
The optimum temperature for mushroom growth is between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher can cook the mycelium or halt its growth, resulting in poor fruiting.
To avoid this, you must provide the proper temperature and humidity level. In dry climates, double the watering frequency or use a humidifier. This can help lower the temperature and promote healthy spawn. It is also important to maintain adequate air exchange and manage CO2 levels. This is best achieved with a specialized grow tent. Keeping these factors in mind can prevent costly mistakes and ensure a rewarding experience with your first crop.
3. Not Providing the Right Humidity
Mushrooms require a specific range of temperature and humidity to thrive. Without this, they can grow, but they won’t reach their full potential.
Providing the right humidity means more than just misting your mushrooms. It’s also important to understand the role humidity plays in the process of mycelial growth and fruiting.
Humidity allows water to be absorbed by the mycelium through capillary action. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not have stomas for water absorption, so they must rely on this process. This is why it’s important to get the dew point right — a level of moisture that forms on the surface of the mushroom substrate. This can be difficult to achieve in some climates, but there are some things you can do. Ideally, this is achieved by misting the mycelium twice a day during fruiting. A shower cubicle is a good place to do this, as it’s designed to handle high levels of humidity.
4. Not Providing the Right Light
Mushrooms grow well in a variety of environmental conditions, but they need the right amount of light. Too little light and your mushrooms won’t grow; too much and they can get burnt or become contaminated.
The amount of light a mushroom needs depends on the species and stage of growth. Some species prefer darkness during colonization, while others require a certain amount of light for fruiting.
For the best results, it’s important to follow the instructions in your mushroom grow kit closely. This will include recommendations for temperature, humidity, and light levels. For example, many kits suggest using a fluorescent light that is high in blue wavelengths to help initiate fruiting. LED grow lights are ideal for modern mushroom cultivation, because they can be programmed to deliver specific spectrums of wavelengths. This helps reduce energy costs and ensures that your mushrooms receive the light they need to grow.
5. Not Providing the Right Temperature
Mushroom growing is a delicate process that can be compromised by improper preparation and rushing. It’s best to take your time when inoculating the substrate and be sure you’re sterilizing your work surfaces and hands before starting.
Similarly, it’s important to monitor your grow room temperature regularly. Mushrooms require a narrow range of temperatures in order to produce normal fruiting and avoid stunted growth or contamination. Using a thermometer or a heating pad to control the temperature of your fruiting chamber is essential. It’s also crucial to keep humidity levels in mind, as they are directly correlated to temperature and can have a significant impact on the growth of your mushrooms. Achieving the proper temperature is key to avoiding costly mistakes.
6. Not Providing the Right Humidity
Mushroom growth requires a specific level of humidity that is often achieved through misting. Failure to maintain a consistent misting schedule can lead to overwatering or underwatering which can inhibit mushroom growth and increase contamination.
Another common mistake is not providing the right amount of ventilation in a fruiting chamber. This can lead to an overabundance of carbon dioxide which can inhibit mushroom development and cause them to rot.
It’s also important to keep track of temperature, humidity and air flow in your fruiting chamber so that you can make any necessary adjustments when needed. A good way to do this is by keeping a logbook and recording your observations daily. This will help you identify any issues before they become more serious and avoid making costly mistakes.
7. Not Providing the Right Light
Mushrooms are fascinating organisms that have unique environmental needs when cultivated indoors. One of these is light. While mushrooms do not rely on photosynthesis as plants do, they still need a certain amount of light to grow and set fruiting bodies.
While incandescent and HID bulbs can work for smaller hobbyist setups, LED and fluorescent lights are the ideal modern choice for mushroom cultivation. These are more energy-efficient and offer a wider range of spectra for the most optimal growth.
It’s also important to know what contaminants look like so that you can quickly and easily spot any signs of contamination and remove them from your growing space. This will prevent contaminant spread and save you time and money. It’s a lesson that most mushroom cultivators learn through trial and error. Fortunately, it’s an easy mistake to fix.
8. Not Providing the Right Temperature
Mushroom growing is a bit like a science project, and there’s an element of trial and error involved. However, there are steps that you can take to avoid costly mistakes.
One of the biggest mistakes that mushroom growers make is not ensuring that their substrate is at the right temperature. If the substrate is too hot, it will cook the mycelium and cause contamination.
Also, if the substrate is too cold, it will not colonize properly and will not produce healthy pinsets. Another problem that mushroom growers often face is not maintaining the correct humidity levels throughout colonization and fruiting. This can lead to sporulation, mold growth, and other problems. In order to maintain the correct humidity, it is recommended that you mist the substrate twice a day.
9. Not Providing the Right Humidity
Mushrooms require high humidity to thrive. If they do not receive enough humidity, they will slow down or stop growing altogether, which can result in a low yield of mushrooms.
To ensure that your mushrooms are getting the right amount of humidity, keep a logbook by your fruiting chamber and write down the temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange every time you check on them. This will help you identify any issues as soon as they arise.
Mushroom growers often make the mistake of thinking that humidity is just water in the air, but this is not true. The real issue is dew-point, which is the point at which moisture in the air turns to water vapour. This process is similar to the way your car windscreen fogs up when you blow on it. It is important to get dew-point right for mushroom growth.
10. Not Providing the Right Temperature
Mushrooms need a certain amount of dampness to grow, but too much humidity can cause mold and other problems. Using a hygrometer to monitor humidity is crucial.
You can understand the relationship between humidity and temperature by thinking about dew-point, which is a point at which water in the air condenses to form a liquid. You can see this in action when you notice the windscreen of your car getting fogged up during a cold snap.
Failing to harness the optimum temperature and humidity levels for mushrooms is one of the most costly mistakes you can make when growing these delicious gourmet delights. This mistake is easy to avoid, however, with a little bit of research into your preferred mushroom variety’s native climate and replicating it as closely as possible. This will help to ensure that your crop thrives and you achieve bountiful yields.