Mushroom 911
While mushrooms are fairly easy to grow there are still a few ways that things can go off the rails. Fortunately we’ve been off the rails plenty of times ourselves and can show you the way back on track.
Sometimes it can feel like it’s taking forever for the mushroom to start growing. If the block was stored for a long time before cutting it open to grow, then it will require extra time to get started. It can sometimes take as much as 2 weeks, so be patient, it will grow! As long as the temperature is in the correct range (generally 60 – 75F) then the mushroom block will eventually grow.
When pins are forming you will see small white lumps or balls on the surface of the block. These bumps will grow and pins will form. If you see these bumps and your block isn’t already growing where you cut the plastic, go ahead and make another hole and the mushrooms will grow.
If you’re having trouble getting pins to form where you cut the bag, it might be because mushrooms are trying to grow somewhere else. Do you see white lumps on the block stuck under the plastic like this picture?
In this case, you can simply make a new hole in the bag around the white lump and it will start pinning and growing from this spot. Then tape up the other hole you made, where it is not pinning. This will help maintain moisture in the block.
If the block is pinning in multiple locations, DO NOT OPEN ALL THE AREAS with pins. You will not get more mushrooms and the block will dry out more easily. Just open one spot that has the most amount of pins.
A very common issue with mushroom growing on a countertop is humidity. Mushrooms love to grow after a good rain storm when the air is humid because mushrooms are 90% water and will dry out easily. When mushrooms get too dry they will stop growing no matter how mature they are and they will not start growing again. If they dry out, just harvest them and wait for the next flush!
If your mushrooms are getting brown at the very edges then they are dry and need more humidity. Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms can be sprayed directly but Lions Mane should not be sprayed directly.
If your mushrooms are just a little brown (or yellow for lions mane), then they will most likely keep growing if the humidity is increased.
If your mushrooms are brown all over, then they will most likely not be able to continue growing even with an more humidity.
Dry mushrooms are just fine to eat! If they are exceptionally dry then you can rehydrate the mushrooms by putting them in a bowl of water with weight on top to hold them down for 5 – 10 minutes. Or just use them in soup!
The back part of this Lions Mane didn’t get as much humidity as the front part. It turned a yellow/brown and did not form teeth like the rest of the lions mane.
It is still good to eat but the yield has likely been reduced since mushrooms are 90% water.
Lions Mane should not be sprayed directly! If you live in a dry climate, consider using a humidity tent or a keeping a wet dish towel around the block.
Growing mushrooms in a dry climate without a proper fruiting chamber can be a challenge, but it’s definitely doable.
Humidity tents such as a large zip lock bag can help sufficiently increase humidity.
Be sure to cut big holes in the bag (I like to cut the corners off the zip lock bag) and leave the bottom of the bag open for air flow.
Spray the inside of the bag several times a day and place back over the block.
The difficulty with humidity tents is maintaining sufficient air flow.
Mushroom blocks produce carbon dioxide and need fresh air to grow properly.
When carbon dioxide levels are too high (above 800ppm) mushrooms try to grow to where there’s fresh air. This produces longer stems and smaller caps. Mushrooms produce carbon dioxide and gourmet mushrooms need fresh air to grow properly.
This picture shows pins with elongated stems that need more fresh air. If you catch it early enough then adding fresh air will fix the problem and the mushrooms will grow normally.
If the mushrooms are in an enclosure, then remove the enclosure or add large holes. Since CO2 is heavier than air, make sure that air can flow through the bottom of the enclosure.
Often the CO2 level in houses is elevated and you will need to open a window to get more fresh air from outdoors. You may not like the sound of this, however if the mushrooms cannot grow properly in your house, then it is a sign that you yourself need more fresh air to breathe! This is especially true in areas with a stove or oven that is in use.
When lions mane grows in a high CO2 environment, they look more like cauliflower with loose airy bunches.
Although the bunch doesn’t look like a nice dense clump, it’s still good to eat and some might even prefer the texture.
When lions mane grows in a high CO2 environment, they look more like cauliflower with loose airy bunches.
Although the bunch doesn’t look like a nice dense clump, it’s still good to eat and some might even prefer the texture.
Lions mane will often be pink when it’s young and become more white as it matures. More indirect sunlight will cause it to be even more pink.
But don’t put it directly in the sunlight! It will be too hot and it’s more likely to dry out.
When lions man turns yellow, it can mean one of three things: too dry, sprayed directly with water, or it’s past time to harvest.
The best way to tell if the mushroom is too wet or too dry is by feel.
If the mushroom has formed a hair like texture or “teeth” and then starts to turn yellow, that means it’s past time to harvest. It’s best to harvest before this point, as the mushroom will start to have a bitter taste the longer it goes past maturity.
Some mushroom varieties are more forgiving than others when it comes to temperature.
King Oyster and Black Pearl King won’t even start to fruit unless the temperature is below 70F. While Pink Oysters require a warmer environment since they are a tropical mushroom.
Most houses are between 62F and 72F which generally works well, however much higher than 72F and some mushrooms will struggle to pin. As mentioned previously, King oyster and Black Pearl King may not pin above 72F. Lions mane and Blue Oyster will also struggle to grow above 72F and may not pin above 75F.
Temperature can also impact the color and density of the mushroom. Oyster mushrooms in general will be meatier when grown at lower temperatures (60-65F) and Blue Oysters will be a deeper shade of blue. Lions mane grown with more indirect sunlight will be pink when they’re young.
Some blocks require a cold shock before they will start pinning. King Oyster, Black Pearl King, and Chestnuts all pin more reliably after they’ve been in a cooler for 12-24 hours.
Pink Oyster, on the other hand, will most likely die if it is kept in a refrigerator for more than 24 hours. Pink oyster is a good summer mushroom since it’s tropical and therefore does better in warm climates.
Sometimes a mushroom block will simply take longer to fruit for no particular reason. If a block has been frozen or kept dormant for some time, it will take longer for it to start fruiting.
Give it some time, long waits often lead to unusually big yields!