John Miller
Mushroom kits are a great way to grow your own mushrooms at home. They are simple to use and allow you to grow fresh, delicious, and unique mushrooms for your frying pan. You can choose from a variety of mushroom types, such as lion's mane, shiitake, oyster, and more. These kits are perfect for those with limited outdoor space, as they can be grown indoors on a kitchen counter or shelf. But do mushroom kits regrow? Yes, with proper care, you can reuse your mushroom kit to grow multiple batches of mushrooms. After harvesting your first batch, simply follow the instructions for reactivating the mycelium and preparing the kit for a new crop. By providing the right environment and nutrients, you can enjoy fresh mushrooms from the same kit multiple times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easy and convenient, suitable for beginners |
| Mushroom types | Oyster, lion's mane, shiitake, cremini, pioppino, and more |
| Growing methods | Box or block kits, logs, sawdust spawn, or from scratch |
| Reuse | Can be reused by revitalizing with fresh air, changing environment, or temperature shift |
| Substrate | Hardwood logs, sterilized compost, straw, or crushed wood chips |
| Spawn | Sterilized fungi mycelia |
| Humidity | Requires a humid environment |
| Temperature | Ideal temperature range is 65-75°F (18-23°C) |
| Watering | Requires frequent misting and soaking for hydration |
| Light | Indirect light is preferred |
| Yield | Typically produces one or two flushes of mushrooms |
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What You'll Learn
Box or block kits are the simplest type of mushroom kit
The downside to these kits is that they only give one or two flushes of mushrooms. Once the mycelium is spent, the whole thing is tossed out. This is in contrast to other growing methods that give continuous flushes and harvests, sometimes for many years.
The mushroom block kits are also more expensive in the long run than growing mushrooms from plugs or sawdust spawn. However, the benefit of the box or block kits is that they are versatile and can be grown indoors, whereas the plugs or sawdust spawn may take 6-12 months to see results and are weather-dependent.
To get the most out of your mushroom kit, it is important to follow the specific instructions for the variety of mushroom you are growing. For example, pink oyster mushrooms require temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit to fruit outside.
Once your mushrooms have been harvested, you can reuse the mushroom block. Simply allow the block to rest for 2-3 weeks and begin the process anew. You should get another few harvests out of the grow kit until it begins to crumble.
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Oyster mushrooms grow well in kits, logs, or sawdust spawn
Oyster mushrooms are delicate fungi native to many temperate forests worldwide. They are also widely cultivated internationally on a variety of agricultural byproducts. Oyster mushrooms grow well in kits, logs, or sawdust spawn.
Oyster mushrooms can be grown using sawdust spawn on logs, stumps, pillars (totems), beds, or containers. Logs should be freshly cut from healthy trees with intact bark, of at least 3" in diameter, and inoculated within one to two weeks of cutting. Using a 12 mm bit, drill holes of 1" depth every 4–6" in rows 2–3" apart, staggered in a diamond pattern down the length of the log. Break up the sawdust spawn and pack it into the holes. Logs, stumps, and pillars may begin fruiting in 6–12 months. Containers can begin fruiting in as little as 10 days to 3 weeks.
Sawdust spawn can also be used to inoculate freshly cut stumps. This method can yield mushrooms for a longer time than logs. To inoculate stumps, remove the outer bark in a ring around the base to prevent suckers from growing, and drill holes in the cut surface. Mushrooms can be grown in containers indoors or outdoors. Oysters can fruit from the side or the top of a container. If side-fruiting, use a container with side openings or drill holes if the container does not have them. Holes of ½" will allow mushrooms to fruit while minimizing moisture loss. If top fruiting, no holes are needed except the opening of the container.
Oyster mushrooms can also be grown indoors in bags or other suitable containers using straw or other substrates such as cottonseed hulls. Mix oyster grain or sawdust spawn with the straw (or substrate) and pack it tightly into the bags or containers. Place in a controlled environment, and the mushrooms will grow. Oysters also grow well on sterilized sawdust (hard and soft hardwood mixes).
Oyster mushroom kits are also available for purchase, which can be used to grow mushrooms indoors. These kits are pre-colonized "fruiting blocks" that have not yet been put into conditions that make them want to fruit mushrooms. After the mushrooms have been harvested, the kit can be reused to grow more mushrooms. To do this, the outer layer of the mycelium must be "roughed up" to initiate new growth. This can be done by cutting an "x" in the front of the bag and scraping back some of the mycelium. The block should then be soaked in water for 12 hours. The kit should be placed in a humid environment with indirect light.
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A kit can be reused by submerging the block in water for 5-12 hours
If you're looking to reuse your mushroom kit, one option is to submerge the block in water for 5 to 12 hours. This process works best with well-hydrated oyster mushroom kits or those that have recently fruited. The mycelium will then be ready to jump to a new substrate.
To start the process, you'll need to prepare a substrate for the fungi to grow on and feed on. Chopped straw is ideal due to its small particle size, making it easier for the mycelium to spread. Place the straw in a container with plenty of holes, such as a bucket or plastic gardening pot, to ensure proper airflow.
Next, submerge the mushroom block in water for 5 to 12 hours. This step ensures that the block absorbs enough moisture. The block tends to float, so you may need to place something heavy on top to keep it submerged.
After soaking, place the wet block in a well-lit area that is not in direct sunlight. Mist the block with water once or twice a day to maintain moisture. Within four days, you should see tiny mushrooms beginning to form. Over the next five days, these mushrooms will mature and be ready for harvesting.
You can repeat this process with the Fungi Ally mushroom kit, allowing the block to rest for 2-3 weeks between harvests. You can expect to get several harvests from the kit before it starts to crumble, at which point you can compost it or add it to your garden as a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
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The kit should be placed in a humid environment with indirect light
To successfully regrow mushrooms from a kit, it is important to place the kit in a humid environment with indirect light. This is because mushrooms, as fungi, do not contain chlorophyll and depend on other plant materials, called substrates, to get their nutrients. Substrates can include hardwood logs, sterilized compost, straw, or crushed wood chips.
When choosing a location for your mushroom kit, consider areas with indirect light, such as a kitchen counter or shelf. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can dry out the kit and hinder mushroom growth. Keep the kit indoors to maintain a controlled environment and consistent temperature, reducing the chances of the block drying out.
Maintaining humidity is crucial for mushroom growth. Mist the block with water once or twice a day to keep it moist. You can also place the kit under the cover of fern fronds to create a humid microclimate. Additionally, leaving the plastic on the kit helps retain moisture and prevents the block from drying out.
By providing indirect light and maintaining humidity, you can create optimal conditions for mushroom regrowth with your kit. Remember that different mushroom species have slightly different instructions, so refer to the specific guidelines provided with your kit for the best results.
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The mushrooms will be ready to harvest in 1-4 weeks
After the first batch of mushrooms has been harvested, the block can be reused to grow more mushrooms. To do this, the block should be allowed to rest for 2-3 weeks and then the process can be started again. This can be done several times until the block begins to crumble.
If you are growing mushrooms from a kit, the process is quicker than growing from scratch because the mycelium has already formed. The mycelium "fruits" and produces the fungi. The mycelium bunches up into primordia, which form mushrooms.
Some mushrooms, like Lion's Mane, Shiitake, and Oysters, can be grown from box kits or logs. These mushrooms are more versatile. The downside of using logs is that it may take 6-12 months to see any mushrooms, as the mycelium takes time to spread throughout the log.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushroom kits can regrow, but the number of regrowths varies. Box or block kits usually only offer one or two flushes of mushrooms. However, other methods can give continuous flushes and harvests for years.
To get your mushroom kit to regrow, you need to reuse the mushroom block. First, submerge the block in water for 5-12 hours to ensure it absorbs enough moisture. Then, place the wet block in an area that is well-lit but not in direct sunlight. Mist the block with water 1-2 times per day to keep it moist. Within 4-19 days, you should see tiny mushrooms forming. Over the next 5 days, they will be ready for picking.
Mushroom kits are available for a variety of mushroom types, including oyster, lion's mane, shiitake, cremini, and pioppino mushrooms. Some mushrooms, like chicken of the woods and Maitake, will only grow from plugs or sawdust spawn.
To grow mushrooms, you need a substrate (or mushroom food) and spawn. Substrate can be hardwood logs, sterilized compost, straw, or crushed wood chips. Spawn is sterilized fungi mycelia that are introduced to the substrate. Mushroom kits come with these materials included, along with step-by-step instructions.
Mushroom kits are a great way to grow mushrooms indoors throughout the year, especially if you have limited space. They are also inexpensive and easy to use, making them perfect for beginners.
