Growing Giant Mushrooms: The Right Depth For Success

The largest organism on Earth is not the blue whale, but rather a type of fungus—specifically, a giant mushroom. This discovery was made in 1998, and the record-breaking fungus was found to occupy an area of 2,384 acres (965 hectares) in Oregon's Blue Mountains. In the world of Minecraft, huge mushrooms can be grown by applying bone meal to small mushrooms, but only if the volume above the small mushroom is free of solid blocks and the mushroom is planted on the appropriate block type.

Minecraft huge mushroom farming

Huge mushrooms in Minecraft are tree-like features that consist of mushroom blocks. They can be found naturally in swamps, flower forests, dark forests, and mushroom fields biomes. They can also be grown from a small mushroom by applying bonemeal to it. Small mushrooms do not turn into huge mushrooms naturally.

To grow huge mushrooms, the block under the mushroom's stem must be dirt, podzol, or mycelium. The volume the huge mushroom would generate in must be free of solid blocks, and a minimum of 5 blocks above the mushroom, although 7 blocks allow most to spawn. 13 blocks are required for all huge mushrooms to generate. Extra tall huge mushrooms have a 5% chance of growing. A huge mushroom's height is normally between 5 and 7 blocks, but they can be 9, 11, or 13 blocks tall.

Light level does not matter if placed on podzol or mycelium, but if placed on dirt, coarse dirt, or grass blocks, both skylight and block light must be 12 or less. In the overworld, podzol is more easily available. To make podzol, plant a giant spruce tree with four saplings and wait for it to grow. When it grows up, chop the tree down and use the newly formed podzol to plant a mushroom and bonemeal it.

Another way to farm mushrooms outdoors is to dig a 1x1 hole where you want your farm to be. In the nether, nylium is a good choice for growing huge mushrooms. You can spread nylium to adjacent netherrack blocks by using bonemeal on the netherrack. Mushrooms do not grow in areas where the light level is greater than 12, so the placement of light sources must be carefully considered. They can be planted everywhere but well-lit areas or non-solid/transparent blocks. They do not require water, sand, or extra space like other crops.

Farming huge mushrooms can be difficult due to their slow growth. To obtain a high yield requires a significant time and space investment. Another option is to prepare a large underground room and use bonemeal to grow huge mushrooms, which can then be mined for multiple mushrooms per mushroom block.

Rhizomorphs and giant mushrooms

The stem-and-cap structure that we typically associate with mushrooms is just a small part of the whole organism. Underneath the surface, mushrooms stretch out in a network of skinny, root-like tubes called rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs are formed from many closely packed hyphae, and they allow the fungus to travel farther than individual hyphae. They can also transport larger volumes of water and nutrients thanks to their hollow centres.

Rhizomorphs are used by the fungus to locate new trees to partner with or infect. This is how the fungus spreads through forests of susceptible trees. The black or reddish-brown rhizomorphs of the bootlace fungus (Armillaria mellea), for example, grow just beneath the bark of infected trees and in the surrounding soil. They can reach up to 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter.

Rhizomorph-forming fungi can be plant allies, enemies, or neutral decomposers. Some mycorrhizal fungi form rhizomorphs, which are symbiotic alliances between plants and fungi. In this relationship, the fungus delivers water and nutrients from the soil to the plant in exchange for carbohydrates. Other rhizomorph-forming fungi are saprophytes, meaning they live on decomposing organic material such as fallen leaves and logs. They play an important role in building soil and soil food webs.

The discovery of a giant honey mushroom (Armillaria ostoyae) colony in Oregon's Blue Mountains in 1998 revealed the enormous size that rhizomorph-connected fungi can attain. Covering an area of 2,384 to 2,385 acres (965 to 970 hectares), this fungal colony is estimated to be between 2,400 and 8,650 years old. Each individual mushroom cap is genetically identical, and they merge together even if they were picked miles apart. This interconnectedness and shared resources via their rhizomorphs make the case for classifying the entire colony as a single organism.

Honey mushrooms in Oregon

Honey mushrooms, or Armillaria ostoyae, are commonly found in Oregon's Blue Mountains, within the Malheur National Forest in Eastern Oregon. This enormous organism, dubbed the "Humongous Fungus" by scientists, is estimated to weigh at least 7,500 tons and maybe up to 35,000 tons, making it larger than 20 blue whales! It is believed to be the largest living organism on Earth, covering an area of 2,200 to 2,385 acres, or 3.5 square miles.

The Honey Mushroom is a parasitic organism, spreading its filaments through the root structure of the coniferous forest and inserting itself into the trees, slowly killing them. Its white slime-like form takes on the familiar mushroom cap shape only in the fall months. The giant honey mushroom is estimated to be around 2,400 to 8,650 years old, making it likely the oldest organism on the planet as well.

The Honey Mushroom's massive size is due to its nature as a colony of fungal clones. While each mushroom cap could survive on its own, they are all genetically identical clones of a single individual, connected by a network of skinny, root-like tubes called rhizomorphs. This interconnectedness is what gives the Honey Mushroom its unique characteristics and makes it such a successful and massive organism.

The Honey Mushroom in Oregon is not the only giant mushroom colony of its kind. In 1992, researchers discovered a similar colony of honey mushrooms in Michigan, weighing 10.5 tons and stretching across 37 acres. This discovery sparked further interest in the Honey Mushroom's unique characteristics and its potential to be the largest organism in the world.

While the Honey Mushroom in Oregon is an impressive natural phenomenon, it is important to note that harvesting wild mushrooms from protected areas, such as state or federal parks, may be illegal without the proper permits. The preservation of natural habitats and the safety of individuals foraging for mushrooms are important considerations when it comes to interacting with these giant fungi.

Armillaria bulbosa in Michigan

Armillaria bulbosa, also known as Armillaria gallica, is a species of honey mushroom. It is a common and ecologically important wood-decay fungus that can live as a saprobe or as an opportunistic parasite in weakened tree hosts. It is found in temperate regions of Asia, North America, and Europe.

In the early 1990s, researchers discovered Armillaria bulbosa in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They found that the underground mycelia of one individual fungal colony covered 15 hectares (37 acres), weighing over 9,500 kilograms (21,000 pounds), with an estimated age of 1,500 years. This discovery set a new record for the largest organism at the time, as it beat out the blue whale, which is approximately 200 tons.

The Armillaria bulbosa in Michigan was later renamed Armillaria gallica and is celebrated annually at a "fungus fest" in the nearby town of Crystal Falls, Michigan. The specific epithet "gallica" is botanical Latin for "French" (from Gallia, "Gaul"), and refers to the type locality. The prior name "bulbosa" is Latin for "bulb-bearing, bulbous" (from bulbus and the suffix -osa).

Since the discovery of Armillaria bulbosa in Michigan, other honey mushrooms have been found that are even larger in size. For example, an Armillaria found in eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains covers three square miles and may be over 8,000 years old, currently holding the title of the largest humongous fungus. Additionally, a new analysis of the original Armillaria gallica mushroom in Michigan's Upper Peninsula showed that it was much bigger and older than researchers first believed. About 25 years after the initial discovery, it was found that the mushroom covered about 91 acres, weighed 110 tons, and was about 1,500 years old.

How to identify giant mushrooms

Giant mushrooms, or huge mushrooms, can be identified by their size and distinct features. These mushrooms are tree-like structures that can be found naturally in swamp, flower forest, dark forest, and mushroom field biomes. They can also be grown from small mushrooms by applying bone meal. Here are some key characteristics to help identify giant mushrooms:

• Size and Structure: Giant mushrooms are significantly larger than regular mushrooms, with a height ranging from 5 to 13 blocks. They have a central stalk and a canopy of mushroom blocks at the top. The brown giant mushrooms have a 7x7 canopy with the corners missing, while the red giant mushrooms have a dome-like structure composed of five 3x3 slabs of red mushroom blocks.
• Colour and Type: Giant mushrooms can be either brown or red. Brown giant mushrooms are more commonly found in the wild, while red giant mushrooms are rarer. However, when it comes to the huge mushrooms, the availability of both types is similar.
• Growth Requirements: These mushrooms require specific conditions to grow. The block under the giant mushroom's stem must be made of certain materials, such as dirt, podzol, or mycelium. Additionally, there should be sufficient space for the mushroom to grow, with the volume above it free of solid blocks. The light level requirements vary depending on the type of block used.
• Location: Giant mushrooms can be found in specific biomes. Naturally occurring giant mushrooms are typically found in swamp, flower forest, dark forest, and mushroom field biomes. When growing giant mushrooms, they can be cultivated outdoors using suitable materials or in a large underground room using bonemeal.
• Comparison to Regular Mushrooms: One of the most distinctive features of giant mushrooms is their size compared to regular mushrooms. Giant mushrooms tower over small mushrooms, resembling trees rather than the typical stem-and-cap structure. They can provide a large number of mushrooms when harvested, with huge mushrooms yielding at least 20 mushrooms.

By observing these characteristics, you can identify and distinguish giant mushrooms from their smaller counterparts or other large fungi.

Frequently asked questions