Grow Mushrooms In A Terrarium: Easy Steps To Success

Growing mushrooms in a terrarium is a challenging task that requires optimising conditions for mushroom growth by adding water, warmth, and food (organic material). The easiest way to grow mushrooms is to construct the terrarium, water it, and wait for the mushrooms to sprout naturally from the mycelium in the soil. Mycelium is the root of the mushroom and can take months to produce mushrooms, especially if there is no decaying plant matter to feed on. Mushrooms may sprout from moss, rotting wood, or the soil itself. They thrive in darkness and moist, warm environments.

Mushrooms need mycelium to grow, which can take months to produce mushrooms

Mushrooms are the fruit of a fungus, and like all fruit, they are not meant to last very long. Toadstool-type mushrooms, for instance, do not last more than a few weeks. They grow from mycelium, which is essentially the root of the mushroom. Mycelium thrives in materials found outdoors, such as leaf litter, lawn clippings, and dead wood.

Mycelium needs water, warmth, and food (organic material) to grow mushrooms. The mycelium is a slow grower and can take months to produce mushrooms, especially if there is no decaying plant matter to feed on. Mushrooms also thrive in the dark and can grow without sunlight.

If you want to grow mushrooms in a terrarium, you can start by sterilizing some grains (rye or millet). Then, take some spores and place them in the grains. Let this grow in a jar for a few weeks before transferring it to your terrarium. You can also place a few handfuls of compost in your terrarium to kickstart the process. However, be aware that mushrooms that grow from animal manure may be poisonous.

Once the mushrooms sprout, they will only last for a couple of weeks before decaying. However, the mycelium will remain in your mini ecosystem, sending up new mushrooms several times a year. This cycle of decay and regrowth means that it is nearly impossible to have your desired type of mushroom in your terrarium year-round.

Mushrooms thrive in darkness and grow without sunlight

Mushrooms are not plants, and they do not rely on light for photosynthesis. They can grow in the absence of light, and darkness plays an important role in their growth and development. Mushrooms need high humidity and shade from direct sunlight. They require a warm, dark, and moist environment to thrive and will start growing on their own.

When mushrooms are starting to grow, they are usually kept in the dark or with very little light. This darkness helps the mycelium, or the "roots" of the mushroom, to spread out and connect before it starts to produce the actual mushrooms. Mycelium can take months to produce mushrooms, especially if there is no decaying plant matter to feed on. The mycelium will continue to expand and start forming hyphal knots, and a primordia formation will develop, followed by the fruit body, which is the part that grows above the ground.

While mushrooms can grow in the dark, light does play a role in their pigmentation, cap size, and overall shape. Mushrooms grown in the dark will usually be white, while light stimulates the formation of pigments that give them colour. For many mushrooms, light increases the size of the mushroom cap, which is beneficial for spore dispersal. However, larger caps may have trouble growing through leaves, wood, and other substrates, so smaller caps are better for growing through these materials.

Different mushroom species have varying light preferences. Some mushrooms thrive in low-light conditions, while others require more intense illumination. For example, woodland mushrooms like Shiitake and Oyster prefer indirect light, while White Button mushrooms require more direct exposure to light. The light requirements can also change depending on the mushroom's growth stage. During the fruiting stage, light becomes essential for the proper development of mushrooms.

Mushrooms may sprout from moss, rotting wood, or soil

Mushrooms are a type of fungus that can grow in a variety of environments, including moss, rotting wood, and soil. Each of these substrates provides the nutrients and conditions necessary for mushroom growth and reproduction.

Mosses, for example, can serve as a conducive environment for mushrooms to sprout. Mosses, being moisture-absorbent and moisture-retaining, create damp conditions that are favourable for mushroom growth. Additionally, mosses can indicate the presence of air pollution due to their high sensitivity to environmental factors.

Rotting wood, or wood decay, is another source from which mushrooms may sprout. Fungi, including mushrooms, play a role in the decomposition of wood by secreting enzymes that break down its complex molecules. Different types of fungi, such as Chicken of the Woods, Honey Mushrooms, and Oyster Mushrooms, contribute to the decay of various tree species, including Maples and Tulip trees.

Soil, particularly healthy soil, can also be a conducive environment for mushroom growth. Transplanting rooted plants into new soil or introducing spores attached to wood chips or plant roots can lead to mushroom growth in that soil. Mushrooms thrive in cool, moist, and humid environments, which can be provided by the conditions in fabric grow bags or pots, as well as the temperature and humidity levels in gardens or indoor growing spaces.

It is important to note that mushrooms have specific requirements for growth and may not be present all the time. They are the fruit of the fungus and, therefore, not meant to last very long. Creating a mushroom terrarium, for instance, can be challenging due to the need to balance their unique needs for growth and their preference for certain substrates.

Toadstool mushrooms won't last more than a few weeks

Growing Mushrooms in a Terrarium

To grow mushrooms in a terrarium, you need to start with mycelium and optimise the conditions for mushroom growth by adding water, warmth, and food (organic material). Mycelium is the "root" of the mushroom and can be found in materials like leaf litter, lawn clippings, and dead wood. You can also try sterilising some grains (rye or millet) and adding spores to them, letting them grow in a jar for a few weeks before transferring them to your terrarium.

Toadstool Mushrooms

Toadstool mushrooms, a type of mushroom-like fungus, are known to be poisonous in some cases. They typically don't last more than a few weeks at best. This is because the mushroom part of a fungus is a fruit, and it is not meant to last very long. While some types of mushrooms can decay more slowly, toadstools are not among them. Therefore, if you're interested in growing toadstool mushrooms in a terrarium, you should be prepared for them to only last a short time.

Extending the Lifespan of Mushrooms

Although toadstool mushrooms may not last long, there are some general tips for keeping mushrooms fresh for longer periods. When stored in the refrigerator, raw mushrooms can last up to 10 days, although they are best within the first week. To optimise their lifespan, mushrooms should be wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a brown paper bag to avoid trapped moisture, which can cause them to become moldy and slimy.

Safety Considerations

It is important to note that toadstool mushrooms can be poisonous, and it can be challenging even for experts to differentiate poisonous from non-poisonous mushrooms. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious and only touch or consume mushrooms if you are certain they are safe. When in doubt, always seek expert guidance.

Use compost to kickstart mushroom growth

Mushrooms are necessary parts of earthly ecosystems, and they can thrive in a terrarium. However, it is important to understand that mushrooms are not plants, but rather the "fruit" of mycelium—a spongy network of white fungus strands typically found in fertile soil, on tree roots, and inside rotting organic material.

To grow mushrooms in a terrarium, you must start with mycelium and create the optimal conditions for mushroom growth by adding water, warmth, and food (organic material). Mycelium can take months to produce mushrooms, especially if there is no decaying plant matter to feed on. Therefore, using compost can be a great way to kickstart mushroom growth in a terrarium.

When most people think of compost, they imagine food scraps like stale bread, vegetable peels, and old fruit. While these edible offcuts are nutritious, they are more appealing to mold than to fungi due to their nitrogen content. Instead, mycelium thrives in materials naturally found outdoors, such as leaf litter, lawn clippings, and dead wood. A clump of wet leaves and tree bark can be an excellent way to start composting in your terrarium.

It is important to note that while animal manure is commonly found in gardens and compost piles, it should not be used to grow mushrooms as they may be poisonous. Instead, you can source your terrarium materials from nature, such as soil from around the base of a tree, which is more likely to contain mycelium than bagged potting soil. Additionally, a chunk of rotting wood from a fallen tree can provide an ideal substrate for natural mycelium growth.

By using compost made from natural materials and mycelium-rich sources, you can create a moist, warm, and nutrient-rich environment that mimics the conditions in which mushrooms naturally thrive. This will help kickstart mushroom growth in your terrarium and foster a thriving miniature ecosystem.

Frequently asked questions