Sarah Brown
Mushrooms require high humidity to develop correctly, with around 90% of their fruiting body consisting of water. Commercial mushroom humidifiers can be expensive, so many growers opt for a DIY approach, which is more cost-effective and allows them to tailor the growing conditions to their needs. There are several ways to build a humidifier for mushrooms, ranging from low-tech solutions like using a spray bottle to mist the chamber or a layer of perlite in the bottom of the chamber, to more high-tech solutions like using an ultrasonic mist maker with a fan and an auto-fill float.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom humidity requirements | Mushrooms require high humidity to develop correctly. The fruiting body of a mushroom is around 90% water. |
| Commercial humidifiers | Commercial mushroom humidifiers can be expensive, but they are effective and can be worth the investment. |
| DIY humidifiers | A DIY humidifier is a cost-effective solution that gives you control over the growing environment and helps you understand the nuances of mushroom growing. |
| DIY humidifier methods | Spray bottle, wicking/evaporative humidifier, ultrasonic humidifier, pond mister, automated humidifier |
| Spray bottle method | Spray the walls of the chamber and fan in some fresh air. |
| Wicking/evaporative humidifier method | Pipe the humidifier into the fruiting chamber using PVC pipe. The humidifier distributes water over a large area, and a fan blows air over it, evaporating the water and increasing humidity. |
| Ultrasonic humidifier method | Ultrasonic humidifiers use spinning discs to vaporize water droplets, which are then pumped into the room. They can be placed inside or outside the fruiting area. |
| Pond mister method | Place an ultrasonic mist maker inside a sealed container with an auto-fill float and a waterproof fan. |
| Automated humidifier method | Use a House of Hydro Mist Maker kit, waterproof fan kit, humidistat, mist output controller, UV sterilizing light, and auto-fill float. |
| Monitoring and maintenance | Constant monitoring and maintenance are key to successful mushroom growth. The humidity level should be closely monitored, and the humidifier should be cleaned regularly to prevent bacterial growth. |
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What You'll Learn
Using a spray bottle
To use a spray bottle to humidify your mushrooms, fill the bottle with water and mist the mushrooms and the surrounding area several times a day. The fine mist creates tiny droplets that stick to surfaces and increase humidity levels as they evaporate. It is recommended to mist your mushrooms at least twice a day, depending on the location and natural humidity levels.
When using a spray bottle, it is important to avoid directly spraying the mushroom substrate and mushrooms, as excess water droplets can cause contamination. Instead, spray around the mushrooms and fan in some fresh air to maintain a consistently high humidity. Spray bottles work best in areas with higher levels of natural humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, or greenhouses, and are ideal for use with monotubs and shotgun fruiting chambers.
While spray bottles are a simple and inexpensive option for maintaining humidity when growing mushrooms, they may not be sufficient for larger operations or those seeking more consistent humidity levels. In such cases, you may consider upgrading to a wicking or evaporative humidifier, which can provide more controlled and consistent humidity. These humidifiers use a wick to draw water up from a reservoir, and a fan blows air through the wick to evaporate the water and increase humidity.
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Wicking humidifiers
These humidifiers use a wick or wicking filter to draw water up from the humidifier's internal reservoir. A fan then blows air through the wick, evaporating some of the water and increasing relative humidity. This humid air is then blown into the fruiting chamber through a PVC pipe attached to the outlet of the humidifier.
To build a DIY wicking humidifier, you'll need a pond fogger and a bucket. Place the fogger in the bucket, cover the bucket, and use an arrangement of tubes and a fan to direct the fog into the grow chamber. The humidifier cannot sit inside the chamber because the high humidity could damage the equipment. You can scale this design up to handle large setups by building T-intersections into the tubing.
For a fully automated humidifier, you'll need a Mist Maker kit, a waterproof fan kit, a water reservoir, and an optional humidistat, mist output controller, UV sterilizing light, and auto-fill float. Cut holes in the lid of the water reservoir for the air intake and ducting, and fasten the fan to the underside of the lid. Attach the ducting bracket and ducting to the outside of the fan hole, then place the fogger inside the reservoir and adjust the height of the shut-off valve.
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Ultrasonic humidifiers
To make a fully automated ultrasonic humidifier, you will need the following items:
- A mist maker kit with disc foggers
- A waterproof fan kit
- A humidistat (optional)
- A mist output controller (optional)
- An auto-fill float to fill your reservoir (optional)
The first step is to place the silver transducer into the black float and assemble the fogger by plugging the silver transducer into the black transformer, tightening the locking ring. Next, you will need to mark and cut 2 or 3 similar holes in the lid of the water reservoir. You can then add your Autofill Mini Float to the reservoir, drilling a hole just larger than the float threads. Check the cap for water flow direction and mount the float. Using a water supply line, you can then hook up to an external source.
It is important to note that if you are using tap water with a high mineral content, you may encounter a fine white dust buildup. To avoid this, use distilled or demineralized water, or add a demineralization cartridge to the water tank.
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Automated humidifiers
To make a fully automated humidifier, you will need the following items:
- Any size House of Hydro Mist Maker kit (1 through 12 Disc Foggers)
- Waterproof Fan Kit (120mm is the best option for anything over 2'x4'x6' H)
- Appropriately sized water reservoir (a 27-gallon Tuff Tote for 6 Disc Units and larger, and no less than a 5-gallon bucket for 1 to 5 Disc Units)
- Autofill Mini Float to fill your reservoir (optional)
- Humidistat (optional)
- Mist Output Controller (optional)
- UV Sterilizing Light (optional)
The first step is to place the silver transducer into the black float. Assemble the fogger by plugging the silver transducer into the black transformer and tightening down the locking ring if there is one available.
Next, mark and cut 2 or 3 similar holes in the lid of the water reservoir. Cut a hole in the lid for the air intake and cover it with an air filter cloth, securing it with duct tape. Cut another hole on the opposite side of the lid for the ducting and fan. Fasten the fan to the underside of the lid so that it blows air out of the tote.
Then, attach the ducting bracket to the outside of the same hole as the fan, and then attach the ducting to the bracket. Place the fogger inside the tote and measure the height of the shut-off valve (it should be as high as the shut-off switch on top of the fogger).
Finally, add your Autofill Mini Float to the reservoir to allow for an external water feed. Drill a hole slightly larger than the float threads, at least 3/4 of the way up the wall of your water reservoir. Check the cap for water flow direction and mount the float. Using a 1/2" water supply line, you can then connect to an external water source.
It is important to note that if you are in an area where you cannot afford a spillover, it is recommended to put an overflow drain on the water reservoir in case of a rare valve failure.
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DIY humidifiers
Mushrooms require high humidity to develop correctly, with around 90% of the mushroom fruiting body consisting of water. A dry environment can stunt their growth and even kill them. Therefore, a mushroom humidifier is essential for optimal growth and production.
The Basic Setup
A simple spray bottle can be used to mist the chamber walls and fan in some fresh air. This method is suitable for small fruiting chambers. Wicking humidifiers, or evaporative humidifiers, are a step up from this basic setup. They work by wicking up water from a reservoir and distributing it over a larger area, with air then blown over to evaporate the water and increase humidity.
DIY Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers are one of the most effective ways to increase humidity and are popular with mushroom growers. These work using spinning discs that vaporize water droplets, which are then pumped out into the room. The humidifier can be placed inside the fruiting area or outside with humidity pumped in.
To build your own ultrasonic humidifier, you will need a mist maker kit with disc foggers, a waterproof fan kit, a water reservoir, and an optional humidistat, mist output controller, UV sterilizing light, and auto-fill float.
- Place the silver transducer into the black float and assemble the fogger by plugging the transducer into the black transformer, tightening the locking ring.
- Cut 2 or 3 holes in the lid of the water reservoir.
- Add your auto-fill float to the reservoir to allow for an external water feed. Drill a hole about 3/4 of the way up the wall of the reservoir, mount the float, and hook up to an external water source.
- Plug the humidistat into a GFI outlet.
- Place the fogger inside the reservoir and ensure the water level is kept as full as possible to avoid overheating.
Additional Tips
- Constant monitoring and maintenance are key.
- Perlite, a lightweight material made from volcanic rock, can be used in the bottom of a small fruiting chamber to maintain high humidity.
- High-pressure mist nozzles are a more complex solution, requiring a high-pressure air system to supply water to a series of nozzles on the ceiling or sidewalls.
- Use an on/off timer with your humidifier to prevent over-humidification, which can cause contamination.
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Frequently asked questions
A simple spray bottle can be used to mist the chamber with water and fan in some fresh air.
Wicking humidifiers, also called evaporative humidifiers, are a step up from a simple spray bottle. These humidifiers are piped into a fruiting chamber by attaching PVC pipe to the outlet of the unit.
The Crane Tear Drop Ultrasonic Humidifier can pump out a surprising amount of water.
A layer of moist perlite can be placed at the bottom of a small fruiting chamber to maintain high humidity levels during fruiting. Perlite is a lightweight material made from volcanic rock that can be found at most garden stores.
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