Michael Davis
Mushroom spawn is the blend of spores and the nutrients provided by a suitable substance, such as sawdust, straw, wooden plugs, or grain. The spores are microscopic but contain the blueprint for new mushroom growth. The spawn allows the mycelium (the fungus from which mushrooms emerge) to develop. Making your own mushroom spawn can be unreliable and time-consuming, and it often requires a lot of equipment. However, it can be done at home using the stem butt method, which involves putting the stems of oyster mushrooms in a container with damp cardboard. Alternatively, you can create a spore print by placing a mushroom cap gill-side down on a piece of paper or tin foil, covering it with a bowl, and letting it sit for 24 hours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Simplest way for beginners to start growing their own mushroom spawn | Using the stem butt method with the stems of oyster mushrooms and some damp cardboard |
| How to grow a master culture | Grow in a test tube or petri dish that eventually gets expanded onto agar plates |
| How to store mushroom spawn | Refrigerate at 0–2 °C (32–36 °F) for long-term storage; avoid direct sunlight and ensure air circulation |
| How to make a spore print | Place a mushroom cap gill side down on a piece of paper or tin foil, add a drop of water, cover with a bowl and let sit for 24 hours |
| How to grow mushrooms from a spore print | Inoculate a prepared substrate (like compost or substrate blocks) with the collected spores and keep conditions humid and dark |
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What You'll Learn
- The stem butt method: Put oyster mushroom stems in damp cardboard
- Making a spore print: Use a mature mushroom, place the cap on paper/foil, cover with a bowl
- Using a spore syringe: Drop spores and water onto slides for research or inoculation
- Growing from kits: Use a kit with straw, spawn, and a bag for oyster mushrooms
- Storing spawn: Keep in a dark spot at room temperature if using within 1-2 days
The stem butt method: Put oyster mushroom stems in damp cardboard
The stem butt method is a simple, low-tech, and affordable way to grow mushroom spawn at home. It is especially suitable for beginners as it does not require expensive equipment and is not labour-intensive. Here is a step-by-step guide to the stem butt method:
First, you need to get your hands on some oyster mushroom stems. You can either forage for wild oyster mushrooms or buy fresh ones from a grocery store. The stems should be fresh enough that they are still alive after you cut them off.
Next, prepare your container. Line the bottom of your container with damp, shredded cardboard. You can prepare the damp cardboard by tearing cardboard into small pieces, punching a few breathing holes in your container, and pouring boiling water over the cardboard. You can also add coffee grounds to the mix.
Then, chop your oyster mushroom stems into chunks, focusing on the butts (the bottom of the stems), and spread an even layer of these stem butts on top of the damp cardboard. The more stem butts you add, the better your chances of successful spawn growth, as the oyster mushroom mycelium will be able to outcompete any other wild fungi.
After that, cover the layer of stem butts with another layer of damp cardboard. Seal the container with a lid or some elastic bands.
Finally, put your container in a dark, warm, and dry place, and wait. In about 10 to 14 days, you should see a strong, white growth in your container.
The stem butt method is a fun and easy way to grow your own mushroom spawn at home. However, it is less reliable and has lower yields than other methods, and it may take some time to perfect your process.
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Making a spore print: Use a mature mushroom, place the cap on paper/foil, cover with a bowl
Making a spore print is a great way to see the colour of the spores and observe their pattern. To make a spore print, you will need a mature mushroom with gills, such as a gilled mushroom or a bolete. Cut off the stem, leaving just the cap. If you don't want to separate the cap from the stem, you can make a hole in an index card, place the card on a paper cup, and slide the stem of the mushroom through the hole until the underside of the cap is resting on the card.
Place the cap, gill-side down, on a piece of paper, foil, glass microscope slide, or index card. If you are using paper, it is recommended to use white paper and draw a circle with a pencil around the cap before removing it, as this makes finding white spores easier. If you are using foil, it is recommended to use aluminium foil. Glass can also be used, as it allows you to hold the print up to the light and observe the colour better.
Place a drop of water on the top of the cap to encourage the spores to release. Then, cover the cap with a bowl, paper cup, or glass. Leave it for 2-24 hours, depending on the humidity and the freshness of the mushroom. The spores will fall onto the surface, creating a spore print pattern. If you are using a bowl, place something under one side to allow moisture to escape.
Spore prints can be preserved by spraying them lightly with an artist spray or hairspray. If you are feeling creative, you can let the spores fall naturally onto the paper, creating patterns influenced by the air currents in the room.
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Using a spore syringe: Drop spores and water onto slides for research or inoculation
Spore syringes are a commonly used medium for cultivating mushrooms. They are used to inoculate a substrate, which can be done regardless of the mushroom strain. Before using a spore syringe, it is important to ensure a clean environment and disinfect your hands or use sterilized gloves.
To create your own spore syringe, you will need to work in a sterilized space. The first step is to collect the mushroom spores. To do this, place a mushroom cap on a sterile surface, such as paper or foil, gill-side down. Then, add a drop of water to the cap and cover it with a bowl. Leave it for 24 hours, after which you can remove the bowl and cap to reveal the spores.
The next step is to rehydrate the spores with sterile water. The water must be boiled several times to completely eliminate bacterial presence. Then, use a syringe needle to lightly scrape the spores from the spore print into a sterilized glass containing the boiled water. Expel half of the water from the syringe into the glass, and then draw the spore water back into the syringe. At this point, you should notice that the water has become slightly discoloured and you may even see some floating clusters of spores.
This spore water can then be used to inoculate your chosen growth medium. Different mushrooms prefer different growing media, with common substrates including wood, manure, grain, or straw. For example, wood is the preferred medium for oyster, shiitake, and chicken of the woods mushrooms, while Portobellos prefer manure. If you are unsure what type of mushroom you have, it is recommended to try growing it in straw.
To inoculate the substrate, detach the needle from the sterile package and attach it to the spore syringe. Shake the syringe for a few seconds, and then unscrew the lock by turning it counterclockwise. Only a few drops of the spore solution are needed to colonize a liter of the substrate. After a few days, white patches of mycelium will start to appear on the substrate where the spores were dropped. Once the entire substrate has turned white, the mycelium has fully colonized.
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Growing from kits: Use a kit with straw, spawn, and a bag for oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow through a variety of techniques. A kit for oyster mushrooms will include a breathable bag of straw, mushroom spawn, and a bag tie. The straw in the kit has usually been treated and inoculated with spawn and has some mycelium development.
To grow oyster mushrooms using a kit, you will need to first chop the straw and pack it into the provided bag. Make sure there are no air pockets in the bag, as this will make it harder for the mycelium to colonize. Next, you will need to incubate the straw for three weeks at 75°F. During this time, the spawn will develop and colonize the straw. Position the bags with some distance between them to avoid overheating.
After the incubation period, the straw will be ready for fruiting. Fruiting requires specific parameters of light, humidity, temperature, and CO2 level. For most oyster mushrooms, a well-lit room at 85-90% humidity, 65-75°F, and CO2 below 800 PPM is ideal.
Once the mushrooms have fruited, you can harvest them and use them in a variety of recipes. Oyster mushrooms are perfect for stir-fries, pizzas, pasta, and more.
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Storing spawn: Keep in a dark spot at room temperature if using within 1-2 days
If you plan on storing mushroom spawn for 1-2 days, it is best to keep it in a dark spot at room temperature. Direct sunlight can damage or kill the spawn, so avoid placing the bag near any windows. It is also important to ensure proper air circulation during storage. While the spawn can be left in its original packaging, which is designed to protect it and keep it fresh, it is crucial to follow any specific storage instructions provided by the manufacturer.
If you are not planning on using the spawn within 2 days, it is recommended to refrigerate it. Set your refrigerator to a temperature between 0–2 °C (32–36 °F) for optimal storage conditions. However, certain types of mushroom spawn, such as Pink Oyster and Almond Agaricus, cannot be refrigerated and should be stored at room temperature. In general, mushroom spawn has a shelf life of 2-4 months, even when stored in ideal conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom spawn is the blending of spores and the nutrients provided by a substance such as sawdust, straw, wooden plugs, or grain.
The simplest way for beginners to start growing their own mushroom spawn is the stem butt method. Take the stems of oyster mushrooms and put them in a container with some damp cardboard. In a couple of weeks, you’ll have your own spawn.
Collecting mushroom spores is a simple process. You will need a bowl, some water, a piece of paper, and a mushroom. Remove the stem from a fresh mushroom, then put the cap gill side down onto a piece of paper or sterilized tin foil. Put a drop of water on the cap, then cover it with a bowl and let it sit for 24 hours. Remove the bowl and cap to reveal your spores.
Mushroom spawn stays fresh in cold temperatures. Make sure your refrigerator is set to 0–2 °C (32–36 °F). Then, place the bag of spawn inside the fridge. If your refrigerator is full, leave 10 cm (3.9 in) of space around the bag for proper airflow.
