Laura Smith
Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow through a variety of techniques. One simple method for beginners is the stem butt technique, which involves placing the stems of oyster mushrooms in a container with damp cardboard. Within a few weeks, you'll have your own spawn. Other methods include grain spawn transfer, agar tissue culture transfer, and liquid inoculation. If you're looking to grow oyster mushrooms on a larger scale or commercially, grain spawn is the way to go. You can also use sawdust spawn, which works well with logs, stumps, and totem methods. Blue oyster mushrooms, in particular, are a fast substrate colonizer with a bluish-grey hue and a soft, meaty texture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Spawn Type | Grain spawn, agar tissue culture, liquid inoculation, sawdust spawn, plug spawn |
| Spawn Preparation | Soak grain for 24 hours or simmer larger grains for 30 minutes, rinse and drain |
| Container | Wide-mouthed jars (1-litre) |
| Clean Room | Construct with thin wood panels, cover with plastic sheeting, seal with silicone |
| Sterilization | Use cotton wool, pressure cooker, aluminium foil, drill for air holes |
| Substrate | Straw, coffee grounds, sawdust, toilet paper, logs, wood |
| Temperature | 60°F – 85°F, depending on the strain |
| Humidity | 85-90% |
| CO2 Level | Below 800 PPM |
| Yield | Medium to high |
| Time to Fruit | 4-12 months, dependent on environmental triggers |
| Mushroom Characteristics | Small caps, large stems, bluish-grey hue, soft and meaty texture |
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What You'll Learn
The stem butt method
Firstly, source your oyster mushrooms. You can either use wild oyster mushrooms or buy fresh ones from the grocery store. You will only need the stems of the mushrooms, so you can eat the caps. Take the lower stems of fresh oyster mushrooms, ensuring they are alive and will continue to grow in the right conditions.
Next, prepare your cardboard. Mushrooms are bio-accumulators, so it is important to use clean cardboard without any ink or writing on it to avoid chemicals or toxins. Cut or tear the cardboard into smaller pieces. Then, pour boiling water over the cardboard to kill any wild moulds, yeasts, or other fungi. Let the cardboard cool down to near room temperature and drain off the excess water.
Now, prepare your container. Place a layer of damp cardboard in the bottom of your container, filling about a third of it. Add a layer of stem butts on top of the cardboard, spreading them out evenly. Repeat these layers, ending with a layer of cardboard on top to fully cover the mushroom stems. Ensure the container is not too full that it cannot be closed.
Finally, seal the container with a lid and, optionally, elastic bands to ensure it is tightly closed. Place the container in a dark and warm place for about 11 days, resisting the urge to open it early. After this time, your container should be fully colonized with fresh, white, strong growth.
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Grain spawn transfer
Grain spawn is the traditional way to propagate mushroom cultures. It is a simple process that can be done at home with basic equipment. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing a grain spawn transfer for oyster mushrooms:
Preparing the Grain
Start by measuring out the desired amount of grain, keeping in mind that the grain will expand when moistened. For a 1-litre jar, you will need about 2/3 to 3/4 of a litre of grain. The type of grain used can vary, with options such as wheat, rye, brown rice, white rice, wild birdseed, or even popcorn. However, rye is the most common choice due to its water-absorbing qualities and nutrient composition.
Rinse the grain thoroughly 4-5 times in cold water to remove any dust, wood chips, or other contaminants. Then, place the grain in a pot and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, being careful not to overcook, as this can increase the chances of contamination. Drain the grains and spread them out on a screen or towel to dry for 1-2 hours.
Sterilization and Inoculation
To ensure a sterile environment, construct a simple clean room using wood panels covered in plastic sheeting. This room should be easily wipeable and have a HEPA filter to provide clean oxygenated air.
Once your grains are dry, load them into wide-mouthed jars, filling each jar about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Make an 8mm hole in each jar lid using a drill to allow for gas exchange during incubation. Cover the hole with cotton wool to filter out contaminants.
For the inoculation process, you will need a spawn master (Pleurotus ostreatus for winter or Pleurotus pulmonarius for summer). Open the spawn bag or jar and use a sterile utensil to break up the grains. Transfer 1-2 dessert spoons of the spawn into your prepared jar of sterile grain.
Incubation
Seal the jar and shake it vigorously to disperse the grain spawn evenly throughout. Place the jar on a shaded shelf within the clean room and incubate at the appropriate temperature: 24°C (75°F) for Pleurotus ostreatus and 24°C to 30°C (75°F to 85°F) for Pleurotus pulmonarius.
By following these steps, you can successfully perform a grain spawn transfer for oyster mushrooms, providing the ideal environment for mycelial expansion and eventually, mushroom growth.
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Agar tissue culture transfer
Oyster mushrooms can be cloned (isolated into pure culture) from the basidiocarp onto a prepared medium. The fungal mycelium can grow out from the basidiocarp tissue and be used as the mother culture inoculum to prepare spawn.
To begin the agar tissue culture transfer process, you will need the following equipment:
- Scalpel
- Alcohol burner
- Petri dishes
- Nutrient agar
- Young mushrooms
Firstly, it is important to prepare media plates for pure culturing. You can use Petri dishes or small glass jars such as baby food jars as the media containers. Two growth media, one agar-based and one gelatin-based, can be used to culture the mycelium of oyster mushrooms.
Next, harvest a piece of tissue from a mushroom fruit body. You can do this by pulling apart the mushroom cap to expose the inside uncontaminated tissues. Pluck tiny pieces of the inside tissue using sterile fine-tip tweezers and transfer them onto the agar or gelatin media.
Once you have a pure culture, you can keep it going indefinitely by transferring it to a fresh medium. The stored strain can be maintained stably on media or as spawn stocks at 4°C for non-tropical Pleurotus strains.
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Liquid inoculation methods
To spawn oyster mushrooms using liquid inoculation methods, you will need grain (rye or wheat), a pressure cooker, and oyster mushroom mycelium. Here are the steps to follow:
Sterilize the Grain
Place the grain in glass jars and sterilize it in a pressure canner to eliminate any contaminants. For larger grains like wheat or corn, simmering the grain for 30 minutes can help prevent the growth of unwanted moulds. Rinse and drain the grain thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.
Prepare the Liquid Inoculant
Take a sterilized jar of water and add a few coins. The coins will help cut up the grain spawn as you shake the jar. Remove the foil and lid, and add a few dessert spoonfuls of grain spawn. The amount of spawn you use will depend on how fast you want your liquid inoculations to colonize and the level of contamination risk you want to allow. More spawn will lead to faster colonization and a lower risk of contamination. Attach the lid and foil again and shake vigorously.
Draw the Liquid Inoculant
Using a 5ml syringe, pierce the jar's aluminium foil through the lid's hole and draw out 5ml of the liquid inoculant. You can store the liquid inoculant in the fridge until needed.
Inoculate the Grain
Take the sterilized grain jar and inject the inoculant past the cotton wool plugging the breathing hole into the grain. Shake the jar to mix the inoculant evenly throughout the jar.
Incubate the Grain
Place the inoculated grain jar on a shaded shelf within a clean room to incubate. The temperature will depend on the specific species of oyster mushroom you are cultivating. For pleurotus ostreatus, maintain a temperature of 24°C (75°F), while for pleurotus pulmonarius (summer), keep the temperature between 24°C to 30°C (75°F to 85°F).
Monitor and Trigger Fruiting
Regularly check the grain for signs of mycelial colonisation. Once the substrate is fully colonised, move it to a location with indirect light and higher humidity to trigger fruiting.
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Using a growing kit
Oyster mushrooms are a favourite among beginners for their resilience, fast growth, and ability to grow almost anywhere. If you're new to the world of mushroom growing, an oyster mushroom growing kit can be a great place to start.
There are two main types of kits available on the market: pre-inoculated "open-and-spray" kits and DIY kits. Pre-inoculated kits have already been inoculated with mushroom spawn and just require opening and misting with water. However, they offer little insight into the growing process and may degrade if kept in storage for too long. On the other hand, DIY kits provide you with everything you need to grow your own mushrooms and learn at the same time. These kits typically include a heat-resistant mushroom growing bag, a straw-based substrate, fresh mushroom spawn, a growing environment, and detailed instructions.
When using a pre-inoculated kit, simply follow the instructions provided. Cut some holes in the kit and mist it daily to maintain humidity. Within 7 days, you should start seeing tiny mushroom pins forming. In the following 5-7 days, these baby mushrooms will double in size daily. Harvest the mushrooms before the caps start to flatten out or turn upwards.
If you're using a DIY kit, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Generally, the process involves adding the mushroom spawn to the straw substrate and incubating it for about three weeks at 75°F. During incubation, ensure the bags are positioned at least a palm's distance from each other to avoid overheating. After incubation, move on to the fruiting stage. Maintain a well-lit room at 85-90% humidity, 65-75°F, and CO2 below 800 PPM for most oyster mushrooms. Harvesting typically occurs 5-10 days after the substrate is removed from fruiting conditions, before the caps become completely flat.
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Frequently asked questions
The simplest way for beginners to spawn oyster mushrooms is the stem butt method. Take the stems of oyster mushrooms and put them in a container with damp cardboard. In a couple of weeks, you’ll have your own spawn.
This method is cheap and easy to try at home. You don't need access to expensive equipment, and it's not very time or resource-intensive. Plus, you can eat the mushrooms after removing the stems!
Use large pieces of cardboard with no ink or writing on them. Mushrooms are bioaccumulators, so it's important to avoid cardboard with chemicals or toxins that they can absorb. Shred the cardboard into smaller pieces and pour boiling water over them to kill wild molds, yeasts, and fungi.
Grain spawn transfer, agar tissue culture transfer, and liquid inoculation are all low-tech methods that require basic equipment. Oyster mushrooms can also be spawned on coffee grounds or toilet paper.
Construct a simple clean room by nailing together thin lengths of wood to make four wall panels. Cover the panels with plastic sheeting and screw them together with sealant. Tape a plastic sheet over the top to form a ceiling and cut a slit for an opening. The room should be easily wipeable with a bleach solution.
