Sarah Brown
Mushroom substrate jars are used to cultivate fungi at home. The jars are filled with a substrate, such as rye or brown rice flour, which is then inoculated with spores. The jars are then placed in a warm, dark location to allow the spores to incubate and develop into mushrooms. This process can take several weeks, and the resulting mushrooms can be harvested and consumed. Mushroom substrate jars are available in different sizes and with various features, such as self-healing injection ports, to streamline the growing process and make it more accessible to novices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Cultivating favourite fungi/mushrooms |
| Ease of use | Easy, suitable for novices and experts |
| Size | Quart-sized, pint-sized |
| Type of jars | Mason jars, PF Tek jars, MycoTEK jars |
| Lid | Rust-free lid, self-healing injection port |
| Air exchange | Advanced, 0.2-micron breathable filter |
| Reusability | Durable and reusable |
| Substrate | Well-mixed and moist, prepared with worm castings |
| Hole in substrate | Optional |
| Jar sterilization | Pressure cooker, covered pot on a raised rack |
| Temperature | 80-86 degrees F |
| Fruiting chamber | Aquarium, large Tupperware box |
| Humidity | 90% to 100% |
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Preparing the substrate
Selecting the Substrate Material
The choice of substrate material depends on the specific type of mushroom you plan to grow. Some species, like oyster mushrooms, can thrive on a diverse range of substrates, including straw or cardboard. Other mushrooms are more particular and require specific substrates to produce high yields. Straw is a popular and cost-effective option that can be purchased from farm stores or places that sell animal feed. You can also experiment with agricultural waste products like corn stalks. Additionally, coffee grounds can be combined with mushroom spawn to create a simple substrate. Supplementing with straw can improve air exchange and colonisation speed.
Pasteurisation or Sterilisation
Before introducing the substrate to the jars, it is essential to pasteurise or sterilise it to minimise the risk of mould and bacteria growth. Pasteurisation involves soaking the substrate in hydrated lime-treated cold water for 24 hours, increasing the pH and killing contaminants. For more comprehensive sterilisation, the substrate must be exposed to temperatures above 250 degrees F under pressure, which can be achieved using a pressure cooker. Another method is tyndallization, where jars are boiled for a specific duration over several consecutive days.
Once you have selected and treated the substrate material, it's time to prepare the mixture. If using straw, cut it into three or four-inch pieces. You can add supplements like peroxide or calcium hydroxide or opt for fermentation. Combining a kilogram of coffee grounds with 100 grams of mushroom spawn creates a basic mixture. For a more nutrient-rich substrate, add 20% straw to the coffee ground mixture. Additionally, ""worm castings" (earthworm poop) can be incorporated to enhance mushroom growth. Ensure that your substrate is well-mixed and moist before filling the jars.
Filling the Jars
Loosely fill your prepared jars with the substrate mixture, leaving about half an inch of space from the top. Do not pack the mixture tightly. After filling, you may create a hole in the centre of the substrate for ease of inoculation, although this is optional. Seal the air holes in the jar's lid with tape or aluminium foil. Wipe up any moisture or substrate on the inside and outside of the jar. Finally, fill the remaining space with dry vermiculite to create a barrier against contaminants.
Incubation
Place the sealed jars in a warm and dark location, such as a cupboard or a cardboard box near a computer tower. Maintaining a temperature of around 80-86 degrees F is optimal for mycelium growth. It may take 3 to 4 days to observe the initial mycelium formation as white spots, and 3 to 5 weeks for the fungus to establish itself fully in the substrate, depending on temperature conditions.
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Filling the jars
Firstly, prepare your substrate mixture. This can be done by mixing and hydrating the substrate with water. The substrate should be moist but not overly wet. You can add ''worm castings'' (earthworm poop) to the substrate to encourage better mushroom growth.
Next, fill your prepared jars with the substrate mixture. Do not pack the mixture down; instead, loosely fill the jar, leaving about half an inch of space between the substrate and the top of the jar. Wipe away any moisture or substrate on the inside and outside of the jar.
After filling, you may want to create a hole in the centre of the substrate for ease of inoculation, although this is not necessary. Then, fill the rest of the jar with dry vermiculite, which acts as a barrier against contaminants in the air.
Before sealing the jars, ensure they are properly sterilised. This can be done using a pressure cooker or by steaming them in a covered pot on a raised rack. If using a pressure cooker, leave the jars at 15 PSI for about an hour. For steaming, fill a pot with 2 inches of water and place a rack inside to prevent the jars from touching the simmering water.
Once the jars are sterilised, seal them tightly. Cover the lid's air holes with aluminium foil, forming it tightly around the jar lid to prevent contamination. Now your jars are ready for inoculation, which is the process of introducing spores.
Place your sealed jars in a warm and dark location, such as a cupboard or a cardboard box, maintaining a temperature of around 80-86 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the spores to incubate and develop into mycelium. It takes around 3 to 5 weeks for the fungus to establish itself in the substrate, depending on temperature conditions.
After this incubation period, your jars will be ready for the next steps of mushroom cultivation, including creating a fruiting chamber to encourage mushroom growth.
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Sterilization
To sterilize mushroom substrate jars, you'll need the following items:
- A pressure cooker capable of maintaining 15 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure.
- Jars or bags of prepared substrate.
- A metal rack or jar lids to place at the bottom of the pressure cooker.
- Water—enough to cover the substrate jars or bags by 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm).
Before using the pressure cooker, inspect it to ensure all components are in good working condition. Place the metal rack or jar lids at the bottom of the cooker, then put your substrate jars or bags on top, ensuring they don't touch the sides of the pot to prevent damage. Cover any jar filters with foil to prevent excess moisture from entering the substrate.
Close the cooker and place it on a stove. Wait until the pressure regulator starts shaking, indicating a pressure of around 11-15 PSI. Let the jars and substrate sterilize for about an hour at this pressure. Then, turn off the heat and let the cooker stand for approximately 3 hours to cool down, or leave it overnight.
The sterilization process requires a temperature of at least 250°F (121°C) for a minimum of 2 hours. This temperature is crucial for killing bacteria and other organisms that could contaminate your substrate.
After sterilization, maintain aseptic conditions to prevent contamination by other fungi, moulds, or bacteria. Now, your substrate is ready for inoculation, where you will introduce spores into the sterile environment to initiate mushroom growth.
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Inoculation
Preparation
Before inoculating, prepare the substrate by hydrating it. Make sure the substrate is damp but not soaked. Fill it up to the threading where the lid goes on, about half an inch from the top. You can also create a hole in the middle of the substrate for ease of inoculation, but this is not a required step. Sterilize the jars again using a pressure cooker or by steaming them in a covered pot on a raised rack.
Once the jars are sterilized, inject the spores into the substrate using a syringe. Seal the air holes in the lid with tape or cover them with aluminium foil. Place the jars in a dim, warm space. The time it takes for colonization depends on the species. You should start to see the first signs of white mycelium growth in about 3 to 5 weeks.
Fruiting
After colonization, get the jars ready for fruiting. This process will differ depending on the type of mushroom. Some require a lot of extra water, while others need to be introduced to oxygen. You can create a simple fruiting chamber by using a plastic container or a large Tupperware box. The main purpose of the chamber is to create a high humidity environment for the mushrooms to flourish.
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Fruiting
Mushroom substrate jars are used to grow mushrooms. The substrate is what the fungi feed off of. It will typically consist of brown rice flour, vermiculite, and water. Some sources also recommend adding 'worm castings' (earthworm faeces) to the substrate to encourage better flushes of mushrooms.
The fruiting process will differ depending on the type of mushroom. Some mushrooms require extra water, while others require oxygen. To encourage fruiting, you can leave the lid off the jar to allow the mushrooms to develop. Then, place a plastic bag over the jar with a corner cut off for airflow, or create a fruiting chamber.
A simple fruiting chamber can be made from an aquarium or a large plastic box. The chamber should create a high humidity (90-100%) environment for the mushrooms to flourish. To achieve this, fill a strainer with perlite and soak it in water for 5-10 minutes. Then, drain the water and line the bottom of the chamber with the perlite. This will allow the water to slowly evaporate and create the desired humidity. Place squares of aluminium foil on top of the perlite, and then place the substrate on top. Cover with something that allows airflow and spray with water a couple of times a day.
After a few weeks, you should see some well-developed mushrooms. Depending on the size, you can then harvest your crop.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom substrate jars are containers used to cultivate mushrooms. They are typically made of glass and have a wide mouth for ease of access.
The substrate should be well mixed and moist before filling the jar. Fill the jar loosely, leaving about half an inch of space between the substrate and the top of the jar. Wipe up any moisture or substrate on the outside of the jar, then fill the remaining space with dry vermiculite to prevent contaminants from entering.
You can sterilize your mushroom substrate jar using a pressure cooker or by steaming it in a covered pot on a raised rack. If using a pressure cooker, leave it at 15 PSI for 45 minutes. If steaming, fill a pot with 2 inches of water and place a rack inside to ensure the jar does not touch the water.
First, sterilize the needle of your syringe with a flame until it turns red hot, then let it cool down. Inject the spores into the substrate, then quickly cover the air holes. Place the jar in a dim, warm space, and within a few days, you should see white spots forming as the spores incubate.
To fruit your mushrooms, you can either create a simple fruiting chamber using a plastic container or aquarium, or you can place a plastic bag over the jar and cut off a corner for air. Maintain high humidity (90%-100%) and ensure proper airflow and oxygen access for your mushrooms to thrive.
