Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are cultivated both indoors and outdoors, and the process is influenced by factors such as temperature, pH, light, humidity, and carbon dioxide. While mushrooms do not rely on light for photosynthesis, light plays a significant role in their growth and yield. Mushrooms need 10 to 12 hours of diffuse, indirect light per day to direct their growth and trigger healthy fruiting. This light exposure helps mushrooms form caps and grow in a compact shape. Optimal light diffusion is achieved by positioning light sources approximately 50 cm above the mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance of light source from mushrooms | 12-18 inches or 50 cm |
| Type of light | Diffuse, indirect light |
| Light intensity | Moderate, comparable to that of a well-lit room (around 500 to 1000 lux) |
| Exposure duration | 10 to 12 hours per day |
| Temperature | Cool temperatures, between 85-95% humidity |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms need light to trigger healthy fruiting and proper development
Despite their association with dark, damp environments, mushrooms do need light to trigger healthy fruiting and proper development. While they don't rely on light for energy production through photosynthesis, light plays a crucial role in certain aspects of mushroom growth.
Mushrooms benefit from full-spectrum lighting, including blue, red, and white wavelengths. Blue light stimulates vegetative growth and mycelium colonization, while red light promotes fruiting and the development of fruiting bodies. White light provides balanced spectrum coverage for overall growth.
Light signals act as a trigger for mushroom mycelium to transition from vegetative growth to the reproductive stage, where fruiting bodies (mushrooms) are formed. Light exposure can also influence the production of secondary metabolites in mushrooms, including pigments, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds, which contribute to their flavour, aroma, and nutritional value.
Mushrooms typically need 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness to trigger fruiting. This consistent light cycle helps encourage regular fruiting and healthy development. LED grow lights with adjustable intensity settings offer flexibility to meet the light requirements of different mushroom species and growth stages.
It's important to note that mushrooms grow best with indirect light rather than intense, direct exposure. Providing the right amount of indirect light will promote better yields and overall growth. Additionally, ensuring proper ventilation, high humidity levels, and cool temperatures are crucial for a thriving mushroom cultivation environment.
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Optimal light management maximises yields
Optimal light management is critical to maximising yields in mushroom cultivation. Unlike plants, mushrooms are heterotrophic organisms that do not carry out photosynthesis and do not rely on light for energy. Instead, they obtain energy by decomposing organic matter. However, light plays an essential role in triggering healthy fruiting and proper development.
The right mushroom grow light ensures that mushrooms develop correctly and produce high yields. Mushrooms generally require blue and red light for optimal growth. Blue light, with a wavelength between 400 and 500 nm, promotes vegetative growth and mimics the natural conditions under which many mushrooms grow. It also influences the concentration of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, enhancing the nutritional profile, flavour, and shelf life of harvested mushrooms. Red light, on the other hand, is essential for fruiting. A full-spectrum light, providing both blue and red light, is ideal for growing most mushrooms.
The intensity and duration of light are also crucial factors. Mushrooms typically require a specific photoperiod, or light duration, for optimal growth. Most mushrooms benefit from 12-16 hours of light per day, followed by a consistent dark period for rest. Light intensity should be carefully managed, as too little light can result in slow or stunted growth, while too much light can cause stress and negatively impact yields. The ideal light intensity depends on the mushroom species and its growth stage. For example, Oyster mushrooms generally require diffused light with an intensity of 500 to 1000 lux for 12 hours per day to initiate fruiting, while Button mushrooms grow mainly in darkness or under very low light.
The type of light used is another important consideration. Fluorescent lights are a popular choice due to their energy efficiency, low heat output, and affordability. LED lights are also effective, providing the necessary light intensity and spectrum for healthy mushroom growth. When selecting a grow light, it is essential to consider the specific needs of the mushroom species being cultivated. Some mushrooms, like Enoki, can be grown in complete darkness, while others, like Oyster and Shiitake, require indirect light to trigger fruiting.
By carefully managing light conditions, growers can optimise the quality and yield of their mushrooms. This includes considering the type of light, intensity, duration, and the specific needs of the mushroom species.
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Mushrooms require high humidity to thrive
Mushrooms are a popular culinary ingredient, but growing them can be challenging, and one of the most critical factors is maintaining high humidity levels. Humidity is essential for the growth and development of mushrooms. High humidity is required for the formation of primordia, the small bumps that develop into mature mushrooms. If the humidity is too low, mushrooms may dry out and fail to grow properly, or even at all. They may also become discoloured and form cracks.
The ideal humidity level for growing mushrooms is between 80% and 95%. If the humidity is too high, it can promote the growth of mould and harmful bacteria and fungi, which can cause disease in the mushrooms. The humidity level needs to be monitored regularly, and adjustments made to ensure optimal growing conditions. The humidity level also depends on the type of mushroom being grown, as different species have different requirements.
There are several methods to control humidity when growing mushrooms. One simple and cost-effective method is to use a misting spray bottle, spraying the mushrooms and the surrounding area with water to increase humidity. This can be done multiple times a day to maintain the desired humidity level. However, this method may not be sufficient for large-scale cultivation, as it requires a lot of manual labour and may not provide consistent humidity levels. Other methods include using pond misters, fans, perlite, and companion planting. Humidifiers can also be placed in the growing area, and humidity sensors can be used to monitor levels.
For commercial growers, creating the right humidity conditions requires complete control over the growing environment, which can be expensive and complex. Small-scale and home growers can adapt their growing space to their natural environment, which may include forests or the ocean, which can increase relative humidity. Mushrooms generally need to be kept cooler than the surrounding air, so temperature control is also important.
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The colonisation phase is pivotal in the mushroom life cycle
The colonisation phase is the process of mycelium spreading through a substrate, gathering water and nutrients, and producing fruiting bodies (mushrooms). Mycelium slowly spreads through its substrate, trying to colonise as much area as possible. The more substrate a single body of mycelium has colonised, the greater its access to nutrients, and therefore the greater its capacity to produce many fruiting bodies (mushrooms) to continue to produce spores.
The substrate is any material that is a food source for mushroom mycelium. Common substrates include logs, stumps, woodchips, straw, sawdust, coffee grounds, grain hulls, and other carbon-rich materials. The substrate needs to be prepared for the highest chance of success. This includes ensuring moisture content is optimal and the substrate is clean of contaminants, mixing substrates if desired, and sometimes placing the substrate into a bag.
During colonisation, the conversion of growth substrate into fungal biomass will slow as nutrients become depleted. At this point, when the fungus is starved of new nutrition, it’s ready to shift to the next growth stage. This is typically the point where pre-colonised substrate blocks are ready to be sold by substrate vendors, since they’ve now reached the point at which mushrooms will form.
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Oyster mushrooms are a favourite among cultivators
Oyster mushrooms are also prized for their ability to break down lignocellulosic materials, making them valuable contributors to the process of organic waste decomposition and nutrient cycling in ecosystems. This presents an environmentally friendly method of transforming waste materials into highly nutritious food. Cultivating oyster mushrooms can be done using a variety of substrates, including hardwood sawdust, wheat bran, and gypsum. The substrate should be slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and it is crucial to achieve even moisture distribution throughout.
One popular variety of oyster mushroom is the King Black Pearl Oyster, a hybrid of the king oyster and regular oyster mushrooms, developed in Japan. It combines the robust flavour of regular mushrooms with the firm texture of king oysters and is delicious in Asian dishes. Another variety is the Aspen oyster mushroom, which grows on aspen, cottonwood, alder, birch, and sometimes conifer trees. It has a colonisation range of 70-75°F and a fruiting temperature of 60-74°F.
When cultivating oyster mushrooms, it is important to provide enough light, as a lack of light can result in lighter-coloured caps. Oyster mushrooms do not last long after picking, so they should be eaten within a few days of harvesting. While oyster mushrooms are relatively easy to cultivate, it is important to note that identifying wild mushrooms can be challenging and dangerous. It is recommended to consult experts or field guides to accurately identify edible mushrooms and ensure food safety.
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