Question 1

What temperature should I store my bags at?

Accepted Answer

Store them at room temp prior to inoculation. Be sure your bags are room temp when inoculating! If they have gotten cold during shipping or storage, let them warm up before you inoculate. Once inoculated they should be stored between 70 and 80 degrees F for colonization. The higher 70's will result in faster growth. Always store above 65 degrees or growth will slow dramatically. For fruiting ideal temps are the lower 70's.

Ideal temp range.
Colonization 75-80 degrees F
Fruiting 70-75 degrees F

Question 2

What light conditions do I need?

Accepted Answer

Lighting is not an extremely important thing to worry about. Colonization in the dark is OK, as well as indirect sunlight . When it comes time to fruit your bag or block,  indirect sunlight or a CFL lamp is best. Avoid direct sunlight or high intensity grow lamps. Mushrooms do not photosynthesize, but they are reactive to light and it is beneficial in the fruiting stage.

Question 3

I just checked my mushrooms and the caps are all black!?

Accepted Answer

This is spores. After the veil breaks, there is a short window of time before the mushroom will drop spores. Some strains have heavier spore drops than others! low sporulating strains can be let go longer in increase yield. Spores are harmless to consume. If it is aesthetically unpleasant to you, you can wipe the caps off with a wet paper towel prior to drying the mushrooms.

Question 4

Once I have cut the top of my bag to initiate fruiting, how often do I reopen and spray my bag?

Accepted Answer

Make sure your bag has a consistent dewy look. Dryer climates might need bags to be sprayed every two days. The important thing is to observe the condensation on the bag, keep it dewy but make sure to not over spray to where there is pooling in the bag. A few sprays will do.

Question 5

The bottom of my stems have fuzzy stuff on them, is this mold?

Accepted Answer

The white fuzz on the bottom of the mushrooms is commonly referred to as "fuzzy feet". This is from high co2 concentrations in the growing environment. If you catch it early enough you can cut the slits in the bag bigger or add holes to your fruiting chamber. By increasing the frequent air exchange (FAE) you will prevent or reduce the amount of fuzz on the stems. This fuzz is completely fine for consumption but does reduce the yield of your crop.

Question 6

I just received my syringes, there is black stuff in there, is this OK?

Accepted Answer

I have started adding activated charcoal to my LC syringes. Activated charcoal is anti-bacterial in nature, extends the shelf life of the syringe, and helps stabilize the mycelium inside the syringe. Be sure to shake your syringes before use!

Question 7

How long does it take to grow mushrooms in my bag?

Accepted Answer

Usually 6-10 weeks. This is typically dependent on strain choice and temperatures.

Question 8

How do I know when my mushrooms are ready to pick?

Accepted Answer

There is a veil or white skirt under the cap of the mushroom as it matures. When this breaks away from the cap, it is the ideal time to pick them.

Question 9

There is a couple big mushrooms, but also some smaller ones, do I need to harvest them all at the same time?

Accepted Answer

No, you can wait to harvest the smaller ones at a later time when they are ready. If they are in a cluster with the bigger one, it may be hard to pick without the small ones coming with it.

Question 10

Now that I have picked my mushrooms, how do I dry them?

Accepted Answer

I highly recommend using a food dehydrator with temperature control. These can be purchased online or at most department stores. Set the temperature to 130 degrees F and dry for 12-24 hours or until they are "cracker dry". If you live in a dry climate you can just lay the mushrooms out on a piece of cardboard for several days until they dry completely. Regardless of how you dry them, store the final product in a cool dark place with desiccant or silica packs in the container.

Question 11

I have cats or dogs, can I still grow mushrooms?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can! Cats and dogs are a possible vector for contamination. Our all in one bags are very contamination resistant because the colonization stage is done inside of the sealed and sterile bag. Once colonized, the colonized block has an "immune system" and is typically resistant to contaminates. I recommend storing your bags or fruiting chambers as high as possible. 90% of contaminates are within one foot of the floor. ALWAYS BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR SUPPLIES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS!! If you have cats that can get to your bag, you can place it in a clear tote as protection.

Question 12

What strains are good for micro dosing?

Accepted Answer

This is a tough question to answer. I can only speak from personal experience and am not giving medical advice. I have tried every strain on my site. My favorite for micro dosing is Stargazer. I find that it is very consistent in dosing by weight. I take .25 to .5 of a gram Monday through Friday. Stargazer seems to be the best for me in that it provides energy and focus, as well as keeping my depression at bay. Please speak to a doctor or health professional before consuming any amount of mushrooms. DO NOT REPLACE YOUR CURRENT MEDICATION WITH MUSHROOMS.

Question 13

This is my first time growing, any recommendations?

Accepted Answer

I recommend Jedi MF, Stargazer, Hillbilly, and Golden Teacher for beginners. They are very forgiving, fast growing and good yielding strains.

Question 14

What should I do with contaminated or spent substrates?

Accepted Answer

All contaminated grains or substrates should be removed immediately from the grow space or laboratory! The most eco-friendly way to dispose of contaminated or spent substrates is to compost them! Simply dump them into a compost pile and mix in. Be sure to thoroughly clean/sanitize and or sterilize your grow room and cultivation vessels (jars/totes/bins) that have had contamination in them before using again.

Grow Your Own
Mushrooms

Frequently Asked Questions

PRESENTED BY:
Denver Spore Company

What temperature should I store my bags at?

What light conditions do I need?

I just checked my mushrooms and the caps are all black!?

Once I have cut the top of my bag to initiate fruiting, how often do I reopen and spray my bag?

The bottom of my stems have fuzzy stuff on them, is this mold?

I just received my syringes, there is black stuff in there, is this OK?

How long does it take to grow mushrooms in my bag?

How do I know when my mushrooms are ready to pick?

There is a couple big mushrooms, but also some smaller ones, do I need to harvest them all at the same time?

Now that I have picked my mushrooms, how do I dry them?

I have cats or dogs, can I still grow mushrooms?

What strains are good for micro dosing?

This is my first time growing, any recommendations?

What should I do with contaminated or spent substrates?

Frequently Asked Questions

PRESENTED BY: Denver Spore Company

What temperature should I store my bags at?

What light conditions do I need?

I just checked my mushrooms and the caps are all black!?

Once I have cut the top of my bag to initiate fruiting, how often do I reopen and spray my bag?

The bottom of my stems have fuzzy stuff on them, is this mold?

I just received my syringes, there is black stuff in there, is this OK?

How long does it take to grow mushrooms in my bag?

How do I know when my mushrooms are ready to pick?

There is a couple big mushrooms, but also some smaller ones, do I need to harvest them all at the same time?

Now that I have picked my mushrooms, how do I dry them?

I have cats or dogs, can I still grow mushrooms?

What strains are good for micro dosing?

This is my first time growing, any recommendations?

What should I do with contaminated or spent substrates?

PRESENTED BY:
Denver Spore Company