The white layer is called mycelium, it is the ‘mushroom roots’. It has grown across and throughout the sawdust and has completely colonized it. It’s this mycelium that gathers up the nutrients and uses them to produce Mushrooms when exposed to the right conditions.

The mushroom mycelium breaks down the cellular structure of the wood on which they are being grown. Most of the gourmet mushrooms we grow are primary decomposers that break down their substrates to grow.

Organisms like these are known as saprophytes.

Saprophytes decompose organic material, such as cellulose and lignin in wood or other plant material, to gain the energy they need for their biological processes. Some of the most common substrates for gourmet mushrooms are sawdust, woodchips, and straw.

Ideally, you should start your grow bag as soon as you receive it. The mycelium is at its peak and ready to flush beautiful mushrooms. That being said, keeping your grow bag in the fridge for a few weeks is fine. Just keep in mind that mycelium is a living organism and its health will decrease over time.

*This doesn’t apply to pink oyster grow bag as the cold conditions will shock and kill this tropical-loving mushroom. Instead simply keep it at room temperature in a dark place.

Light/Fresh Air/Water is all it needs.

You can trigger mushroom growth by exposing the substrate to fresh air, light, and humidity. By cutting the bag and spraying it with water you will recreate the right environmental conditions for your mushrooms. Place your bag in a well-ventilated area with indirect sunlight, your kitchen counter, your bathroom or a shaded window seal are possible options. Enough light to read a book is necessary.

Depending on the strain you choose you will see mushroom pins (young mushrooms) within two weeks. Humidity is most important wherever you position it.

The Oyster mushrooms should be harvested before the edges of the caps flatten out completely or even flip up. Harvest them all at once and store them in a paper bag in the fridge for up to 7 days.

To harvest, simply grab the cluster of mushrooms, twist, and pull them off the block.

If you notice a thin white powder underneath your flush it means that your mushrooms started to drop spores. It is not harmful and that is another indicator that it’s time to harvest.Mushroom quality, shelf life, and flavor are better if you harvest before this happens.

The Chestnut mushrooms is best to Harvest when the edges of the cap are still curled downward. Overly mature mushrooms do not store as long. To harvest chestnut mushrooms, gently twist and pull the entire cluster of mushrooms off the block. Store your harvest in the fridge for up to 10 days in a paper bag.

The Lions Mane is super easy to harvest. Just grab the whole fruiting body and twist it right off. 

The best tip is to go off to the top parts of the lion’s mane fruiting body. This part is the most telling. You are more looking for a soft kitchen sponge texture. If the top is too firm leave it to grow. You want to see a nice and hairy lion’s mane and watch out for the teeth, make sure you have long teeth to get this particular flaky texture.

Overly mature mushrooms will quickly release spores which show as white powdery dust and turn yellow. Mushroom quality, shelf life, and flavor are better if you pick before this happens.

Yes! Your Mushroom grow bag will flush again with the right care.

After you harvest the first flush, leave your bag to rest for 2 days. After that, you’ll be able to start the process over again and grow your second flush. Your second crop will start to grow in around 7-14 days, but can occasionally take up to 21 days.

The first flush is always the biggest as it is grown at its peak with all the nutrients in the bag available. Each successive crop gets smaller as more nutrients and water are extracted from the kit.

If the substrate seems to have dried out or if your bag has gone a couple of weeks without growing you can submerge it in water overnight to hydrate the substrate and trigger another flush. Afterward, keep on misting like previously.

Once the mushroom block has stopped producing mushrooms it can be buried in your vegetable garden. If you are lucky you could get an additional flush. Adding it to your compost is also a great option!