How to Grow Mushrooms with Spores

This is a comprehensive tutorial on how to grow mushrooms from spores. You can readily buy mushroom spores online. They come in a syringe, ready for use. This is a great way to have fresh, hard to find mushrooms. Most exotic mushrooms that are in stores will be dried. Although they will have the same nutritional value, growing your own is a fun way to not only have a medicinal vegetable but also be a scientist as these instructions are very specific and your environment must be sterile and have approximate temperatures.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• mushroom spores in a syringe
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup vermiculite plus extra
• 1 pound perlite
• wide mouth glass jars with lids
• tape
• aluminum foil
• alcohol burner
• large pot with lid
• plastic mushroom box with arm holes
• plastic mushroom box for growing
• paper towels
• rubber gloves
• alcohol
• cotton swabs
• drilll
• large bowl for mixing
• collander

1. Take 1 cup of vermiculite and mix it with 1 cup of water. Incorporate thoroughly.

2. Mix in 1 cup of brown rice until completely blended.

3. Fill your glass jars (these are used for making jam) just below the lip. Do not pack the mixture.

4. Wipe the inside of the lip with a paper towel to prevent contamination.

5. Fill the jar with a layer of vermiculite to the top.

6. drill 4 holes in the jar lids and cover the holes with tape.

7. screw the lids on and wrap the tops with a small square of aluminum foil.

8. In a large pot, put a few lids on the bottom so the jars will not sit directly on the metal, then put a layer of foil, another layer of lids, then the place jars on top of the lids.

9. Fill the pot with water just below the jar line. The jars should not be in the water.

10. Put a lid on the pot and Steam for 90 minutes. Make sure the water remains in the pot.

11. Remove the cool jars from the pot.

12. Make a sterile box:
    Take a large clear plastic box and cut two arm holes.
    
    Put on rubber gloves.
    
    This will be where you inoculate the jars.

13. Shake the syringe well and light an alcohol burning lamp.

14. put the needle in the flame for a few seconds to sterilize.

15. Hold the jar at a slant and put the syringe into a hole in the lid.

16. Squeeze .25ml into the jar towards the glass

17. Take a cotton swab and clean the needle.

18. Inoculate each hole, swabbing with alcohol after each.

19. Flame sterilize your needle again and inoculate the other jars, swabbing after each hole and sterilizing after each jar.

20. replace the foil on the lids.

21. Place the jars on a shelf in a dark closet for about 3 weeks. The temperature should be between 75 and 81 degrees.

22. A fully colonized jar will be completely white. Nw it's time to grow the mushrooms...

23. Take a large plastic bow and drill 10 holes in all 6 sides.

24. Wash perlite in the sink to remove the dust.

25. Fill the box 4-5"; do not pack down.

26. Open the jars and tap the "cakes" out.

27. Wash with cakes in the sink thoroughly and soak in a pot for 24 hours. Weigh the cakes down so they are completely under water.

28. Rinse the cakes and roll them in dry vermiculite, covering completely.

29. Place the cakes in the perlite. Use a small square of aluminum foil under each cake.

30. Let the cakes sit for half an hour, then mist with water. Do this for the next 2 hours, misting every half hour.

31. It will take about 2-3 weeks for the mushrooms to be cut and ready for consumption.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not wait too long to cut your mushrooms or they will become woody.
• Use a thermometer to determine exact temperature.
• A heat pad could be used to warm the jars.