How to Grow Mold Spores

Grow mold spores to learn about how fungi develop

Growing mold spores can be an excellent learning activity for people of any age. When you create the right environment, mold spores that exist in the air around us will grow and develop into a fungus that is readily apparent on some materials. With the combination of moisture and nutrients to feed the mold spores, fungi will quickly appear within only a few days to illustrate how mold spores grow.

Things You'll Need

• Food (old fruit, vegetables, cheese or bread)
• Paring knife
• Cutting board
• 1-quart glass jar (with tight-fitting lid)

Instructions

1. Prepare the food you will place into the jar. Select five different kinds of food and cut them into pieces approximately 1 inch in diameter.

2. Moisten each piece of food lightly with water and place it into the jar. Arrange the food in the jar with the jar lying on its side and the foods spread out in a single layer in the jar.

3. Place the lid on the jar and tighten the lid as tightly as possible.

4. Put the jar away on its side in a spot where no one will disturb it.

5. Check the progress of the mold spores every day. After approximately three days, you should begin to see fuzzy mold spores growing on the sides of the moist food in the jar. The mold will continue to grow and develop for one to two weeks, after which time the production of mold spores will taper off.

6. Dispose of the entire jar without opening it when you finish observing the mold spores. Because mold spores are airborne, if you open the jar, you risk exposing yourself and anyone nearby to toxic mold spores.

References

• Exploratorium: Mold Spores