Temperatures is another critical factor in the cultivation of fungi as the temperature will controls the speed at which the fungi will grow. During the colonization phase, it is important to maintain a warm and consistence temperature in the growing area to allow the mycelium to growing rapidely across the substrate. If the mycelium can grow rapid, it will claim the substrates before the opportunistic bacteria can claim it.
However, if the temperature drop too low during this phase, the mycelium will either stop growing or become dormant. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the substrate, the requirements for changing the temperature within the grow jar. When the substrate has become a solid block of white mycelium, the grower should change the temperature so that the fungi know that it is time to reproduce.
Mushroom Growing Basics: Temperature, Substrate and Cleanliness
During this phase, it is important to lower the temperature slightly and increase the humidity within an grow jar. If the temperature remain high during reproduction, the mushrooms will not form pin or may grow in a leggy fashion. The different strain of fungi will require different temperature condition and levels of care within the grow jar.
Some strains are more forgiving than others. If you dont have an apropiate specialized growing equipment, it is best to choose one of the easier strains of fungi to cultivate as ensuring that you have a successful harvest of easy strain is better than having a failed attempt with a more difficult strain of fungi. In addition to temperature, the type of substrate that you use to grow the fungi will also impact the success of the cultivation of the fungi.
Some of the most common substrates includes coco coir and vermiculite, as they are easy to prepare and do not attract many contaminant. An alternative substrate include rye berries, which contain more nutrients for the mycelium but also attract more contaminant. Because of this, growing mushrooms on rye berries is more difficult than use coco coir and vermiculite as a substrate.
Many of the beginner in the field of fungi cultivation will start with a conservative substrate and later advance to using nutrient dense substrates once they have mastered the sterile technique required for successful cultivation. Another important factor in the growth of mushrooms is sterility. It does not matter how perfect the temperature is within the grow jar if the fungi is not grown in a sterile environment.
Tool such as a still air box or isopropyl alcohol wipes will help to ensure sterility within the grow jar. One of the most common contaminant within grow rooms is green mold, also known as Trichoderma. If green mold is present in the grow room, it will ruin the project.
Ensuring that the growing tool are sterile and that the pressure cooker reach the appropriate pressure will prevent the introduction of green mold into the grow room. A single block of substrate will produce multiple harvest of mushrooms. These harvests are referred to as flush.
After the first flush of mushrooms is harvested from the substrate, the substrate will have lost some of it moisture. To rehydrate the substrate, a cold water soak can be used. Performing a cold water soak will trigger the substrate to produce additional flushes of mushrooms.
The cold water soak will trick the mycelium into thinking that it is raining, which will make the mycelium begin to produce mushrooms. While each flush will contain fewer mushrooms than the last, the potency of the mushrooms will remain the same. After the substrate has turned a yellow color and the mycelium will no longer produce mushrooms, the substrate is spent.
When spent, the substrate can be composted in a garden to return the byproducts of the mycelium to the earth.