To grow mushrooms at home all you need is a grow kit. At Mondo, we have made this process so simple, quick, and easy, that anybody can do it. In the following guide, we will show you how to get started on your first harvest.
Step One – Soak the Grow Kit
When growing your own mushrooms it is important that you keep it sterile. Be sure to disinfect the surface you work on and wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Cleaning properly will ensure that your growth does not get contaminated.
Once you have a clean space to work on, you can take out the grow kit. This contains the spores that will mature into fully grown mushrooms within a few weeks. It also contains all the nutrients they need to survive. We will only be adding water.
Open one corner of the lid to the grow box and gently pour in cold tap water. Do this until the entire container is filled to the top. Carefully place the lid back on.
Let this soak in a cold place, such as a refrigerator, for 9 to 12 hours. A pantry or a garage typically works fine, just be sure to keep it clean. Over the next few hours, the spores in the substrate will come to life again.
Step Two – Prepare the Bag
Once you have waited for the water to soak in long enough, it is time to prepare the bag in which the mushrooms will grow these next few weeks.
Open up a corner of the lid again and drain out the water. The water can be disposed of down the sink or in a bag in the normal trash. Just be sure not to throw out any of the spores or their food! The same kit can grow many batches of mushrooms, so be sure to clean and keep the lid somewhere you remember.
Next, take the provided filter bag and pour in 150 ml of tap water. Carefully place the grow kit inside the bag, without a lid covering it. Spray some water on the inner sides of the bag to guarantee a completely moist environment. Fold the top of the bag to close it and use the clip to make sure it is securely closed.
You should keep the mushrooms out of direct sunlight. Just a bit of indirect daylight is enough for them. The ideal growing temperature is between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius.
Now, just wait for the mushrooms to start appearing. This might take two to four weeks.
Step Three – Let it Breathe
Once the first small mushrooms appear, it is important to let enough air in. This will help your mushrooms grow even bigger. One to three times a day open up the filter bag to let some fresh air in. This will also take the carbon dioxide out.
In just one or two more weeks you will be ready to harvest.
Step Four – Time to Harvest
By now your mushrooms should be fully grown, but how do we know that they are ready?
Once the cap, or head, of the mushroom, starts coming loose from the stem, it’s time. When the caps are almost fully open, they are ready for harvest. With a slight twist, the mushrooms can be easily plucked from the grow kit. Do not cut the mushrooms or use a tool to harvest them.
Now that you have harvested your mushrooms, you can start the process all over again. Clean up, go back to step one, and feed your next generation of mushrooms.
* Please note, work as clean and sterile as possible every time before touching the grow kit! Clean the table and wash your hands thoroughly (ideally elbow-high and with antibacterial soap). Make sure to do so, every time you are working on your mushrooms. They’re quite sensitive and need a clean andsterilized environment to thrive in the best way possible. Make sure to use latex gloves when handling the kit at all times and, if possible, a face mask.
You need to try and avoid altering the atmosphere around them as much as possible which means don’t smoke, use deodorant or any other kind of spray product in the room that they’re in or they may become contaminated and not grow properly.
** Depending on the growing conditions and the strain, you can have several flushes.