Step 1:
Do your happy dance and get ready to witness something truly amazing!
Inside your kit there is a fully colonized substrate block full of mushroom mycelium and a mushroom mister bottle. Start by opening the top of your kit and remove the mushroom mister bottle. Ensure that you have CLOSED the top of your box and fill the mushroom mister with tap water. DO NOT REMOVE THE MUSHROOM GROW BAG FROM THE BOX.
Step 2:
On the front of the kit, press around the perforated circle mushroom logo to remove and expose the plastic grow kit bag. This is where your mushrooms will grow out of. Using a sharp box cutter, cut an “X” in the exposed plastic from edge to edge of the cardboard box opening. Don’t worry about cutting into the block of substrate and Do NOT peel open the "X".
Step 3:
Place your grow kit on a countertop in your home with indirect light, fresh air movement and some humidity. We recommend putting it near your kitchen sink. Do not put in your closet or bedroom. Most home temperatures range 65-75 degrees and is ideal for them to grow. Spray the cut "X" area with several pumps 2-3 times daily using the provided mushroom mister. It can take 5-10 days until you start to see the mushrooms forming, keep misting them until they are ready to harvest. Seriously, don’t forget to mist them 2-3 times daily, they need to stay hydrated! Be patient, when the mushrooms are ready to grow, they will push open the cut "X" and start to emerge. PINK and ITALIAN kits typically grow fast and can take 5-10 days to start, BLUE kits can take 8-12 days to start, and LION'S MANE can take the longest to start 12-14 days. These are estimated days and based on many variables within your home environment.
Step 4:
Once you see the mushrooms growing and caps starting to form remember to keep spraying them. (Mushrooms like to be moist) Pick within 5-7 days or when you start to see the caps flatten out or flare upwards. Grab the base of the entire cluster with two hands, rock back and forth to Harvest. This block should produce about a pound or more on the first flush. Cut away any of the substrate that has stuck to the bottom of the cluster before consuming. Lion's Mane in particular will start to elongate its teeth and you want to pick before they start getting long. It may start to yellow slightly when its ready to harvest.
Do not rinse the mushrooms in water. They are ready to chop, cook and eat. Check out our Instagram for cooking ideas and website for recipes. Enjoy!
Bonus: Try for a second flush! Remove any loose bits from the substrate block that may have been left from the first harvest. Keep spraying the same opening for another 5-10 days and repeat the growing process over again. Typically, the yields will be half of what your first flush was. Good Luck!
If you are done mushroom farming, break up your finished substrate block into mulch for your garden and or flower beds.
Your garden and flowers will thank you later.
