Welcome to the world of home mushroom cultivation, where you can grow your own nutrient-rich king oyster mushrooms with ease. Our comprehensive guide takes you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect substrate to harvesting your bountiful crop. King oyster mushrooms are not only a culinary delight but also offer a plethora of health benefits, including immune-boosting properties and potential anti-inflammatory effects. Join us on this exciting journey and experience the joy of cultivating your own delicious and nutritious fungi right at home.
Natural Habitat
• Ecosystem:
On decaying wood of deciduous trees
• Locations:
Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia
• Seasons:
Summer to Fall
• Climate:
Temperate to subtropical
• Substrate:
Wood
Growing Params
• Difficulty:
Moderate
• Total Time:
25 - 39 Days
• PH Range:
6 - 7.5
Yield Performance
• Units:
% Weight of Substrate
• Poor:
15
• Average:
25
• Good:
35
• Excellent:
45
Culture Instructions
Agar Cultivation
Supplies Needed
- • Agar Powder: Cellular medium for agar plates.
- • Petri Dishes: Containers for pouring agar medium.
- • Agar Jar: Narrow Mouth Jar with Sealing Lid is optimal.
- • Parafilm: For Sealing the agar after innoculation. Grafting Tape is also sufficient.
- • Scissors: Tool for cutting sealing tape to length.
- • Stir Plate: Optional: Thorough mixing with sagenetic stirrir improves results by distributing nutrients evenly
- • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing agar mixture and Petri dishes.
- • Scalpel or Innoculation Loop: Tool for transferring mycelium to agar plates.
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Recipe: MEA
Temperature Range:70 - 75 °F
CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm
Growth Duration:5 - 10 Days
Cultivation Notes: Standard agar conditions
Liquid Culture
Supplies Needed
- • Sterile Jar: Clean container for liquid culture inoculation.
- • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing liquid culture medium.
- • Scalpel or Syringe: Tool for transferring mycelial mass to growth medium.
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Recipe: PDBLC
Temperature Range:70 - 75 °F
CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm
Growth Duration:10 - 15 Days
Cultivation Notes: Standard LC conditionsStir Daily
Agar Cultivation
- Prepare the agar medium by mixing agar powder with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Autoclave the agar medium to sterilize it and let it cool to around 50°C.
- In a sterile environment, pour the agar medium into petri dishes to create a solid surface for the mushroom mycelium to grow on.
- Using a sterile technique, transfer a small piece of mushroom tissue or spores onto the agar medium in each petri dish.
- Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape to prevent contamination and incubate them at the optimal temperature for king-oyster mushroom mycelium growth (around 25-28°C).
- Check the petri dishes regularly for signs of contamination or the growth of healthy mycelium.
- Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar medium, you can use it to inoculate your substrate for fruiting the king-oyster mushrooms.
Liquid Culture Cultivation
- Prepare a sterile work area by cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant and using a flow hood or still air box.
- Gather all necessary materials including a syringe with mushroom spores, liquid culture medium, and sterilized containers.
- Heat the liquid culture medium in a pressure cooker to sterilize it and let it cool to room temperature.
- Inject the mushroom spores into the cooled liquid culture medium using the syringe in a sterile environment.
- Seal the containers with the liquid culture medium and spores with a breathable lid or filter to allow for gas exchange.
- Incubate the containers in a dark, warm area (around 75-80°F) for 1-2 weeks until the mycelium has fully colonized the liquid culture.
- Use the liquid culture to inoculate your substrate for growing king oyster mushrooms, following the specific instructions for the substrate phase.
Spawn Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Mason Jars or Bags: Containers for sterilizing and inoculating grains.
- • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
- • Grains: Substrate material for spawn inoculation. (e.g. Rye, Millet)
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing grain substrate.
- • Inoculation Tool : Tool for transferring colonized spawn to substrate. (e.g. Scalpel, Syringe)
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Spawn Material: Whole Oats
Temperature Range:70 - 75 °F
Moisture Content:49 - 55 %
Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour
CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm
Growth Duration:7 - 12 Days
Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation
- Prepare your work area by cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces and tools to prevent contamination.
- Gather your materials including sterilized grain spawn bags, a pressure cooker, a glove box or flow hood, and your mushroom culture.
- Fill the pressure cooker with water and bring it to a boil to create steam for sterilizing the grain spawn bags.
- Once the pressure cooker is ready, place the grain spawn bags inside and sterilize them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Allow the grain spawn bags to cool down before proceeding to the inoculation step.
- Set up your glove box or flow hood in a clean area to prevent contamination during inoculation.
- Open the grain spawn bags inside the glove box or flow hood and inoculate them with your mushroom culture using a sterile syringe or scalpel.
- Seal the grain spawn bags after inoculation and mix the spawn and substrate thoroughly to distribute the culture evenly.
- Label the bags with the date of inoculation and the type of mushroom culture used.
- Place the inoculated grain spawn bags in a warm, dark area to allow the mycelium to colonize the substrate.
- Check the bags regularly for signs of contamination or growth, and adjust the temperature and humidity as needed.
- Once the grain spawn is fully colonized, it is ready to be used for inoculating your fruiting substrate to grow king oyster mushrooms.
Substrate Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Substrate Mix: Substrate material for mushroom growth. (e.g., Sawdust, Wood Chips, Fast Fruiting Mix, Brown Rice)
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
- • Substrate Container: Polypropylene Bags or Plastic Containers for sterilizing and inoculating substrate.
- • Mycelial Mass: Typically Colonized Grain Jars or Liquid Culture for inoculation.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Pressure Cooker or Steam Sterilizer: Equipment for sterilizing substrate.
Growing Params
Substrate: Hardwood Sawdust
Sub to Spawn Ratio: 3:1
Sub to LC Ratio: 4ml/qt
Temperature Range:70 - 75 °F
Humidity Range:90 - 95 RH
Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour
CO2 Range:5000 - 20000 ppm
Growth Duration:12 - 16 Days
Substrate Prep and Innoculation
- Prepare the substrate by mixing hardwood sawdust with wheat bran in a ratio of 5:1.
- Moisten the substrate mixture until it reaches a field capacity moisture level.
- Fill autoclavable bags with the substrate mixture, leaving some room at the top for expansion.
- Sterilize the substrate bags in an autoclave at 121°C for 2-3 hours to kill any contaminants.
- Allow the substrate bags to cool down to room temperature before inoculation.
- Prepare the spawn by breaking up a fully colonized king-oyster mushroom culture into small pieces.
- Inoculate the cooled substrate bags by evenly distributing the spawn pieces throughout the substrate.
- Seal the inoculated bags with a filter patch or micropore tape to allow for gas exchange.
- Incubate the inoculated bags in a dark, warm (around 24-27°C) environment for 2-3 weeks until fully colonized.
- Monitor the bags for any signs of contamination and discard any contaminated bags to prevent spread.
- Once fully colonized, introduce the bags to a fruiting environment with high humidity and proper air circulation to encourage mushroom formation.
Primordia Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for pinning and fruiting.
- • Control Automation: Optional. Controller and sensors for maintaining temperature, humidity, lighting ext.
- • Casing Layer: Optional. Species Dependant. Humidification material for maintaining humidity in the fruiting chamber.
- • Hygrometer: Instrument for measuring humidity levels.
- • Humidifier: Optional. Could be spray bottle or humidifer. Tool for misting and humidifying the fruiting chamber.
Growing Params
Casing Layer: None
Temperature Range:50 - 60 °F
Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH
Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm
Light Intensity:600 - 1000 Lux
Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day
Fresh Air Exchange:4 - 8 / Hour
CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm
Growth Duration:4 - 5 Days
Cultivation Notes: Initial pinning phase
Primordia Initiation
- Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper humidity and temperature control.
- Inoculate the substrate with king-oyster mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution.
- Cover the inoculated substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite.
- Maintain high humidity levels (around 90%) and optimal temperature (around 75-80°F) to encourage primordia formation.
- Monitor the substrate for signs of primordia initiation, which typically appear as small pin-like structures.
- Continue to provide proper humidity and temperature conditions until primordia develop into mature mushrooms.
- Harvest the king-oyster mushrooms once they reach the desired size, typically before the caps fully expand.
Fruiting Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for fruiting.
- • Temperature Control System: Equipment for maintaining optimal fruiting temperatures.
- • Fresh Air Exchange System: System to provide adequate fresh air exchange in the fruiting chamber.
- • Light Source: Light source to provide required illumination for fruiting. (e.g., LED Grow Light)
- • Harvesting Tools: Tools for harvesting mushrooms without damaging the mycelium. (e.g., Knife, Scissors)
Growing Params
Temperature Range:60 - 70 °F
Humidity Range:85 - 90 RH
Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm
Light Intensity:500 - 1000 lux
Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day
Fresh Air Exchange:4 - 8 / Hour
CO2 Range:0 - 2000 ppm
Growth Duration:4 - 8 Days
Flushes:14 - 18
Flushing Schedule:1 - 2 Days
Cultivation Notes: Standard fruiting conditions
Fruiting Preparation and Conditions
- Prepare a fruiting chamber by cleaning and sanitizing it thoroughly to prevent contamination.
- Fill the bottom of the chamber with a layer of damp perlite or small stones to create a humid environment.
- Place a tray or container filled with pasteurized substrate (such as straw or sawdust) in the chamber.
- Cover the substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite, to help retain moisture.
- Mist the casing layer with water to ensure it is evenly moist but not waterlogged.
- Maintain a relative humidity of around 90% in the fruiting chamber by misting regularly and using a humidifier if necessary.
- Provide indirect light to the mushrooms by using a grow light or placing the chamber in a well-lit room, but avoid direct sunlight.
- Maintain a temperature of around 75-80°F (24-27°C) in the fruiting chamber to promote fruiting.
- Monitor the humidity, temperature, and growth of the mushrooms daily, making adjustments as needed to ensure optimal conditions.
- Harvest the king oyster mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 1-2 weeks of initiating the fruiting phase.