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How To Grow Pink Oyster at Home

Welcome to the world of pink oyster mushrooms, where vibrant hues meet unparalleled health benefits. Dive into our beginner's guide and learn how to cultivate these nutrient-rich fungi in the comfort of your own home. From boosting your immune system to providing essential vitamins and minerals, pink oyster mushrooms are a delicious way to enhance your well-being. Join us on this exciting journey and discover the joys of growing your own superfood!

Pink Oyster

Natural Habitat

Ecosystem:

Deciduous trees, deadwood, and agricultural waste

Locations:

Asia, Africa, Central America

Seasons:

Year-round (depending on climate)

Climate:

Tropical to subtropical

Substrate:

Agricultural waste, straw, wood chips

Growing Params

Difficulty:

Moderate

Total Time:

19 - 29 Days

PH Range:

6 - 7.5

Yield Performance

Units:

% Weight of Substrate

Poor:

10

Average:

20

Good:

30

Excellent:

40

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:75 - 85 °F

CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:2 - 4 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain proper humidity and airflow for agar growth

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: KDLC

Temperature Range:75 - 85 °F

CO2 Range:0 - 5000 ppm

Growth Duration:7 - 14 Days

Cultivation Notes: Provide optimal conditions for liquid culture growthStir Daily

Agar Cultivation

  1. Prepare the agar medium by mixing agar powder with water in a flask or beaker.
  2. Autoclave the agar medium to sterilize it and let it cool to around 50°C.
  3. Pour the agar medium into petri dishes, leaving some space at the top for inoculation.
  4. Inoculate the agar plates with a small piece of pink-oyster mushroom tissue or spores using a sterile technique.
  5. Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape and incubate them at the appropriate temperature for pink-oyster mushrooms (around 25-30°C).
  6. Check the plates regularly for contamination and growth of mycelium.
  7. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar plates, you can use them to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.

Liquid Culture Cultivation

  1. Prepare a sterile work area by cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant and using a flow hood or still air box.
  2. Gather all necessary materials including a liquid culture syringe, sterilized liquid culture medium, and a sterile syringe filter.
  3. Inject the liquid culture syringe into the sterilized liquid culture medium, making sure to avoid any contamination.
  4. Seal the liquid culture medium with the sterile syringe filter to allow for gas exchange while preventing contamination.
  5. Incubate the liquid culture at the appropriate temperature and in a dark environment to allow the mycelium to grow and colonize the medium.
  6. Monitor the liquid culture for signs of contamination or growth, and adjust as needed to ensure successful colonization.
  7. Once the liquid culture is fully colonized, it is ready to be used to inoculate substrate for fruiting the pink oyster mushrooms.

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:75 - 85 °F

Moisture Content:49 - 55 %

Fresh Air Exchange:5 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:4 - 7 Days

Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation

  1. Prepare your work area by cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces and tools to prevent contamination.
  2. Gather your materials, including grain spawn (such as rye or millet), a pressure cooker, mason jars with lids, and a spore syringe or liquid culture.
  3. Fill each mason jar with the grain spawn, leaving some space at the top for shaking and colonization.
  4. Add water to the pressure cooker and place the jars inside. Pressure cook the jars at 15 PSI for 90 minutes to sterilize the grain spawn.
  5. Allow the jars to cool completely before inoculating them with the spore syringe or liquid culture. Use a glove box or flow hood to minimize contamination.
  6. Inject a small amount of spore solution into each jar, making sure to distribute it evenly throughout the grain spawn.
  7. Seal the jars with breathable lids, such as coffee filters or synthetic filter discs, to allow for gas exchange during colonization.
  8. Incubate the inoculated jars in a dark, warm (75-80°F) area for 2-3 weeks, shaking them periodically to distribute the mycelium.
  9. Once the grain spawn is fully colonized with mycelium, it is ready to be used to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.

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:75 - 85 °F

Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH

Fresh Air Exchange:5 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:7 - 10 Days

Substrate Prep and Innoculation

  1. Prepare the substrate by mixing together pasteurized straw, sawdust, and gypsum in a large container.
  2. Moisten the substrate mixture with water until it reaches the proper moisture content, similar to a wrung-out sponge.
  3. Fill grow bags or containers with the substrate mixture, leaving some room at the top for the mushrooms to grow.
  4. Inoculate the substrate by adding pink-oyster mushroom spawn to the bags or containers. Distribute the spawn evenly throughout the substrate.
  5. Seal the bags or containers with a breathable filter patch or lid to allow for gas exchange.
  6. Incubate the inoculated substrate at the optimal temperature and humidity for pink-oyster mushrooms to colonize the substrate.
  7. Check the bags or containers regularly for signs of colonization, such as white mycelium growth spreading throughout the substrate.
  8. Once the substrate is fully colonized, introduce fresh air and lower the temperature to initiate fruiting of the pink-oyster mushrooms.
  9. Maintain proper humidity levels and air circulation to support the growth and development of the mushrooms.
  10. Harvest the pink-oyster mushrooms when they reach the desired size and appearance, typically within a few weeks of initiating fruiting.

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:65 - 75 °F

Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:750 - 1500 Lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:5 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:2 - 4 Days

Cultivation Notes: Initiate pinning by adjusting temperature, humidity, and light

Primordia Initiation

  1. Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper humidity and temperature control.
  2. Inoculate your substrate with pink oyster mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution.
  3. Cover the substrate with a breathable material like a damp paper towel or plastic wrap to maintain moisture levels.
  4. Place the inoculated substrate in a dark and warm environment (around 75-85°F) to encourage primordia formation.
  5. Monitor the substrate daily for signs of primordia initiation, such as small pinheads forming on the surface.
  6. Once primordia have formed, adjust the growing conditions to promote healthy mushroom development, including adequate air circulation and light exposure.
  7. Continue to monitor and care for the mushrooms as they grow, harvesting them at the optimal size for consumption.

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:70 - 85 °F

Humidity Range:85 - 90 RH

Light Wave Length:395 - 480 nm

Light Intensity:750 - 1500 lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:4 - 6 / Hour

CO2 Range:500 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:3 - 5 Days

Flushes:1 - 2

Flushing Schedule:7 - 10 Days

Cultivation Notes: Provide optimal conditions for fruiting stage

Fruiting Preparation and Conditions

  1. Prepare a fruiting chamber by cleaning and sanitizing it thoroughly to prevent contamination.
  2. Fill the bottom of the fruiting chamber with a layer of damp perlite or a similar humidifying material to maintain high humidity levels.
  3. Place the colonized substrate blocks or bags containing pink-oyster mushroom mycelium into the fruiting chamber.
  4. Maintain a temperature of around 75-80°F (24-27°C) and high humidity levels of 90-95% for optimal fruiting conditions.
  5. Provide indirect light or low-intensity fluorescent lighting for 12 hours a day to stimulate fruiting.
  6. Monitor the humidity levels regularly and mist the inside of the fruiting chamber with water as needed to maintain high humidity.
  7. Check for signs of contamination or mold growth and remove any affected areas immediately to prevent spreading.
  8. Harvest the pink-oyster mushrooms when they reach the desired size by cutting them at the base of the stem with a clean knife.
  9. Continue to harvest mushrooms as they mature, typically every few days, until the substrate is exhausted or no longer producing fruit bodies.