Assumed audience
- Reading level: general adult.
- Background: no lab experience required.
- Goal: grow a small batch safely.
What you need
- Oyster mushroom spawn (sawdust or grain spawn).
- Straw or hardwood sawdust.
- A clean bucket or bag with air holes.
- Spray bottle.
Steps
- Pasteurize straw in hot water (160-170 F) for 1 hour.
- Cool and drain the straw.
- Mix straw with spawn in a clean container.
- Keep at room temperature until fully colonized (white mycelium).
- Move to a cool, humid space with fresh air and light.
Signs of success
- White, healthy mycelium with no green or black patches.
- Small pins forming on the surface.
Common problems
- Green mold: contamination. Discard and start again.
- Dry substrate: mist more often.