How to Use All in One Mushroom Grow Bag
It is highly recommended that these steps be done under a flowhood or a still air box to minimize the risk of contamination during the inoculation process. In the absence of the former options, any thoroughly cleaned space can be utilized, though the risk of contamination increases.
A flowhood is a specialized piece of equipment that provides a sterile working environment by using HEPA filters to circulate and purify air. A still air box, on the other hand, is a DIY alternative that creates a small enclosed space using clear plastic or glass and a lid, and is disinfected with alcohol or bleach.
The use of either a flowhood or a still air box helps prevent airborne contaminants from settling on the grain bags or inoculation tools during the inoculation process. This reduces the likelihood of contamination and increases the chances of a successful mushroom harvest.
When working under a flowhood or a still air box, make sure to follow all recommended protocols for disinfecting the area and equipment.
Materials Needed
- Olympus Myco All in One Mushroom Grow Bag
- Spore syringe or liquid culture
- Spray bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Scissors
- Rubber bands
- Latex or nitrile gloves
- Clean paper towels
- Alcohol burner (optional)
- Distilled or reverse osmosis water (optional)
Instructions for All-in-One Mushroom Grow Bag:
Step 1: Ensure a Sterile Environment
- Turn off any fans, A/Cs, or heaters, and shut all windows and doors to minimize airflow disturbances.
- Choose a location with little air movement and a surface you can sanitize with isopropyl alcohol
- Wear gloves and a mask to maintain a clean working environment.
- Put on gloves then sanitize with isopropyl alcohol
- Clean your workstation and the grow bag using a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or spray. Make sure not to get any isopropyl alcohol on the air filter patch..
- Sanitize all materials with isopropyl alcohol before use.
Step 2: Inoculation
- Attach a sterile needle to your syringe and flame sterilize it then allow it to cool.
- Heat the the needle until the tip of the needle glows red
- Wipe the injection port with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Carefully insert the syringe needle into the injection port and inject 2.5-5 ccs of liquid culture or spores.
- Note: If the culture in the syringe does not look uniform and spread throughout the syringe, shake the syringe until all the mycelium is evenly dispersed.
- Store the bag in a semi-dark room out of direct sunlight at 70-75°F (21-24°C) until it reaches about 80% colonization.
- Generally takes around 4 weeks but time will vary depending on the viability of the culture or species.
- Please note that colonization time can vary significantly based on the genetics of the mushroom strain you are using. Different strains have different growth rates, so your results may vary.
Step 3: Shake the Bag
- When the grain portion is approximately 80% colonized, gently break up any chunks and shake the bag to distribute the mycelium evenly.
- Return the bag to storage under the same conditions (semi-dark room out of direct sunlight at 70-75°F) for another week or two to complete colonization.
Step 4: Fruiting
Once the bag has fully colonized (bag is completely covered in white mycelium):
- Wipe down your workstation, gloves, scissors, and bag with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Make sure not to get any isopropyl alcohol on the filter patch when wiping down the bag.
- Position the rubber band(s) around the colonized block, about 1" below the surface of the substrate. Remove air pockets above the band for a snug fit. This restricts oxygen to the base to discourage pins from growing on the sides. Then, make an incision on the bag 1-2 inches higher than the substrate, matching the filter patch's width.
- Allow you grow bag to sit until pins have formed on the surface of the block.
- Generally takes about a week
- After you begin seeing pins form, extend the incision across the entire front of the bag to allow for more fresh air exchange.
- As the mushrooms continue to develop and grow larger, extend the incision on the bag to the sides of the bag to create a hood.
Step 5: Harvest the Mushrooms
- Harvest when the caps have formed, just before the veil tears away.
- During this step, keep a very close eye because mushrooms grow at a remarkably rapid pace, often surpassing their prime harvesting time within a single day.
- Handle the bag gently during harvesting to prevent spores from dropping.
- Remove all mushrooms by twisting and pulling gently at the base of the stems onto a clean surface.
- Rehydrate the growing medium for the next flush with distilled or reverse osmosis water, slowly applying 100 mL (for 5 lbs bag) or 80 mL (for 3 lbs bag) to prevent pooling.
Step 6: Continue the Next Flush and Harvest
- Increase humidity in the growing environment by misting the sides and inside the bag's hood intermittently over a few hours. This allows sufficient time for the additional moisture to be absorbed, preventing accumulation at the base.
- Seal the bag by gently folding the hood downward around the bag's base. This action will effectively retain the necessary CO2 and humidity for a successful second flush.
- Repeat steps 4-6
Enjoy the bountiful harvest of homegrown gourmet mushrooms from your Olympus Myco All-in-One Mushroom Grow Bag!