Creating Conditions for Fruiting

• High humidity. Most species like 80 to 95% humidity.
• Ideal temperature for fruiting — varies with species and strain.
  • Oyster and shiitake have cold and warm weather strain
  • See Stamets, The Mushroom Cultivator, for growth parameters of various mushroom species
• Good air exchange — ventilation or fan, low CO₂ levels
• Enough light. Indirect sunlight for most species. The button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus an exception — prefers darkness

Some Ways to Create the Conditions for Fruiting

• Build a "Grow Room" or house

$100 Basement grow room made from 2x2s, plastic sheeting, humidifier, fan. © Photo by Léger Michel

Banana leaf grow house in Florida. Banana leaves are also a substrate for Oyster mushrooms. © Photo: Jeremy Davis

• Portable Greenhouse

© Photo by Ron Spinosa

• Terrarium: Sterlite bin with holes and layer of moist Perlite. There are also holes in the bottom of the bin. The whole terrarium would be elevated off the ground while fruiting the mushrooms on the substrate of choice.

© Photo courtesy Rico_U www.shroomery.org

• Humidity tent: clear plastic "umbrella" with holes for air flow; chopsticks for support. Mist twice daily.

© Photos by Ron Spinosa

• Fans, humidifiers, misters, heating or air conditioning are often needed for larger grow rooms or grow houses.