©Cultivation Substrates

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus and other Pleurotus species)

Very aggressive. Will grow on almost any ligno-cellulosic material. Straw, corn cobs, sawdust, banana leaves, cotton seed hulls, newspaper, cardboard and even toilet paper rolls.

Oyster Mushroom on shredded newspaper/cardboard © Photo by Ron Spinosa	Oyster Mushroom on shredded newspaper and brown paper bags (in cardboard box) © Photo by Ron Spinosa
Oyster Mushroom on toilet paper roll © Photo by Ron Spinosa	Nameko Mushroom on toilet paper roll © Photo by Ron Spinosa

Low-Tech Non-sterile Cultivation of Oyster Mushrooms

Oysters on kitty litter © Photo by Milton Tam

Oysters on kitty litter © Photo by Milton Tam

There is an extremely easy and simple way to grow Oyster Mushrooms that requires no heating of substrate or chemicals.  Grow Oyster Mushrooms on kitty litter!  The technique was developed by Milton Tam of the Puget Sound Mycological Society and member of the NAMA Cultivation Committee.
 
The kitty litter used as substrate is Yesterday's News brand, which consists of pelleted newspaper. Newsprint uses soy based inks.  The other ingredients are water and guinea pig chow.
 
This technique can be done as a hands on activity in the classroom.  The kids will love it!  It can be an excellent educational tool for teaching mushroom biology.
 
Here is a downloadable pdf file that illustrates Growing Oyster Mushrooms on kitty litter.
 

Shiitake, King Oyster, Lions Mane, Pioppinos

Hardwood sawdust, wood fuel pellets, oak logs

Experiment with Interesting Substrates!

Wood fuel pellets © Photo by Ron Spinosa

Aspen animal bedding — good for Nameko mushrooms © Photo by Ron Spinosa

Oyster mushrooms on wood fuel pellets

Pholiota nameko on aspen animal bedding © Photos by Ron Spinosa

Newspaper pellets kitty litter

Corn cob based animal bedding © Photos by Ron Spinosa