Grow Kit FAQ
Please contact us at bluffcityfungi@outlook.com if you have any questions that are not answered on this page!
Grow kit instructions are at the bottom of the page!
Blue Oyster, Gold Oyster, Pink Oyster, and Lion's Mane Kit Set Up:
My Lion's Mane kit arrived broken, is it still
viable?
Yes! Lion's Mane substrate is more brittle than the other varieties causing it to fracture during transit sometimes. As this is a fully colonized block, the kit is still healthy and viable.
My mushroom kit bag arrived with a hole cut in it, is that okay?
Yes, we usually poke a hole in the mushroom kits prior to shipping for packing purposes. Your mushroom kit is a fully colonized block of healthy mycelium, it is not very susceptible to contamination at the time of arrival.
My Lion's Mane doesn't look colonized, is that okay.
Yes! Lion's Mane mycelium is much lighter than other varieties so the substrate can often still be seen through the mycelium.
Help! I ordered a gold oyster kit, but got lions mane instead.
Lions Mane primordia is often mistaken for Gold Oyster, they both share similar characteristics at the primordial stage. Your gold oyster will start white and blob like, then will begin to differentiate caps and develop color a few days after fruiting.
Of course, mistakes can happen, so if the incorrect kit is received we will replace your kit with the correct one.
Do I need to remove the plastic humidity tent when I mist?
Yes, don't forget to immediately place the plastic back on after misting so your kit will remain humid.
Do I open the bag?
Unless your kit is shiitake, the answer is always no. Opening your kit will drastically dry it out.
My kit arrived and it has mushrooms already growing inside the bag. Is this normal?
Yes, In vitro pinning is common on more aggressive varieties. Simply follow the instructions as normal, the in vitro pins will not affect your growth.
It has been several weeks and my kit has not fruited. What can I do?
Depending on the variety, it can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks for mushrooms to fruit. The guideline listed on the instructions are general times/guidelines, meaning it could take less or more time than what is described.
If your kit did not fruit yet and your waiting period has passed, double check you are fruiting your kit in the proper temperature, humidity, and light conditions.
If you are following all correct parameters, your block may need an extra jolt to produce. Try a short 1-3 hour soak, thoroughly drain, place in your fridge for 24 hours, remove after 24 hours, spray thoroughly, then put back into normal fruiting conditions. This may take a few more weeks to see results.
I have read to remove all the "white stuff" from the top of the bag, do i need to do that?
No! Do not remove any of the mycelium from the bag. Follow the guided directions.
My mushrooms look like they dried out, did i do something wrong?
Humidity is crucial for proper mushroom fruitbody development. If your mushrooms appear dry, cracked, or brittle you may need to increase your misting schedule. Make sure there are no strong light sources (ie. the sun) shining directly on your kit this can exacerbate drying issues.
My kit looks like it is covered in white mold, is this normal?
That's not mold, that's mycelium! Mushroom mycelium is white with fragrances ranging from earthy and sweet, to stronger and musty. Green or black colored molds are usually a sign of trouble.
Remember: your kit is a mini version of a fungus rotting a log in the wild. Most gourmet mushrooms are white rot fungus, so it may look and smell unfamiliar to you.
My kit has brown specks and splotches all over, is this normal?
Yes, your mushrooms eat a diet of sawdust, which is what the block is mostly comprised of. Seeing specks of the sawdust substrate is completely normal.
How many flushes can I expect from my kit?
We guarantee at least one flush of mushrooms from your kit, but depending on the species you choose to grow it is likely you will get a second, third, or more fruitings with proper care.
What does "flush" mean?
Flush is a term mushroom growers use to describe a fruiting block producing mushrooms.
How much yield can I expect from my kit?
Usually anywhere between 1/2lb-1lb. Yield is entirely dependent on your care and proper handling. Follow the guide and make sure your mushrooms stay well misted to encourage more fuitings.
When should I harvest my mushrooms?
Usually, you want to pick the mushrooms before their caps become flat or concave (or for lions mane when you start to see their 'teeth' or 'spines' start to develop).
My mushrooms started to pin then immediately dried out, what can i do?
Usually mushroom pins dry out and abort when there isn't enough humidity around the block. Your mushroom kit still has all the food needed to produce mushrooms. Simply pick off the aborted mushroom pins, wait one week, letting the block dry out, then soak the block for 20 minutes in cold water, drain your kit thoroughly and start the process over.
How do I store my harvested mushrooms?
You'll want to place them in a paper bag in the fridge. Fresh mushrooms can last for about 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
Can I eat mushrooms raw?
We do not recommend it. We always recommend cooking fresh mushrooms for best results.
Refund/Replacement Policy:
We produce high quality, rigorously tested mushroom fruiting blocks. A portion of each and every lot is tested under highly controlled, consistent growing conditions on our commercial mushroom farm prior to selling them. Because of our stringent quality testing procedures, we guarantee our grow kits to be productive at the time of shipping when they leave our facility. Once your kit arrives, it is up to you to provide the proper growing conditions for your kit. For these reasons, we cannot offer returns or refunds on mushroom grow kits. If your kit arrives destroyed/damaged or is stolen/lost we can provide a replacement under these circumstances.
Oyster & Lion’s Mane Mushroom Kit Instructions
Your mushroom kit will arrive ready to fruit, so please follow instructions carefully to ensure success! For additional help, please visit check out our videos here: www.bluffcityfungi.com/pages/grow-kit-faq
Storing Your Kit:
If you’re unable to give your mushroom kit the attention it needs right away, you can store it for 3-4 weeks in your refrigerator (except for pink oyster kits). Remember: Your kit contains a living organism, and it can die if you neglect it too long.
**Do not remove the kit from the filter bag that it comes in.**
Fruiting Your Kit:
**If you have a Pink Oyster kit, proceed directly to step 2. Do not refrigerate the Pink Oyster kit.**
- Place your block in the fridge for at least 24 hours. Remove block after 24 hours and proceed to step 2.
- Set your kit on a dinner plate, tray or in a shallow plastic tray. Place the kit somewhere you will see it often like the kitchen, laundry room or bathroom.
- Make 1 long slit on any side of the mushroom block that touches the bag.
- Keeping the bag closed, fold down the top of the bag and secure it tightly against the block with tape or a rubber band. **If you received your kit in the mail, your bag is already properly folded; just secure with rubber band or tape.**
**please visit https://www.bluffcityfungi.com/pages/grow-kit-faq for a helpful video of this step!**
- A - If you purchased humidity set: Stick the provided skewers in each corner of the block and one in the center. Mist the block thoroughly and place the provided humidity tent over the block. Mist with water inside your humidity tent at least 3-4 times a day (about 20 seconds each time) to keep the block damp. We have a setup video of this on our FAQ page!
B – If you did not purchase humidity set: Take a plastic grocery bag and poke slits all over the bag, 5-10. Mist the block thoroughly and place the bag over the block. This will act as a humidity tent for your mushrooms. Mist with water at least 3-4 times (at least 20 seconds each time) a day to keep the block damp. Make sure you make enough slits in the bag to allow for adequate fresh air exchange.
- Wait for the mushrooms to grow! This usually takes about 2-3 weeks (Lion’s Mane typically takes longer than Oyster varieties).
If you did NOT buy the humidity set: Once you begin to see the fruits forming, you can remove the humidity tent to allow for more fresh air exchange. You will need to increase your misting once you remove the humidity tent to keep the fruits from drying out.
- Once the mushrooms begin “pinning” or “sprouting” from the block, humidity is critical. They are most susceptible to drying out at this stage so make sure to stay on top of your misting schedule.
- Clusters of mushrooms will begin to form from the slit. To harvest, twist and pull the cluster gently from the block.
For Oyster varieties, you will harvest them while the caps are still slightly curled under, before they flip upwards.
For Lion’s Mane, you will harvest once the “teeth” begin to lengthen,
- After the first harvest keep spraying 3-4 times daily and another flush of mushrooms will eventually grow out of the slit in a few weeks!
Humidity: High humidity is essential for growing healthy mushrooms. Make sure you keep the mushroom block misted. Mushrooms will not grow in a dry environment.
Light: Light quality is important and commonly overlooked. The best possible lighting is indirect natural light. You can also use fluorescent or LED lights.
Fresh Air and Temperature: The mushroom mycelium in your bag is alive! It needs to breathe oxygen and exhale CO2 to survive. Cutting slits in your humidity tent helps accomplish this. The ideal temperature is anywhere from 55-75°F.
Parting Notes: Once your mushroom block starts producing, it will be at the peak of its production for the first 2 months. Eventually, though, your block will contaminate. This is normal. You may observe green or black mold, similar to what you would see on moldy cheese or bread. Once this happens, simply place it outside in indirect sunlight and keep it watered. It may continue to produce more mushrooms.
Refund/Replacement Policy:
We produce high quality, rigorously tested mushroom fruiting blocks. A portion of each and every lot is tested under highly controlled, consistent growing conditions on our commercial mushroom farm prior to selling them. Because of our stringent quality testing procedures, we guarantee our grow kits to be productive at the time of shipping when they leave our facility. Once your kit arrives, it is up to you to provide the proper growing conditions for your kit. For these reasons, we cannot offer returns or refunds on mushroom grow kits. If your kit arrives destroyed/damaged or is stolen/lost we can provide a replacement under these circumstances.