Oyster Mushroom Spores
Spore Printers has a wide variety of Oyster Mushroom spores for sale. Over the last few years home mushroom cultivation has seen an increase of 37%. We’re making it easier and more affordable to source delicious exotic mushrooms for cooking. In this article we will discuss growing different strains of Oyster Mushrooms at home.
Where do Oyster Mushrooms grow?
After obtaining your Oyster mushroom spores, the first step in successfully cultivating mushrooms is knowing more about their natural habitat. Knowing about the mushroom’s natural growing environment will help you choose a substrate, set growing temperatures and adjust humidity levels. All of these factors are very important for successful cultivation from Oyster mushroom spores or cultures.
Pleurotus species, or Oyster mushrooms, are typically found growing on decaying wood. Most species live on hardwood but some can be found growing on conifer trees. Mushrooms that rely on wood for a food source are called xylophagous fungi and are usually white in coloration. Oyster mushrooms are also nematophagous, meaning they trap nematodes for food. Yes, they’re carnivorous!
Oyster mushrooms grow in a variety of climates. Some species will be found in cooler, temperate climates while others can grow in warmer, tropical climates. Dialing in the right temperature for your Oyster mushrooms will lead to bigger yields.
Let’s dive a little deeper into Spore Printer’s Oyster mushroom strains and their optimal cultivation conditions.
King Oyster Mushrooms
King Oyster mushrooms (P. eryngii), also known as King Trumpet mushrooms are an interesting species. While most mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus grow on hardwood, Pleurotus Eryngii is also a parasite of herbaceous plants. Although it can feed on plant’s root systems, you can still cultivate King Oyster mushrooms on wood based substrate such as sawdust. In fact, this species provides better yields when grown on supplemented wood substrates.
King Oyster mushrooms can grow in the temperature range of 45 to 70 degrees fahrenheit and prefer cooler, humid environments. Humidity should be kept high at around 80%. During spawn run stages keep temperatures around 10 degrees warmer (50-77 degrees) for optimal growth.
King Oyster mushrooms love CO2 and will grow larger yields with the right amount. A casing layer is optional and can help with CO2 levels. However, adding a casing layer could introduce contaminants. Only attempt a casing layer if you are comfortable with basic lab skills.
Blue Oyster Mushrooms
Blue Oyster mushrooms are cultivated under the same conditions as King Oyster mushrooms. This species has a beautiful deep blue coloration on pinning. Their color turns pale blue to grey when maturing. Ultimate coloration is determined by the time of harvest.
We also recommend growing this on supplemented sawdust substrates for maximum yields. Blue Oyster mushrooms require CO2 much like the King Oyster for optimal growth. While this is a hardy strain and easy to grow, achieving maximum yields will be dependent upon your air exchange system.
Golden Oyster Mushrooms
Golden Oyster mushrooms colonize quickly. As a result, they are one of the most commercially grown mushroom strains. Full colonization can happen in less than two weeks. Store at 75 degrees fahrenheit for optimal colonization times.
Primordia in this species also like high CO2 levels and perform better in higher humidity. Humidity levels should be kept at 85% to encourage primordia. Maturing mycelium produce liquid metabolites that may appear to be contamination. If you see a yellow liquid byproduct, don’t be alarmed.
Upon maturity, caps will start to turn upwards before releasing the Golden Oyster mushroom spores. This is a good sign it’s time to harvest.
