View Full Version : Growing Pink Oyster mushrooms in a pickle jar! : O
The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2009, 07:15 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/149069-7.gif
Hello Banana Buddies:
Recently, someone sent me pink oyster mushroom mycellium, and told me I could grow the mushrooms in a pickle jar, using nothing but coffee grounds and filters!!!
: O
Here are shots of my pink oyster mushroom culture, and how I am beginning the whole process...
First I made a pot of coffee and let the grounds sit for a couple hours while I sterilized the wide-mouth jar you see below, in boiling water - the lid too. I sterilized a pin in a flame, so I could push the pellet of agar and living fungus out of the plastic shipping bubble and into the jar - onto the coffee and filter. Then I closed the jar lid loosely and placed it in my dark cupboard, because it doesn't need light until it's time to fruit.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/1154-8.gif
As you can see in the 2nd pic below, the white fuzz is beginning to grow. This is what I was told would happen, and that I must wait until the fungus spreads over the entire layer of coffee and filter, before adding another fresh layer. You keep adding layers of fresh coffee grounds and filters, until you reach the top of the jar and the entire container is fully colonized with the culture.
Then you take off the lid, and place a flimsy baggy like the kind in the produce section, which keeps the humidity up and allows gas exchange. I am told I will be in mushrooms a week from this point!!!
: O
I will continue to show pics as this process continues, but I am very nervous and have never done anything like this before. The person who sent me the fungus is helping me though, so I feel somewhat confident.
We'll see...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0922.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI0924.jpg
In the end, here is how they'll look! This is the beautiful crop of the person who sent me the culture...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/awesome.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2-5.gif
: )
I love oyster mushrooms, but I have never tasted the pink ones. Can you continue the process with fresh mushroom pieces for the next batch?
Ohio'sBest
08-14-2009, 07:47 PM
Rice cakes are fun.
The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2009, 08:30 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2986-6.gif
I was of the impression that the mushrooms will keep producing over a period of time, but I am not sure if you can grow them from the mushroom pieces.
These are very good questions and I will ask the guy who sent me the culture, because he is an expert. He even said that once I get my feet wet he'll send me other types as well!
I would love to hear an explanation of those rice cakes. I am new to all of this mushroom growing and haven't the foggiest idea of what I am even looking at in your pics, Ohio's Best...
A short time ago, I had purchased these home portabello mushroom grow kits for my mom and I. They were a complete failure - not to mention a stinking to high heaven fungus gnat disaster!
: O
I was so disappointed, and they refunded my money back because apparently all their customers had failed as well. Their instructions were ridiculous and unclear. I just gave up on growing mushrooms after that horrible experience and thought it couldn't be done...
until this kind mushroom farmer sent me the mycelium and told me how easy it is. I am so excited to see how it will turn out. He seems to think I will have mushrooms in no time.
: )
I will be asking him questions as I do this, and I will let you guys know what he says. Thanks for the support everyone. Yeah, I agree Bob, it is pretty cool.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/thumbnailCACLENSO-2.jpg
Ohio'sBest
08-14-2009, 09:18 PM
You can take a sample from a full grown cap. Don't cut it, rip it apart with with your hands under a flow hood or a glove box. I sterilize with iodine instead of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide kills and cleans too good..........LOL.
You are better off making a spore print from a cap that has just broken its vale.
To really do mushrooms right, you need a flow hood. You can use a sterile box with rubber gloves, but I like the manuverability of a flow hood.
I get about 4-5 flushes from cakes and pans.
Let's grow mushrooms is an excellent video. If you have an addy you can PM me, I'll send a copy of the video.
The Godfather of mushrooms though is Paul Stamets.
The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2009, 09:48 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/garden04-2.gif
No offense Ohio's Best, but your 2nd last post went completely over my head and I really didn't get most of what you were saying!
: O
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/avatar_3517.jpg
Furthermore, I am so nervous about this whole process that to hear tons of different ways of growing mushrooms will only confuse and possibly discourage me.
I hope you don't think I am rude to say that I would rather just take my instructions from the person who sent me the culture and who grows this type all the time. I do appreciate your post though.
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/thankyou453-1.gif
I am feeling like I might actually be able to pull this off, and the instructions are very clear and comprehensible to me.
I just hope mine turn out as nice as Jeff's. We'll see...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/flower_wink-1.gif
Ohio'sBest
08-14-2009, 10:20 PM
None taken...........
Paul Stamets
Paul Stamets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stamets)
The video is called 'Let's Grow Mushrooms'
The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2009, 10:28 PM
I think I would like to see that video. Can it be posted here in this thread for all of us to see?...
: )
Ohio'sBest
08-14-2009, 11:03 PM
I don't know if that would infringed on copyright laws.
The Hollyberry Lady
08-14-2009, 11:04 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/mushrooms-5.jpg
I doubt it's anything to be too concerned about - people post videos on this site all the time.
: )
Ohio'sBest
08-14-2009, 11:26 PM
Is there a host site I can download to?
The Hollyberry Lady
08-15-2009, 12:47 AM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/mushrooms-6.jpg
Um...
I have no idea! Sorry. I just know that people download videos on this forum all the time.
: )
Hope to see your video soon...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/mushroom4.jpg
I just spoke with Jeff via email, after asking him a few questions. Here's was my email to him...
Hi again, Jeff:
Hope I am not bothering you but I have some questions...
After these mushrooms produce the first crop, then what? Will they keep producing? How long does the mycelium last, or how do I keep it going? I hope these questions don't seem ridiculous to you, but I really am a dummy when it comes to mushroom growing - with no experience.
I don't know if you saw my pics in either of the two threads I posted them in, but the white fuzz is beginning to grow today!
: O
Here are the pics in case you didn't see them. Thanks for answering my questions...
Sherry
: )
Here was Jeff's response...
You might keep the culture going by breaking a bit off before they fruit and starting another culture. This will work for a while, but everything gets old.
Eventually a new culture might be started from spores. These drop out of the underside of the mushrooms when the caps flatten out. Spores are the purpose of the mushroom. A mushroom will release about half it's weight in spores in it's lifetime. Putting a bit of coffee under a sporulating cap would be an easy way to start a fresh young culture.
Your original jar may fruit as many as four times, a week or two apart. The one of mine you have a picture of is fruiting again for me.
Glad you're having so much fun.
Jeff
The Hollyberry Lady
08-26-2009, 10:30 AM
Very sad and quite unfortunate, but for now my pink oyster mushroom growing has come to a halt!!!
: O
This is why...
Looks like somthing may have gone wrong.
In your "lid off" photo I see little spots of white growth that are not part of the inoculating site. Am I seeing right ?
If so, there may be a few explanations. When I saw it, it looked like quite a lot of filter and not much coffee. I wonder if it was a very small brew and had hot water running thru it for only a few minutes ?
I make twelve cup pots that have water running through for at least ten minutes. It is not important how much coffee or filter there is, just that it's thoroughly pasteurized.
Maybe run another pot, and start a new jar with some "rescued" mycelium.
You can keep the old one (in another cupboard) as the mycelium may possibly (or not ?) overcome the contamination, but you don't want spores landing in the new jar.
Good growing.
Unfortunately it was too late and the mycelium stopped spreading so I knew it was dead. Until further notice, I am afraid I will be buying my mushrooms at the super market from now on.
: (
Would additional sterilizing of the initial batch of coffee grounds by microwave help? Does moisture level matter much?
Jack Daw
08-26-2009, 01:18 PM
... Until further notice, I am afraid I will be buying my mushrooms at the super market from now on ...
Now wait a second, this is someone else talking, isn't it... Sherry I know would never give up that easily, not if it concerned growing something.:eek:
:weightliftingnaner: Don't give up. :goteam:
The Hollyberry Lady
08-26-2009, 04:33 PM
Well, sorry to say but I did give up!!!
: O
I think the person is willing to send me some fresh mycelium, so maybe I can start fresh. I just couldn't tinker around with stinky fungus - sorry folks. It looked like it was had.
I will return - you'll see...
: )
Jack Daw
08-26-2009, 06:16 PM
Everybody has some mental illness. I for once feed and talk to 500-1000 earth worms and they are rapidly procreating every day. :lurk: Call me crazy. :ha:
My own animal farm. :02:
I don't know if that would infringed on copyright laws.
Ohio'sBest
If it is a commercially manufactured video for sale, YES it will infringe on copyright laws. If you get permission by them to do so, go for it.
djmb74
08-26-2009, 06:44 PM
Everybody has some mental illness. I for once feed and talk to 500-1000 earth worms and they are rapidly procreating every day. :lurk: Call me crazy. :ha:
My own animal farm. :02:
Hey do you have an update on your worm farm? Do you have any pics of the set up you built for them?
Ohio'sBest
08-27-2009, 01:02 AM
You can order Oyster, Portabello, Lion's Mane.....yum yum, ect. syringes from different sources online. Rice cakes or saw dust cakes are the easiest to do.
YouTube - Magic mushroom growing (PF TEK) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgYh2nADYeE)
YouTube - Blue Oyster Mushroom Time Lapse Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot35sh7cVq4)
Moderator: I removed your YouTube tags, because they generally don't work in this forum and make the post unreadable for people with smaller screens. You can always just copy the link from YouTube site and paste it here, the forum will do its magic even without those tags.
Ohio'sBest
08-27-2009, 01:12 AM
simple grow chamber with air pump
YouTube - Mushroom Grow Chamber (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3HYtTSlVFQ)
Ohio'sBest
08-27-2009, 01:18 AM
Here is just one chapter to this dvd. He has a few episodes on his site
Mushroom cultivation DVD - Let's Grow Mushrooms (http://www.mushroomvideos.com/)
YouTube - Laundry Basket-Straw Log Tek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjlbq-HIng8)
Jack Daw
08-27-2009, 01:32 AM
Hey do you have an update on your worm farm? Do you have any pics of the set up you built for them?
Worm farm is doing good, but in this initial phase they are very slow. Lots of worms didn't survive the trip halfway across the country and the second half was so taken aback by new environment, that they just crawled in there and did nothing. But now everything's OK. I intentionally give them more food thna they can actually process to force them reach certain speed and numbers (ideal for my organic processing and consumption needs).
I'm afraid that there won't be any pics so soon, 'cause it will take them 1 to 2 months to make new generation and consume what they have there today, so they are very shy and even when I want to look at them migrate quickly deeper. :D When they have eaten everything there is, they will come to the surface. I didn't sketch or make the place for them yet, lots of work, so I'll post the pics then, when I have more...
Thanks for asking. :bananas_b
The Hollyberry Lady
09-21-2009, 03:45 PM
Well, I am back in business! Hopefully...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1157.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1156.jpg
Notice how there's a bit more coffee this round? Instead of a solid cube, the mycelium was sent to me in pieces this time, hence the reason for the three spots.
Looking good so far - will show more shots later.
: )
Jack Daw
09-21-2009, 05:59 PM
If this works for you Holly, I will give it a try. Now you're fighting for both of us. Go on with the good work. :goteam:
The Hollyberry Lady
09-22-2009, 02:53 PM
Yes, I am told I can share spores later!
: O
Taylor
09-26-2009, 11:44 PM
Any change?
The Hollyberry Lady
09-27-2009, 10:07 AM
Nope, mycelium is just spreading a bit more.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-28-2009, 10:38 PM
Almost time to add another filter and some more coffee grounds...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1199.jpg
: O
Lagniappe
12-07-2009, 01:06 AM
How's the mushroom growing..going?
PennyG
12-07-2009, 07:02 AM
I was curious about that too.:waving:
The Hollyberry Lady
12-07-2009, 07:43 AM
I must admit - I failed miserably...again!
: o
Will try again in the Spring...
: )
PennyG
12-07-2009, 09:05 AM
Oh no, thats a shame, but its great that you are going to try again.
You'll get it :woohoonaner:
guerich
12-07-2009, 10:13 AM
I think I'll take the easy way, and buy a kit from fungi perfecti.
Lagniappe
12-07-2009, 10:16 AM
I'm going to try it today, but with some actively growing oysters from the market.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=27528&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27528&ppuser=766)
Lagniappe
12-07-2009, 10:19 AM
My goal for this winter is to 'dissolve' all of my banana plant waste with oyster mushrooms, then feed the lot to my worms.
I would love to grow oyster mushrooms, but our climate is just too warm, we only have a couple months when it is cool enough here--they don't do well at temps above low 70s. I was lucky enough to find a clump growing naturally on a stump in my yard one spring, but I have never seen them again. I tried to grow them on logs several times, but no luck. I have grown Shiitake here and they are pretty good.
Abnshrek
12-07-2009, 12:30 PM
I have alot of fungus in my yard here & there but I'm not eating any of it.. I wouldn't mind growing the kind you order though. :^)
LilRaverBoi
12-07-2009, 12:53 PM
LMFAO!! :ha: I didn't know if you all noticed, but some of these videos are growing the 'illegal' psychoactive variety of mushrooms ('mushrooms,' magic mushrooms, shrooms, caps, boomers, booms, etc etc). The first video in post 21 and the end of the video in 23 both feature psilosybe cubensis...which is illegal to grow, possess or sell in the US. Just a word of caution.
This forum never ceases to entertain me with it's innocent use of things like grow rooms, HID lighting, hydroponics and mycology! :ha:
Lagniappe
12-09-2009, 04:52 AM
I have alot of fungus in my yard here & there but I'm not eating any of it.. I wouldn't mind growing the kind you order though. :^)
I can not find the post of yard fungi that you're referring to. Could you re-post it?
Unless you have a lot of experience, it is unwise to consume fungal fruiting bodies from your yard. There are a few easily identified ones though. The lions mane is one of them, and it's worth looking in to, imo.
I can not find the post of yard fungi that you're referring to. Could you re-post it?
Unless you have a lot of experience, it is unwise to consume fungal fruiting bodies from your yard. There are a few easily identified ones though. The lions mane is one of them, and it's worth looking in to, imo.
I agree, you should be very certain about identification--you are risking your life--but there are a number of species that are different enough from anything that is toxic.
Oyster mushroom is one that is different from anything toxic, so is Shaggy Mane and Chicken of the Woods.
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