Growing mushrooms indoors gives you the power to cultivate your favorite species year-round, despite long, frigid winters (we're looking at you, Maine!) or lack of outdoor space. A variety of indoor growing methods and mushroom species are at your disposal - but where to start? In this blog post, we will cover which mushrooms grow well indoors, popular growing methods, and tips for how to create an ideal environment for your fungi. Growing mushrooms indoors gives you more environmental control over temperature, air exchange, humidity, and light, increasing your chance for success - no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.
What are the advantages of growing mushrooms indoors?
Indoor mushroom cultivation, regardless of the technique employed, offers numerous advantages over traditional outdoor methods, including:
✔ Year-Round Growing: Indoor setups permit year-round cultivation, breaking free from seasonal constraints.
✔ Controlled Environments: Precise control over environmental factors leads to consistent yields and higher-quality mushrooms.
✔ Space Efficiency: Indoor techniques optimize space, enabling cultivation in closets, kitchens, small apartments and houses.
✔ Accessibility and Convenience: Beginner-friendly methods like fruiting blocks and all-in-one kits make cultivation accessible to a broader audience.
✔ Faster and Increased Yields: Mushrooms grown indoors under ideal environmental conditions grow faster and produce more fruit per unit of substrate than the same kind grown outdoors.
✔ More Species Options: More control over environmental conditions enables you to cultivate a broader array of both edible and medicinal mushrooms.
Which mushrooms can I grow indoors?
Mushrooms growing from fruiting blocks in an automated Martha tent setup.
While the skill level required for each species and method (which we'll expand on further down) varies, many mushrooms can successfully and easily be grown indoors. Here are some you can consider:
What are the best ways to grow mushrooms indoors?
Gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms can be grown indoors in a variety of ways, from single fruiting blocks and all-in-one bags to monotubs and grow tents. Each method incorporates greater control over environmental conditions like fresh air exchange and humidity. As you scale up, so do your opportunities for larger harvests. The choice is up to you, depending on your space, budget, and species preference. Here are our picks for the best indoor growing methods:
Spray & Grow Kits
Using an indoor Spray & Grow Kit is hands down the easiest way to dip your toes in the proverbial pond of indoor mushroom growing. These kits are blocks of amended sawdust that are already colonized with mycelium. They include detailed instructions and a spray bottle, so all that’s left to provide is adequate air flow to get your mushrooms growing. They can be stored on a kitchen counter or shelf - almost anywhere - as long as you keep it moist and there is good air flow. If you're ready to get started, check out the guide.
Fruiting Block Kits
Fruiting blocks are a staple for indoor mushroom cultivators and small scale farms looking to grow a substantial amount of fresh mushrooms consistently. These kits are pre-colonized blocks of amended sawdust and grow best in an environment where you can control humidity and airflow, like a monotub or grow tent. Different species require different skill levels and environmental conditions. A variety of fruiting blocks are available to choose from, and some folks even make their own. If you want consistency, our BlocksBox subscription will get you 3 fruiting block kits delivered every 4 or 8 weeks. Check out our guide for more information.
All-in-One Bags
Part substrate block, part grow chamber: all-in-one bags contain all the necessary ingredients to grow dung-loving mushrooms without the added work of mixing different substrates or sterilizing equipment. Using a spore or liquid culture syringe, inject your species of choice into the bag. We recommend you use a flow hood or a still air box when inoculating to mitigate contamination. Once the block is colonized, slice a hole in the bag just above the substrate for fresh air exchange and watch for fruiting mushrooms. When inoculating your all-in-one bag, we recommend using a still air box to mitigate contamination. If you're ready to get started, check out the guide.
Monotubs
Monotubs are one of the most popular indoor mushroom growing methods and have served as the entry point for many mushroom enthusiasts. Monotubs offer more control over environmental conditions like fresh air exchange and humidity and can be outfitted with automated systems. They can be used as enclosed beds to house substrate and spawn for top-fruiting mushrooms or as grow chambers for fruiting blocks and kits. You can experiment with different species, adjusting substrates and conditions to cater to the specific growing requirements. Portable and convenient, monotubs can be easily stored in closets or under beds. We recommend you use a flow hood or a still air box when inoculating your monotub to mitigate contamination. If you're ready to get started, check out the guide.
Grow Tents
Grow tents create an optimal microclimate for growing mushrooms, controlling for important environmental variables like CO2 and fresh air exchange, while also providing flexible spore filtration meaning you can use them in almost any indoor space with or without a window. Their sturdy racks are engineered to accommodate a diverse range of grow methods, including fruiting blocks, all-in-one bags, jars, buckets, and even monotub trays. This versatility allows you to experiment with different cultivation techniques without compromising on yield. If you're ready to get started, check out the guide.
What substrates can I use for indoor mushroom cultivation?
Most gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms are saprophytic, meaning they prefer to grow on dead and decaying plant materials. Commercial farms create their own substrates using a variety of sterilized or high-pH treated plant-based agricultural byproducts including hardwood pellets, soybean hulls, and coconut coir supplemented with materials to boost nutrition and moisture retention. Our compatibility guide reminds us that many popular edible mushrooms grow well on easy-to-find materials like hardwood sawdust, straw, and wood chips. If you don't want to go through the hassle of making your own, we produce a variety of sterilized substrates for growing gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms at home including grain bags, hardwood-based Wood Lovr, manure-based Boomr Bag, and the ShroomTek all-in-one grow bag.
Wine Cap mushrooms growing in an outdoor straw bed.
Which mushrooms should NOT be grown indoors?
Not all gourmet edible mushrooms can be grown indoors. Mycorrhizal mushroom species like Chanterelle, Porcini, and Morel require partnerships with tree roots in order to grow, and Almond Agaricus and Wine Cap prefer non-sterile garden beds. Other challenging species include Chicken of the Woods and Maitake aka Hen of the Woods, which are weak competitors and better cultivated outdoors on pre-sterilized logs. That being said, we value experimentation and welcome any feedback in the growing of advanced species indoors. Manure-loving medicinal mushrooms can also be grown indoors, though it should be noted that psilocybin mushrooms are federally illegal to grow in the United States and North Spore’s products are intended for legal mushroom cultivation.
Final Thoughts
The evolution of indoor mushroom cultivation techniques has made this practice more accessible, efficient, and rewarding than ever. Whether opting for the simplicity of fruiting blocks, the convenience of all-in-one kits, the automation of monotubs, or the customization of grow tents, cultivators at all levels now have the ability to harvest delicious and nutritious gourmet and medicinal mushrooms throughout the year.