Using a Spray & Grow Kit

After you receive your Spray and Grow Kit and carefully remove the front panel, check to see that the kit inside is intact. Sometimes they're jostled in transit and break apart - but not to worry! Gently press it together and let your kit sit for a few extra days to recoup before opening up the bag. You'll soon see the mycelium, resilient as ever, bouncing back from its trip to your home.

Speaking of mycelium - that fuzzy, white stuff growing on your kit isn't mold! That's the vegetative form of a mushroom, known as mycelium. What that looks like for different species can vary: blue oyster can have yellow orange droplets, pink oyster can have a rosy hue, golden oyster is thick and white, and lion's mane is light and wispy!

If you live in a dry or arid climate, it's a good idea to cover your kit with a humidity tent to help keep moisture levels high. Take a trash bag or other large loose bag and cut lots of ½” holes throughout - mushrooms need fresh air to form correctly! Drape the bag over your block and mist the inside of the bag every day. When you start to see baby mushrooms form (pinning), you can remove the bag and keep misting the block.

Once you've started your mushroom kit, the three things you need to focus on are hydration and air flow and light. Mushrooms need a humid environment, some oxygen and natural light to grow well and develop their rich hues. Stringy mushrooms want more air, dry mushrooms need more humidity, and pale mushrooms need light or are a bit past prime!

Make sure you're spraying them regularly and add a humidity tent if they could use some extra moisture. It's best to keep them out of the cupboard or closet. They make fantastic centerpieces to a dining table or as a feature on your kitchen counter. That way they get a little dappled sun, some gentle air circulation, and you can dote on them at every coffee break.

Once activated, your kit should start pinning within 6-10 days. From there, it usually only takes 4-5 days for your mushroom kit to produce it's first full flush! When you start to see baby mushrooms form (pinning), you can remove the bag and keep misting the block. Or, you can keep just leave it in the box and water daily.

After you’ve harvested your first flush of mushrooms, continue spraying your kit as you were. If it's looking a bit dry, you can cover it with a humidity tent. It's important do keep it hydrated throughout the process. There's no need to take the block out of the bag or cut a second X in it. It may a little longer for mushrooms to appear every subsequent fruiting. In around 2-3 weeks, you should start to see baby mushrooms (pins) forming again.

If by then there's no progress, you can soak your block. It’s possible during the first flush the kit got a little too dry. Take your block out of the box and set it cut side down in a bowl of water. Most species only need to soak for 20 minutes. If you have a Lion’s Mane kit, soak your block for 5-10 minutes and keep an eye on it. Lion’s Mane mycelium is very fine, so these blocks tend to break apart if soaked for too long.

After soaking, let the block drain by leaving it cut side down for another 10 minutes or tip it around to let extra water run off. You don't want to leave standing water in your bag. Pat your block dry before placing it back in the box with the cut side facing out or skip the box and leave the block cut side up and keep spraying it 2-3 x per day.