What is a Spore Print?
A spore print is a collection of microscopic spores left behind when a mature mushroom cap is placed on a piece of paper or foil. This print contains all the genetic material needed to grow new mushrooms, making it a great way to propagate fungi.
What You’ll Need
To grow mushrooms from a spore print, you’ll need:
- A clean, sterile workspace (consider looking at the link below on how to make a still air box)
- Spore print of a legal mushroom species
- Sterile water
- Sterile Syringe (to create a spore syringe)
- Agar plates or sterilized grain (for inoculation)
- Pressure cooker or sterilization method
- Growing substrate (such as sawdust, straw, or grain, depending on species)
- Fruiting chamber
Step 1: Creating a Spore Syringe
A spore syringe is an easy way to introduce spores into your growing medium. Follow these steps:
- Sterilize Everything – Ensure your work area, syringe, and tools are thoroughly sterilized to prevent contamination.
- Scrape Spores into Sterile Water – Use a sterilized scalpel or knife to scrape a small amount of spores from the spore print into a glass of sterile water.
- Draw the Solution into a Syringe – Suck the spore-infused water into a sterile syringe. This solution can now be used to inoculate your growing medium.
Step 2: Inoculating Your Growing Medium
Depending on the type of mushroom you’re cultivating, you’ll need to inoculate either an agar plate or a sterilized grain jar.
- For agar plates: Inject a few drops of the spore solution onto a sterilized agar plate. This helps isolate strong mycelium growth before transferring it to grain.
- For grain jars: Inject about 1-2ml of the spore syringe solution into the grain jar through an inoculation port or self-healing injection site.
Keep your inoculated medium in a warm, dark area (around 22-25°C) and wait for mycelium growth to begin.
Step 3: Transferring to Bulk Substrate
Once your grain is fully colonized with mycelium, it’s time to transfer it to a bulk substrate suitable for your mushroom species. Some popular options include:
- Oyster Mushrooms – Straw or coffee grounds
- Shiitake Mushrooms – Hardwood sawdust blocks
Mix your colonized grain with the bulk substrate in a clean environment, then place it into a fruiting chamber with proper humidity and airflow.
Step 4: Fruiting and Harvesting
After a few weeks, you’ll see mushroom pins forming. Increase humidity to around 85-95% and maintain fresh air exchange. Within days, your mushrooms will mature and be ready for harvest!
Final Thoughts
Growing mushrooms from a spore print is a fascinating and fulfilling process. With proper sterilization, patience, and the right conditions, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown mushrooms with ease.
For high-quality spore prints, spore syringes, and spore swabs, check out ShroomSpores.co.uk.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Always research your local laws before attempting mushroom cultivation.