#Fruiting Chamber (Martha Style ~1-3 m²)
In this blog entry, we delve into the fascinating world of indoor mushroom cultivation by providing a step-by-step guide to setting up a small grow tent. From choosing the ideal location and selecting the right mushroom varieties, to creating the perfect growing environment with controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting, this comprehensive guide equips beginners with the knowledge and confidence to embark on their mushroom-growing journey. Unveil the secrets of successful mushroom cultivation and experience the joy of harvesting your very own delectable and nutritious fungi right from the comfort of your home.
Disclaimer:
Mushrooms produce massive amounts of spores when mature. When exposed to spores, humans can develop an allergic reaction, which starts with flue like symptoms and becomes worse over time. In this guide, we will take all precautions possible to minimize the risk of overexposure to spores while growing indoor.
Part list:
- Tent
- Humidifier
- Air circulation
- Shelving
- Cleaning items
1. Tent
So let’s start with the most basic part which we’ll need, our Tent.
Mushroom growing tents provide a convenient and effective way to cultivate mushrooms in a controlled environment, allowing you to enjoy fresh, homegrown mushrooms year-round.
Most beginners start with an indoor greenhouse. But those have some major downsides compared to better quality indoor growing tents.
Usually they don’t come with a floor, which can result in a water damage beneath your growing area. I’d recommend going for a grow tent like this which will be easy to clean and with a pond liner added your floor will be well protected.
However, if you want to invest as little as possible in the beginning, and you aren’t concerned about humidity damaging your floor (f.e when growing in a garage) you can use one of these Martha style tents
It will be a bit trickier to add an exhaust as you will have to cut a hole into the plastic, but the upside is that you won’t need additional lights if your room is already exposed to normal daylight.
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2. Humidifier
Mushrooms need a lot of moisture. Since our tent is under negative pressure (see 3. Air circulation) we will draw fresh air from the surrounding area, which most likely is very dry. To get healthy, mushrooms, it’s important to find a good cycle between humidifying and letting the caps dry up a little bit.
For a smaller martha tent, a reptile fogger is the perfect choice. You can easily place it outside your tent (don’t use room humidifiers inside your tent, or you’ll risk an electric shock or fire!) and place the connected tube inside your tent.
For bigger tents you can either buy a prebuilt humidifier like this
or build on yourself. You’ll only need a plastic box, ultrasonic mist maker,
and an ip67 fan which pushes air into the box and a pipe which leads inside your tent.
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Now you have the choice between using an on off timer or using a sensor driven smart device approach.
If going for the timer, you will need to find a good cycle between on and off time. This will depend on the size of your tent/humidifier/fans, local humidity, the variety you want to grow etc….
Lots of variables which will be hard to determine for a beginner, you can start with 1 min on and 20 min off and adjust from there. If your grow tent is becoming too wet increase the off time, if your mushrooms have problems fruiting increase the on time.
You can read more about the ideal humidity in my “how to fruit mushrooms” Guide.
When choosing the sensor driven approach you will have to invest a bit more time and money but you will be able to monitor all variables 24/7 on your mobile phone and even get alerted when something is off.
3. Air circulation
Mushrooms produce Co2, which will accumulate inside your tent. To prevent that, you will need an exhaust fan. Since the air inside your tent is humid and loaded with spores, it is recommended to always exhaust outside and not into your room!
It’s best to let the exhaust fan run 24 hours a day to build up negative pressure inside the tent. This way, air gets drawn inside, and no spores will escape when the tent is closed.
I’m using these ip67 fans for over 2 years without any issues. With a fitting air duct adapter you can attach the filter to a 120mm pipe and exhaust the air outside.
Also add 1-2 more waterproof pc fans inside your tent for optimal air circulation. This will prevent wet spots in corners, where otherwise mold will grow within days.
4. shelving
It’s important to use a material which can withstand constant humidity and is easy to clean, this plastic shelving is good for beginners. I wouldn’t recommend using more than two of them. If you want to grow larger amounts, check out my DIY shelving.
You can also use these metal shelves, but they will start rusting if not coated properly.
5. cleaning items
You will need to clean your tent on a regular basis. You can use chemicals like isopropanol, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorous acid. It’s a good idea to change your cleaning agent from time to time to be as effective as possible but never mix different cleaning chemicals like vinegar and H2O2 which would create very hazardous fumes.
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2):
- Hydrogen peroxide is a versatile cleaning agent used to disinfect surfaces and substrates in mushroom production.
- When applied, it breaks down into water and oxygen, leaving no harmful residue. This makes it suitable for maintaining the cleanliness of growing containers, trays, and work surfaces.
Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite):
- Bleach is a powerful disinfectant that is commonly used in mushroom cultivation to sterilize growing containers, trays, and tools.
- It’s essential to dilute bleach properly, as its concentrated form can be harmful to mushroom mycelium.
Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl):
- Hypochlorous acid, often abbreviated as HOCl, is a highly effective cleaning and disinfectant agent used in various industries, including mushroom cultivation.
- It is prized for its strong antimicrobial properties, capable of eliminating bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens.
- HOCl is considered a safe and eco-friendly cleaning agent as it breaks down into salt and water, leaving no harmful residues that could affect mushroom growth.
- It is important to use HOCl solutions at the recommended concentrations and follow safety guidelines to achieve optimal results while safeguarding the health of both the crop and the cultivator.
Fungicides:
- Fungicides are chemical agents used to control and prevent fungal infections in the growing environment.
- While they can be effective, their use should be judicious, as some fungicides can harm mushroom mycelium if not applied correctly.
Always read the users manual before using a new cleaning agent for harm reduction.
In addition, you can use a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.amazon.com/Karcher-Portable-Multi-Purpose-Attachments-Appliances/dp/B081B7937R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3B2OBXOO82F5Y&keywords=steamer+k%25C3%25A4rcher&qid=1694171986&sprefix=steamer+k%25C3%25A4rch%252Caps%252C195&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%253Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&_encoding=UTF8&tag=bastismarktpi-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=a0ce959ddc95ed36bf97e4f13b44a509&camp=1789&creative=9325″>steamer</a>.
These compact, easy-to-use devices produce high-temperature steam that can effectively disinfect surfaces, equipment, and the interior of growing tents.