Chloe Zhang
Oyster mushrooms can be grown in plastic containers such as buckets, tubs, and monotubs. The monotub setup is a popular method used by hobbyists and involves modifying a plastic storage tub to facilitate proper fresh air exchange. The bucket tek is another reliable method for growing oyster mushrooms in buckets. While plastic containers are convenient, they may not be necessary for growing oyster mushrooms, as they can also be grown in straw beds, logs, and earthen containers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Oyster mushrooms, straw, hardwood chips, water, hydrated lime, grain spawn, soy hulls, wood fuel pellets, sawdust, bran, plastic containers, buckets, tubs, jars, clay pots, polypropylene containers, bags, filters, filter patches, pressure cookers, drill, silicones, etc. |
| Techniques | Bucket tek, pasteurization, hot water pasteurization, straw beds, logs, plastic bags, reusable containers, Monotub setup, etc. |
| Steps | Shred or chop straw, pasteurize straw, fill container with substrate, sterilize, fill with spawn, leave to colonize, fruit, wash container, etc. |
| Benefits | Eco-friendly, reusable, reduces waste and costs, easier to clean, flexible, compact, withstands high temperatures and pressure, etc. |
| Drawbacks | Prone to contamination, labor-intensive, limited size, high start-up costs, slower colonization, single flush, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Pasteurising straw substrate
Straw is a common substrate for growing oyster mushrooms. It is inexpensive and can be purchased from farm supply and home improvement stores. To pasteurise straw substrate, you can use either hot water pasteurisation or cold water pasteurisation.
Hot water pasteurisation involves heating the straw in water to a temperature of 160-170 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. This can be done indoors on a stovetop by submerging the straw in water inside a pillowcase, nylon mesh laundry bag, or similar. For pasteurising a whole bale of straw outdoors, you can use a 55-gallon drum, a wire mesh basket, and a butane burner. After heating, drain the straw well and ensure that a handful of straw squeezed produces no more than a few drops of water. Then, it is ready for inoculation with spawn.
Cold water pasteurisation is often safer, easier, and more energy-efficient than hot water pasteurisation. It is ideal for pasteurising large quantities of bulk substrate as you do not need to heat large volumes of water or maintain high temperatures for extended periods. One method of cold water pasteurisation is to submerge the straw in non-chlorinated water for around a week. During this time, anaerobic microorganisms, which are bacteria that can survive without oxygen, will multiply and start to break down the substrate. After draining the straw, exposing it to air will destroy the anaerobic organisms, resulting in pasteurised straw ready for inoculation.
Another method of cold water pasteurisation is cold water lime pasteurisation, which involves soaking the straw in a bath of cold water treated with hydrated lime. The lime increases the pH of the water, killing mould spores, bacteria, and other contaminants in the straw. For this method, use about 6 grams of hydrated lime per gallon of water. After draining the straw, it can be inoculated with mushroom spawn.
Additionally, cold water ash baths can be used for pasteurisation, with wood ash added at a rate of 3% of water weight or 30 grams per litre of water. This method is more natural and environmentally friendly than using lime, but it may be challenging to source an ongoing supply of untreated hardwood ash.
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Using buckets with holes
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common types of mushrooms to grow in buckets with holes. The process is known as the "bucket tek" technique. It is a reliable method to grow oyster mushrooms quickly and on a predictable schedule.
To grow oyster mushrooms, you will need a substrate, such as straw, wood chips, or hardwood fuel pellets. The substrate should be pasteurised to kill off any contamination. For straw, you can use a cold-water pasteurisation process with hydrated lime. Fill a large plastic tote or clean trash bin with tap water and slowly add hydrated lime to increase the pH to 12.5. The recommended amount is 6 grams of hydrated lime for every gallon of water. For wood chips, you can use hot water pasteurisation. Make sure the wood chips are not treated with any chemicals or antifungal agents.
Once your substrate is pasteurised, you can place it into your bucket. If using straw, shred or chop it beforehand to make it easier for the mycelium to colonise. Leave a hollow space in the middle of the substrate and fill it with grain spawn. You can then cover the bucket with a lid or leave it open, depending on where you want the mushrooms to grow from. Place the bucket in a well-shaded area that does not receive much wind to prevent the mushroom pins from drying out.
After several weeks, you should see small clusters of mushroom-shaped structures poking through the holes in the bucket. At this point, you can wash the tub and start the process again.
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Reusable containers
Oyster mushrooms are commonly grown in reusable containers such as buckets, tubs, jars, and clay pots. The substrate for oyster mushrooms can be pasteurised, rather than sterilised, and the containers can be washed and refilled with pasteurised substrate and spawn.
To grow oyster mushrooms in a bucket, start by pasteurising the substrate. This can be done by filling a large plastic tote, clean trash bin, or intermediate bulk container (IBC) with tap water and hydrated lime to increase the pH to 12.5. Then, fill the bucket with the pasteurised substrate and create holes in the sides of the bucket for the mushrooms to grow out of. Alternatively, you can remove the lid of the bucket and allow the mushrooms to sprout from the top.
For shiitake mushrooms, a simple method is to fill the cylinder with water and squeeze the side of the container. The block will then float up and can be removed from the container, with no need for cleaning. Simply refill the container with sawdust and bran, pressure cook, and any pre-existing contaminants will be destroyed.
For those looking to grow mushrooms on a small scale, reusable containers such as bottles or jars are a more eco-friendly option than using plastic bags. While plastic is flexible, cheap to produce, and can withstand high temperatures and pressure, it is not environmentally friendly due to its long degradation time. Reusable polypropylene mushroom bottles are a good option as they are easy to use and can withstand high sterilisation temperatures.
It is important to note that most plastic containers cannot withstand the high temperatures required for sterilisation. Therefore, they are best used to grow mushrooms that thrive on less nutritious substrates that don't need sterilisation, such as straw, cardboard, coffee grounds, and sugarcane bagasse.
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Plastic bags vs. buckets
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common types of mushrooms to grow at home. They can be grown in a variety of containers, including plastic bags, buckets, tubs, and clay pots.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags are a popular choice for growing mushrooms because they are cheap to produce, flexible, compact, and can withstand high temperatures and pressure. However, they are not environmentally friendly as they take a long time to degrade. They can be difficult to clean and recycle due to the need to remove filter patches. Specialized polypropylene mushroom grow bags can withstand high sterilization temperatures, but most plastic bags cannot.
Buckets
Buckets are a common method for growing oyster mushrooms and are considered eco-friendly as they can be washed and reused. They are also more flexible than plastic bags, as they can be used to grow mushrooms that require pasteurization rather than sterilization. Buckets can be drilled with holes to allow mushrooms to grow out of the sides, or they can be left open at the top for mushrooms to sprout from.
Comparison
Buckets may be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than plastic bags in the long run, as they can be reused multiple times. They also allow for larger yields of mushrooms, as the spawn can be mixed throughout the substrate, speeding up colonization. However, buckets may require more labor to clean between uses, especially when growing large amounts of mushrooms. Plastic bags, on the other hand, can simply be sealed and shaken to mix the contents.
Overall, both plastic bags and buckets have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to growing mushrooms. Buckets may be more sustainable and suitable for larger yields, but plastic bags are more convenient and commonly used for a reason.
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Oyster mushrooms
To grow oyster mushrooms in a plastic bucket, you will need to source and prepare the buckets, pasteurize your substrate, inoculate, and incubate your buckets with mushroom spawn. The bucket tek technique is sustainable, beginner-friendly, and easy to scale up. Buckets can be easily sourced, stacked, and reused, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
If you want to avoid using plastic altogether, you can use clay or ceramic pots, such as the ones created by potter Katie Bates. These pots are about 20 cm wide and high, with holes for the fungi to grow out of and a lip at the base to catch water from spraying. To grow oyster mushrooms in these pots, you will need to order oyster mushroom grain spawn, which is typically sold as cereal grains with the mycelium of the fungus already growing. Fill the pots with substrate, leaving a hollow space in the middle, and then sterilize them. In a clean room, fill the hollow with grain spawn and leave the pots to colonize. Eventually, the mushrooms will fruit out of the top or through the holes in the pot.
Another option for growing oyster mushrooms without plastic is to use straw beds. Straw is inexpensive and can be purchased from farm supply and home improvement stores. To use this method, you will need to pasteurize the straw to kill off any contamination. You can do this by using a cold-water pasteurization method with hydrated lime. Fill a large plastic tote or clean trash bin with tap water and slowly add the hydrated lime to increase the pH to 12.5. Then, shred or chop the straw and lay it out in the area you want to grow. Cover the straw with grain spawn and then lay out more straw on top. Cover this area with a plastic sheet to contain humidity.
Whether using buckets, pots, or straw beds, it is important to maintain high humidity and fresh air for your oyster mushrooms. Place your setup in an area with naturally high humidity and plenty of shade, or create a homemade fruiting room with humidity control. Spray the mushrooms a few times daily to maintain moisture, and ensure that the ambient temperature is between 50–80 °F (12–15 °C) for optimal growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Some common methods to grow mushrooms without using plastic containers include using jars, buckets, clay pots, straw beds, and logs. Oyster mushrooms can be grown in buckets using the "Bucket Tek" technique.
Some alternatives to single-use plastic containers include reusable polypropylene mushroom bottles, cylindrical storage containers made from polypropylene, and biodegradable filter patch bags.
Oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and lion's mane mushrooms can be grown in plastic containers.
Plastic containers are flexible, compact, and can withstand high temperatures and pressure. They are also inexpensive and enable a high degree of mechanization, automation, and consistency.
