MycoCo Grow Guide

Step-by-step instructions for your pre-inoculated grow kit — from bag to harvest in 4 simple steps.

Start Growing
📦 Your Kit Includes: Pre-inoculated substrate bag (no injection required!), detailed instructions, and everything you need except a knife and spray bottle.
1

Break & Shake

1

Wash Your Hands

Clean your hands thoroughly before handling your kit. Work in a clean area away from fans or open windows.

2

Break Up the Mycelium

Your bag comes pre-inoculated with living mycelium. Gently massage the outside of the sealed bag to break up the white, fluffy mycelium and distribute it evenly throughout the substrate.

3

Shake to Distribute

Give the bag a gentle shake to further distribute the mycelium throughout the growing medium. This ensures even colonization.

4

That's It!

This entire step takes about 1 minute. No injection, no sterilization, no complicated procedures. Your kit is now ready for incubation.

✅ No Injection Required: Your kit comes pre-inoculated with live mycelium culture, eliminating the need for syringes or sterile injection techniques.

Break & Shake Process

Gently break up the white mycelium and distribute throughout the bag

2

Wait (Incubation)

1

Find the Perfect Spot

Place your sealed bag in a dark, room temperature location (68-75°F). Great spots include: closets, spare rooms, on top of the refrigerator, or near a water heater. Avoid direct sunlight and cold drafts.

2

Let the Mycelium Work

Over the next 2-3 weeks, the mycelium will colonize the entire substrate. You'll see more white, fluffy growth spreading throughout the bag.

3

Don't Disturb

Resist the urge to move or open the bag during this phase. The mycelium needs undisturbed time to fully colonize the substrate.

4

Watch for Full Colonization

Your bag is ready for the next step when the substrate becomes mostly white and fluffy throughout. This indicates full mycelium colonization.

👀 Monitor for Issues: Healthy mycelium is white and fluffy. Green, black, or colored spots indicate contamination - contact us if you see this.

Colonization Progress

Watch the white mycelium spread throughout the substrate over 2-3 weeks

3

Activate (Fruiting)

1

Make a Small Cut

Using a clean knife or scissors, make a small 1-2 inch X-shaped cut in the front of the bag. This creates an opening for the mushrooms to emerge.

2

Add Water

Lightly mist the cut area and inside the bag with water. The substrate should be moist but not soaking wet.

3

Move to Indirect Light

Place the bag in an area with indirect natural light - like a bright room or near a window (not in direct sunlight). This signals the mushrooms to start forming.

4

Mist Twice Daily

Spray the cut area and inside the bag 2-3 times per day to maintain humidity. Continue this for 10-14 days until mushrooms are ready to harvest.

🍄 Pin Formation: Within 3-7 days, you should see tiny mushroom "pins" forming at the cut. These will develop into full mushrooms quickly!

Activation Process

Cut, mist, and place in indirect light to trigger fruiting

4

Harvest & Enjoy

1

Perfect Timing

Harvest when caps are still small to medium-sized for best flavor and texture. Don't wait until they're fully mature and flat.

2

Cut at the Base

Using a clean knife, cut clusters at the base rather than pulling them. This prevents damage to the substrate and encourages future flushes.

3

Clean and Store

Gently brush off any substrate debris. Rinse quickly if needed and pat dry. Store fresh mushrooms in the refrigerator for up to a week.

4

Multiple Flushes

Continue misting after harvest! Most kits produce 2-4 flushes of mushrooms over several weeks, giving you multiple harvests from one kit.

🎉 Typical Yields: Expect 1-4 pounds of fresh mushrooms over multiple flushes, depending on variety. Each kit keeps producing for weeks!

Perfect Harvest

Cut clusters when caps are developed but still relatively small

Complete Growing Timeline

Here's what to expect with your pre-inoculated kit:

Day 1

Break & Shake

Break up mycelium and shake to distribute throughout substrate. Place in dark, room temperature location.

Days 3-7

Accelerated Colonization

Since the kit is pre-inoculated, you'll see rapid white mycelium growth throughout the substrate.

Days 14-21

Full Colonization

Entire substrate becomes white and fluffy as mycelium fully colonizes the growing medium.

Day 21

Activation

Make small cut, move to indirect light, and begin daily misting routine.

Days 24-28

Pin Formation

Tiny mushroom pins appear at the cut site and rapidly develop into full mushrooms.

Days 31-35

First Harvest

Harvest mature mushrooms when caps are developed but still relatively small.

Days 42-49

Second Flush

Continue misting for additional flushes. Most kits produce 2-4 harvest cycles.

Ongoing

Multiple Harvests

Keep misting between harvests for continued mushroom production over 4-8 weeks total.

Tips by Mushroom Variety

Each variety has slightly different characteristics:

Blue Oyster

Most beginner-friendly. Fruits in 10-14 days. Produces 3-4 flushes reliably. Prefers cooler conditions (65-70°F).

Pink Oyster

Fast fruiting in 10-14 days. Loves warm conditions (70-75°F). Vibrant pink color when young. Great for beginners.

Golden Oyster

Fastest fruiting at 8-12 days. Bright yellow clusters. Prefers warm, humid conditions. Harvest young for best texture.

King Oyster

Takes longer to fruit (14-18 days) but produces large, meaty mushrooms. Intermediate difficulty. Excellent for cooking.

Lion's Mane

Slower growing (14-21 days). Forms white, fluffy clusters. Needs consistent humidity. Harvest when "teeth" are visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about growing with pre-inoculated kits:

Do I need to inject anything into the bag?

No! Your kit comes pre-inoculated with live mycelium. Simply break & shake, then wait for colonization. No syringes or sterile techniques required.

What if I don't see growth after the break & shake?

Check your temperature (68-75°F ideal). The mycelium is already in there, so be patient. Some varieties show visible growth faster than others.

How do I know when to make the cut for fruiting?

Wait until the substrate is mostly white and fluffy throughout (usually 2-3 weeks). The bag should feel firm and solid when gently squeezed.

I see green or colored spots - is this normal?

No, healthy mycelium is always white. Green, black, or other colors indicate contamination. Contact us immediately if you see this.

How often should I mist after making the cut?

Mist 2-3 times daily, focusing on the cut area and inside the bag. The substrate should stay moist but not waterlogged.

When exactly should I harvest my mushrooms?

Harvest when caps are fully developed but edges haven't completely flattened out. This gives the best flavor and texture.

Why aren't more mushrooms growing after my first harvest?

Remove all mushroom stubs after harvesting and continue misting. Second flushes typically appear 7-14 days later.

How many harvests can I expect from one kit?

Most kits produce 2-4 flushes over 4-8 weeks total, yielding 1-4 pounds of fresh mushrooms depending on variety.

Keys to Success with Pre-Inoculated Kits

💡 Pro Tips from MycoCo:
1

Trust the Process

Your kit is already inoculated and ready to grow. Resist the urge to "help" by opening the bag or changing conditions during colonization.

2

Temperature Consistency Matters

Stable temperature is more important than perfect temperature. Find a spot that stays consistently 68-75°F.

3

Less is More with Misting

Light, frequent misting is better than heavy watering. If you see standing water, reduce your misting frequency.

4

Harvest at the Right Time

Don't wait too long! Younger mushrooms have better flavor and texture than fully mature ones.

Success Achieved!

Following these simple steps leads to abundant harvests