It’s certainly not easy to understand how the growing process works. But we can break it down for you. Just like how you need seeds to grow any fruit or flower plant, you need to spawn mushrooms to start a colony of mushrooms. This spawn can be started in mushroom spawn bags. The next step is to use this spawn to grow the rest of the mushrooms. The mushrooms then are grown in fruiting blocks which use sawdust as substrate. After the mycelium takes over the substrate, the fruiting process can begin. These all-in-one bags allow for fruiting also to take place in the same kind of bag.
Let’s take a look at how this happens.
In a bag
Several important components of this special bag easily accommodate every stage of the growing process. Let’s break them down individually:
Polypropylene
The make of the bag is polypropylene, and it is important as it denotes the thickness and temperature resistance of the bag. Since sterilization can also occur in the bag, the plastic should withstand high temperatures.
Filter patch
The filter patch at the top allows fresh air to get to the plant and keeps out contaminants that could ruin it. Mold spores and bacteria could take over your entire efforts, which is what the filter patch stops from happening.
Gusseted shape
The bag’s shape is folded from the inside, which means it lays out flat but is more spacious than it looks. You can store the cultivators within the folds during sterilization.
Transparency
What sets it apart from regular fabric grow bags is its transparency. The transparent color means you can always monitor the growth of the mushrooms. Even a child could help keep track of the process easily compared to the guesswork in an opaque bag.
The process
The entire growing process can be done in the same bag. Here’s how:
The spawn
These are the seeds of the mushrooms that need to be grown first. Also known as the first-generation grain spawn, they are grown in a bag with a substrate like sawdust or straw. With some inoculants, a large amount of spawn can be produced. Simply fill the bag with the substrate, soil, and inoculants and seal the bag shut. The filter allows for fresh air and humidity inside the bag. Once this is done, you can move on to the fruiting.
The Fruiting
Once the spawn is ready, the bags can also be used for fruiting blocks. In this scenario, the bags will open from the top to allow fresh air and room for the mushrooms to grow. The substrate becomes the fruiting block.
Alternatively, you can move the bags to a fruiting room with the right humidity, air, and lights. Cut some slits in the bag and mist them daily.
In both cases, the bags are exceptional to use.
Lion’s mane
The fungi kingdom has several amazing mushrooms, but the lion’s mane is becoming quite the rage. It’s widely discussed as a great source of nutrients and possibly a healer of many diseases. Here are some of the expected benefits:
- It can protect the body against depressive symptoms. It does this by increasing the health of the hippocampal area in the brain, which is responsible for emotions and memories. It speeds up the production of brain cells which heals the hippocampus further.
- It also increases the recovery speed of any spinal cord injury. The mushroom stimulates the growth and healing of nerve cells throughout the body. It has also been known to recover from brain stroke injury in rats.
- It can help fight ulcers in the stomach lining due to bacterial growth or alcohol use.
- It helps in reducing cholesterol and betters the health of the heart.
- Since it helps stimulate brain and nerve cells, it can also fight the effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia during old age.
- It can also help ease the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
- Diabetes is a disease that hinders many bodily processes and worsens many conditions, like kidney disease and nerve damage. Lion’s mane is known to lower blood sugar due to its blocking of the enzyme glucosidase.
- It has high-antioxidative activity. It is not only great for reducing inflammation but also for keeping skin and hair healthy. Antioxidants also help reduce the effects of autoimmune diseases.
- A healthy immune system has a great role to play in today’s day and age. The lion’s mane mushrooms help to do just this. It aids in the protection of the body from external threats like bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. The intestinal immune system activity increases with the consumption of this shroom, and therefore immunity also increases.
- The great thing about this superfood is that it has virtually no side effects, even with high doses. Only those prone to allergies to the food need to beware. At the same time, the rest can safely consume after confirming with their medical health advisor.
Here’s the full recipe for getting started with this great panacea.
- Get the substrate ready – You’ll need soy hulls and hardwood fuel pellets. Add 450 grams to a grow bag. Add 1.4kgs of water. Everything should be mixed thoroughly before packing to ensure even distribution and moisture.
- Fold for sterilization – The gusseted shape aids in this process, so fold on the inside to get it ready.
- Sterilize – To get rid of the contaminants, load the bags into the pressure cooker and sterilize them at 15PSI for 90 minutes. Allow to cool on its own and only open after it’s depressurized.
- Add grain spawn – You need 200 grams for every 2.3kg of the bag. Use the aseptic technique to inoculate the grow bags.
- Seal bags and wait – Immediately seal the bags to prevent contamination.
- Fruiting – once the bag has fully colonized, you can cut it open for fruiting. Put the bag into a fruiting temperature with plenty of fresh air and light.
- Harvest – Cut up the mushrooms. Enjoy and eat!
