Mushrooms like humidity. We live in a desert. Now what?
How do we compensate for our dry climate?
My first season growing mushrooms was in Maine. A hot day in Maine is 85 degrees. The humidity is so high that your clothes are never really dry, per se, and if you leave a bag of chips cracked open, even a little bit, they are stale within a few hours. When it comes to growing mushrooms, Maine is the perfect environment.
If my first season growing mushrooms had been in Utah, I probably would have given up. We can go weeks on end without seeing rain. This year, we have seen temperatures above 100 on a regular basis. And I’m sure we’re all well aware that there’s a drought going on.
There are several things we can do to help mushrooms grow in 0% humidity. I use different grains than I used in Maine, I use smaller buckets, and I use shade cloths and misters to create a microclimate. All of this helps with water retention. I also water my kits more frequently, and have set up catches and a tiered system so that the water is multi-purposed.
Contamination is more likely to occur when our mycelium is slow growing. Here’s a list of things you can do with your kits to help fruit mushrooms, prevent contamination, and optimize water use.
1. Proper Drainage. Make sure the drainage holes in the bottom of the bucket are not plugged with mycelium. I have been experimenting with the optimum size drainage hole, so they may vary in size across your kits. Sticking something clean up into the hole and wiggling it around a bit should clear the hole for water to pass through. Continue to water normally, if not increase watering slightly. Pooled water causes contamination, so that is what we are trying to avoid.
2. Separate different species. I have noticed higher contamination rates when I have multiple types of oyster mushrooms in close proximity. Please practice mushroom distancing and keep your kits 6 feet apart or more.
3. Dispose of old or questionable kits. In ideal conditions, kits will fruit 1-4 times. Since temps above 100 are not ideal, I expect the kits to fruit 1-2 times before weakening. What I would suggest is isolating or composting them after the second fruiting. They are likely to fruit again when temps cool off, but until then they are a potential contamination hot spot.
4. Go for Deep Shade. You might even try moving them inside to prompt the pinning stage, although this only works if your home has AC. You can move them back outside once they are fruiting.
5. Maintain Good Airflow. Fungi like a LOT of fresh air. Make sure they are not in an area with stagnant air (like a corner or a shed).
6. Try a Mister. I use patio misters on a timer. They go off for one minute every hour. You could also use a hand mister and give them a little spray every time you walk by.
7. Create a humidity chamber. Once the mushrooms are fruiting, it’s important to keep them moist. If you will be gone all day, try loosely draping a soaking wet towel over the bucket. This keeps my kits wet enough for about ten hours. Keep the bucket lid on.
