How to Store North Spore Products (2024)

FAQs

Where do you store spore bags? ›

Keep your spawn bags in a warm, dark spot (75-77 degrees optimally) and try to leave it alone! Spawn bags colonize from the inside out so you will most likely won't see any mycelium growth for 7-14 days.

Fruiting blocks can be stored for up to 4 weeks or until you see mushrooms beginning to grow in the bag. Store them at room temperature away from direct sunlight. No refrigeration is necessary. Note: Shiitake blocks can only be stored until the block turns dark brown, at which time they must be used.

The plugs can be kept up until the use-by-date by storing in a household fridge, and are guaranteed viable up until that date. Remember to take out of the fridge 24 hours prior to use, allowing the mycelium to acclimatise.

Store your sterilized grains be it in glass jars or grow bags keep them in a cool and dry location. Sterilized grains can keep for up to 3 months in these conditions. There will be no need to rehydrated or sterilize the products a second time. It is best to use your sterilized grains as soon as possible.

Store your mycelium in the fridge until you are ready to start growing, unless it is already at room temperature when you buy it. An open bag of mycelium can be stored in the fridge for up to two years, by putting it in a micro-perforated plastic bag (salad bag).

While this can be good, airflow is also important and small enclosed spaces can cause your mushrooms to suffer from lack of oxygen. We recommend placing your grow kit on your kitchen bench, out of direct sunlight.

Like much organic material, spore prints like to be stored in a cool, dry place. Dry is very important, as moisture “activates” mushroom spores, meaning they will have a significantly shorter lifespan. Keeping conditions airtight is important as well.

Soaking your block: Take your block out of the bag and soak in a bowl of cool water. Most species only need to soak for 20 minutes. However, only soak your lion's mane block for 5-10 minutes as these blocks tend to break apart if soaked for too long.

Low light and high humidity (95 to 100 percent) are crucial for their growth, so, if necessary, spray water onto the bags to keep them moist. Temperature is also important, and it varies for each type of mushroom you can grow. After 1 or 2 weeks, you should see fully developed oyster mushrooms of a good shape and size.

What are the best logs for mushroom plugs? ›

There are a few key requirements to consider when sourcing logs for your mushroom project. These are getting the right wood type, and cutting good quality logs of the right size. The best kind of wood to use is deciduous hardwoods. Commonly used species include oak, beech, willow, birch, elm, and poplar.

Waxing the holes helps seal in moisture so that the spawn does not dry out and reduces contamination by competing fungi species. Completely seal each hole using food grade wax.

⇒ Place your spawn bags in a warm, dark location (74-77 degrees optimally) and leave to incubate. Unlike jars, Spawn bags colonize from the inside out so you will most likely won't see any mycelium growth for 7-14 days.

Feel free to store the bottles in an unused and clean sealable plastic bag, if you prefer. The cold temperature helps keep the bottles clean and prevents bacteria or mold from growing.

Break up the spawn bag when the mycelium has fully colonized the substrate, typically after 2-4 weeks of inoculation. Ensure sterility throughout the process to prevent contamination and promote healthy mycelium growth.

Step 5: Place your bag in a place that is subject to minimum disturbances and will maintain a temperature between 75 and 81°F. It doesn't matter if it is dark or light. You should see signs of growth 3-10 days after inoculation. Try your best to disturb the bag as little as possible during this time period.

Place unopened bags of spawn in the refrigerator, but be sure they will not freeze. Opened bags of spawn can also be stored in the refrigerator, but be careful the spawn does not dry out by removing extra air within the bag, folding down the top, and even putting it in a Ziploc bag.

⇒ Place your spawn bags in a warm, dark location (74-77 degrees optimally) and leave to incubate.

If you plans on inoculation or preparing other materials in the mean time, it is best to store the liquid culture in the refrigerator to slow down the metabolism of the mycelium. It is also possible to keep them at Sub-Zero temperature to really prolong the mycelium and liquid culture shelf life.