How to Grow Hydroponic Mushrooms

Reviewed by Ben Barkan

Last Updated: April 24, 2024

Mushrooms can be cultivated hydroponically as fungi. Essentially, growing your own mushrooms hydroponically means that you are using water or other growing mediums instead of soil to cultivate your crop. Hydroponic mushrooms grow quickly and are quite tasty. This article describes two methods of growing hydroponic mushrooms.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Grow Hydroponic Mushrooms Using a Mushroom Growing Kit

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Kits are blocks of compressed sawdust that have been saturated with mushroom seeds.
Make sure it is completely immersed; allow several inches of water to cover the top of the block.

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The mushroom block has to be thoroughly saturated.
The temperature should range between 60ºF and 75ºF (15.6ºC to 23.8ºC).
Most hydroponic mushrooms are ready for harvesting in 3 to 5 days.
Immerse the block in cold water and allow it to get thoroughly saturated before you place it in a dark, cool spot.
The number of times you can reuse your block will depend on how much time it takes for the nutrients to become depleted.
You can then start the process over with a new mushroom kit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Grow Hydroponic Mushrooms without a Mushroom Kit

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Both can be purchased online or at your local gardening center. These are needed to grow mycelium (fungus). If desired, you can simply purchase liquid mycelium to start the process.
The mycelium has to grow until it is strong enough to support a mushroom reproductive cycle.^{[1]
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This will most likely take several weeks.^{[2]
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It will take up to 4 weeks for the mushrooms to colonize the grain.^{[3]
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Check on their progress every few days once they have colonized the grain.
You can then use that grain for your next batch of mushroom spores.

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Question

What temperature do you call 'cold' water? Is it refrigerated? Or just cold from the tap?

Alexis Chamberlain

Community Answer

Cold from the tap. Fungi cannot thrive in water colder than 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

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How do I become a successful small time mushroom grower?

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Do a lot of research, understand the differences in the varieties of mushrooms and how they grow, understand the different sterilization and cleanliness techniques for different types as well. Oyster mushrooms are some of the easiest to grow. You also have to decide where you're going to get your spawn from and what kind of spawn it's going to be based on what growing medium you're going to use. Midwest Mangoes has some information on this on their Facebook page.

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In the second method of growing mushrooms in water, the next step is to harvest the mushrooms. Do they grow inside the jar?

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Once the grain is fully colonized (completely white), then remove the lid and the mushrooms will grow out the top.

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Tips

Experiment with different varieties; among the most popular hydroponic mushrooms are, shiitake, button, lion's mane and cinnamon cap.

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Most basements are ideal for growing hydroponic mushrooms.

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Mushrooms grow much faster in cold water; don’t use tepid water to soak them.

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Warnings

Mushrooms can be contaminated with bacteria and other molds. Be sure to cultivate your hydroponic mushrooms in a sterile environment.

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Your mushrooms won’t grow unless they are placed in a dark spot. If necessary, use room-darkening shades to protect the mushrooms from light.

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Don’t use chlorinated water to soak your mushroom block. If your tap water is chlorinated, you can fill a container with the tap water and let it sit for 24 hours so that the chlorine will dissipate.

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