Oyster Mushroom Bucket Tek
Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Oyster Mushrooms:
The Bucket Method is easy to learn, requires minimal steps and equipment, is low cost, and fruits mushrooms very quickly!
Here at Curious Ape, we recommend this Tek for beginner mushroom growers.
Equipment:
20L Plastic Bucket with Lid
Oyster Mushroom Spawn (Available for Purchase)
Sugar Cane Mulch (Substrate)
Drill with Small Bit
Hydrated Lime (Calcium Oxide)
Round Laundry Basket
60-75L Plastic Bin
Easy 5-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare the Substrate
Why: Pasteurization minimizes unwanted microorganisms in the straw while keeping some natural microbial diversity in the substrate.
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Place your Sugar Cane Mulch (chosen substrate) in a laundry basket within a large plastic tub.
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Add cold water and Hydrated Lime at a ratio of 3 grams per 1 liter of water. Let it sit for 12-24 hours. Lime raises the pH level, eliminating mold spores, bacteria, and other undesired contaminants in the straw.
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After soaking, drain excess water for about 20 minutes until it's not dripping. You can quicken drying by spreading it on a table or a fly screen.
Step 2: Prepare the Bucket
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Drill small holes around the sides and bottom of the bucket for airflow and drainage.
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Clean the bucket with Isopropyl Alcohol or Trichterminator to ensure it's free from contaminants.
Step 3: Load the Bucket
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Break the oyster mushroom spawn into pieces.
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Combine and layer uniformly with the Pasteurised Straw Substrate.
Step 4: Seal and Wait
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Cover the bucket with its lid.
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Keep the bucket in a warm, humid spot in indirect sunligh or darkness for around 7-14 days to colonise.
Step 5: Fruiting Stage
Small mushroom "pins" will begin growing out of the holes. Harvest them when they reach your desired size. Gently twist or cut them off the substrate.
TIP: FLUSH TO GET MORE FRUITS!
After harvesting, you can soak the bucket in water for a few hours to trigger a new growth cycle.
Happy mushroom growing!