Gourmet Liquid Culture · Northwest Flower and Garden Festival ·Feb 19, 2025

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival Live Inoculated All-in-One Grow Bag Guide

🌲 Welcome, Adventurer! You picked up a special-edition grow bag at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, where one of our Rangers personally inoculated your bag with Lion’s Mane, Blue Oyster, King Oyster, Pioppino, or Nameko.

This is your official guide—everything you need for a successful harvest!

We’re here to make your first mushroom-growing adventure easy and rewarding. Follow each step carefully, and your mycelium will do the rest!

How Your Grow Bag Works (What’s Inside?)

Your bag contains:
✔ A grain layer (sorghum): This is the first stage of growth, where mycelium spreads before colonizing the rest of the bag.
✔ A Masters Mix substrate (50% hardwood sawdust, 50% soy hulls): This acts as the fuel for your mushrooms to grow.
✔ Pre-inoculation with 2-3ccs of liquid culture: Your bag was started by us, and now you get to watch it come to life.

Your job: Provide the right conditions and let the mycelium do its thing!

Step-by-Step Growing Instructions

Step 1: Colonization – Let the Mycelium Take Over

💡 Your first step is to wait. Mycelium (the white, thread-like growth) needs time to spread. This stage is called colonization.

Where to store your bag: Keep it in a dark place at 65-75°F (like a closet or pantry).
How long it takes: 2-3 weeks depending on temperature and species.
What to look for: You should see white mycelium spreading from the injection points into the grain layer (bottom layer of the bag near the injection port).
When to move to the next step: The entire grain layer must be completely white before you proceed.

🚨 Red Flags: If you see green, black, or foul-smelling patches, this could indicate contamination. Send a photo to info@blackforestmushrooms.com for troubleshooting.

✅ Next step: Once the grain is fully colonized, move on to "Break & Shake."

Step 2: Break & Shake – Mixing the Mycelium

This is where things get hands-on! Your mycelium has colonized the grain layer, and now it needs to spread throughout the entire bag.

1️⃣ Check your bag: The top layer should be completely white with mycelium.
2️⃣ Sanitize your hands (or wear clean gloves) before handling the bag.
3️⃣ Break up the colonized grain layer:

Use your fingers to gently massage the grain inside the bag to break it into smaller pieces.
This step redistributes the mycelium evenly into the rest of the bag.
4️⃣ Shake the bag to mix the broken-up grain with the substrate.
5️⃣ Place the bag back in the dark colonization spot for another 5-10 days until it turns completely white again.

✅ Next step: Once the entire bag is fully white and firm to the touch, it's time to introduce fruiting conditions!

Step 3: Fruiting – How to Trigger Mushroom Growth

Once your bag is fully colonized, your mushrooms need fresh air, light, and humidity to start growing. Here’s how to make that happen:

1️⃣ Where to Place the Bag

Find a bright spot with indirect sunlight or a grow light (a kitchen counter, shelf, or table near a window works well).
Keep the temperature within the range for your mushroom type (see species-specific details below).
Your bag needs good airflow—avoid sealing it inside a cabinet.

2️⃣ How to Cut the Bag (Why & Where?)

Mushrooms need oxygen and a place to emerge from the bag. Here’s how to help:

Take a sharp, clean knife or scissors.
Cut a small X-shaped slit (about 2 inches) in the plastic at the appropriate location for your species (see below). Don't worry if you cut into the block, some species actually prefer having the substrate scratched!
The cut allows fresh air exchange, signaling the mycelium to start forming mushrooms.

🌟 What to expect: After a few days, tiny mushroom pins (baby mushrooms) will start forming near the cut. This is the beginning of your harvest!

Species-Specific Fruiting Tips

Each mushroom species has slightly different needs:

🍄 Lion’s Mane

Cut location: One large X-shaped slit on the front or side of the bag.
Humidity: Very high (85-90%)—mist the area frequently.
What to expect: White pom-pom-like growth will form and expand over 7-10 days.
When to harvest: When spines are ½-1 inch long.

🌊 Blue Oyster

Cut location: One large X-shaped slit on the front or side of the bag.
Humidity: High (85-90%)—mist the slit daily.
What to expect: Clusters of wavy caps will form quickly.
When to harvest: When the caps begin to flatten but before they curl upwards.

👑 King Oyster

Cut location: One slit near the top of the bag.
Humidity: Moderate (70-80%)—avoid over-misting.
What to expect: Thick, meaty stems with small caps.
When to harvest: When stems are thick and caps remain small for the best texture.

🍂 Pioppino

Cut location: Two small slits on opposite sides.
Humidity: Moderate (70-80%)—mist lightly.
What to expect: Tall, slender stems with dark brown caps.
When to harvest: Before caps fully open.

🌧 Nameko

Cut location: One large slit in the bag.
Humidity: Very high (90%)—mist often or use a humidity tent.
What to expect: Sticky, amber-colored mushrooms.
When to harvest: When caps are fully rounded.

Step 4: Harvesting – How to Pick Your Mushrooms

Use clean hands or scissors to twist and pull mushrooms at the base.
Leave a small piece behind to encourage future flushes.
Store fresh mushrooms in a paper bag in the fridge (not plastic).

Step 5: Encouraging a Second (or Third) Flush

Your grow bag isn’t done after the first harvest! Here’s how to get another round of mushrooms:

1️⃣ Let the bag rest for 3-5 days after harvesting.
2️⃣ Rehydrate the block: Submerge it in cool water (cut side down) for 12-24 hours.
3️⃣ Drain the bag thoroughly and return it to fruiting conditions.
4️⃣ Mist daily to maintain humidity.

🎉 Bonus: Some species can produce up to 3 flushes! Keep the process going until the mycelium stops producing or you see visible signs of contamination or mold.

Final Step: What to Do with Your Spent Block

When your block stops producing, don’t throw it away!

Bury it in a shady outdoor spot—you might get more mushrooms!
Compost it to enrich your garden soil.
Use it as mulch to add nutrients to plants.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

🔹 Why aren’t my mushrooms growing? – Your environment may be too dry or not getting enough fresh air. Try misting more and increasing airflow.
🔹 Why are my mushrooms small? – Low humidity—mist more often.
🔹 What if my bag smells sour? – It may be contaminated. Send us a photo for help.

Your Mushroom Adventure Begins! 🌲🍄

Congratulations, Adventurer! You are now part of the legendary journey of growing your own gourmet mushrooms—a process as rewarding as it is magical (but, you know, not that kind of magic 😉).

Mushrooms are nature’s great alchemists, transforming simple ingredients into delicious, nutrient-dense food. With each flush, you’ll deepen your understanding of mycelium, patience, and the interconnected world beneath our feet.

👉 Stay Curious, Keep Growing, and Share Your Adventure!
📸 Tag us on Instagram @black_forest.mushrooms
📹 Post your grow updates on TikTok @black.forest.mushrooms

If you have any questions, let us know—our Rangers are always here to guide you.

✨ Welcome to the Black Forest. Your adventure has just begun. 🌿🔥