🍄 YOUR MUSHROOM BUCKET - DAILY CARE GUIDE

You built it - now let's get mushrooms!

📅 WHAT TO EXPECT & WHEN

DAYS 1-7: THE QUIET PHASE

• What's happening: Mycelium recovering from inoculation

• What you'll see: Nothing visible yet - this is normal!

• Your job: Leave it alone, maintain temperature

DAYS 8-14: WHITE NETWORKS APPEAR

• What's happening: Mycelium exploring and eating

• What you'll see: White fuzzy growth at holes

• Your job: Keep watching, resist urge to disturb

DAYS 15-21: GETTING READY TO FRUIT

• What's happening: Full colonization complete

• What you'll see: Dense white throughout, bucket feels warm

• Your job: Start daily misting, provide indirect light

DAYS 22+: MUSHROOM TIME!

• What's happening: Pins form, mushrooms develop

• What you'll see: Tiny mushrooms growing from holes

• Your job: Mist 2-3x daily, harvest at right time

🌡️ TEMPERATURE & PLACEMENT

COLONIZATION (First 2-3 weeks):

• Target: 65-75°F (18-24°C)

• Location: Dark, warm spot (closet, basement, garage)

• Avoid: Direct heat, cold drafts, temperature swings

FRUITING (Week 3+):

• Target: 60-70°F (15-21°C)

• Location: Cooler spot with indirect light

• Light: North window, LED light, or fluorescent

• Avoid: Direct sunlight (dries out mushrooms)

💧 DAILY MISTING ROUTINE

COLONIZATION PHASE (Weeks 1-2):

• Frequency: Every 2-3 days or when surface looks dry

• Method: Light mist above the bucket, no need to drench

• Goal: Keep surface moist, not soaked

FRUITING PHASE (Week 3+):

• Frequency: 2-3 times daily

• Method: Mist holes and around bucket (not directly on mushrooms)

• Goal: 85-95% humidity around bucket

• Tip: Mist walls around bucket, let humidity settle on mushrooms

🍄 HARVEST TIMING - CRITICAL!

PERFECT HARVEST TIME:

• Size: Caps are 2-4 inches across

• Shape: Caps just starting to flatten (not fully flat)

• Edges: Still slightly curled under about 3-5mm

• Timing: Usually 3-5 days after pins appear

TOO LATE SIGNS (Don't wait for these!):

• Caps completely flat

• White powder around mushrooms (spores)

• Edges turning upward

• Problem: Spores make substrate less productive

HARVEST METHOD:

• Pull or twist cluster off to remove mushrooms

• Harvest whole cluster at once

• Clean holes of debris after harvest

⚠️ DAILY HEALTH CHECK

HEALTHY SIGNS:

• ✅ Pure white, fluffy growth

• ✅ Clean, earthy "forest floor" smell

• ✅ Bucket may even feel slightly warm

• ✅ No pooling water at bottom

WARNING SIGNS - ACT FAST:

• 🚨 Green/black patches: Mold competition

  • Fix: Increase airflow, reduce misting

• 🚨 Sour/ammonia smell: Too wet

  • Fix: Stop misting, improve drainage

• 🚨 No growth after 10 days: Too cold/dry

  • Fix: Move to warmer spot, increase humidity

• 🚨 Slimy texture: Poor drainage

  • Fix: Tip bucket to drain excess water

🔄 AFTER FIRST HARVEST

EXPECT 2-4 FLUSHES:

• Rest period: 7-10 days between flushes

• Keep misting lightly during rest

• Next flush will be smaller but still good

• Total productive period: 6-8 weeks

BETWEEN FLUSHES:

• Remove all mushroom debris from holes

• Reduce misting to every other day

• Maintain temperature and humidity

• Watch for next pin formation

🛒 SUPPLIES TO MAKE YOUR OWN BUCKETS

SUBSTRATE TREATMENT:

• Hi-Yield Hydrated Lime (garden centers, feed stores)

  • Use: 1 cup per 5 gallons water for straw treatment

• pH Test Strips (pool supply stores, Amazon)

  • Target: 8.0-9.0 after lime treatment

• Large Soaking Container

  • 50-gallon drum, large trash can, or stock tank

  • Need: Food-safe plastic for straw treatment

SANITATION SUPPLIES:

• 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (pharmacy, grocery store)

  • Use: Surface cleaning and hand sanitization

• Spray Bottles for alcohol application

• Clean Rags or paper towels

STRAW & STORAGE:

• Wheat/Barley Straw (feed stores, farms)

  • Avoid: Hay (has seeds), treated straw

• Onion Sacks or mesh bags for straw handling

  • Use: Easy draining and portion control

MUSHROOM SPAWN:

• Fresh Oyster Mushroom Spawn

  • Order 1 week before use

  • Store at 35-40°F until ready

  • Ratio: 15-20% spawn to substrate weight

TOOLS:

• 3/8" Drill Bit for bucket holes

• Food-Grade Buckets with lids

• Spray Bottle for daily misting

🎯 SUCCESS REMINDERS

✓ CONSISTENCY BEATS PERFECTION

• Regular misting more important than exact timing

• Stable conditions better than perfect conditions

✓ TRUST THE PROCESS

• Mycelium knows what to do

• Your job: maintain good conditions

✓ HARVEST ON TIME

• Slightly early is better than too late

• Spores reduce future flushes

✓ DOCUMENT YOUR SUCCESS

• Take photos to track progress

• Record harvest dates and weights

• Learn for your next bucket!

📞 NEED HELP?

Questions? Problems? Success to share?

Email: info@tuckerfamilyfungi.com

We're here to help you succeed! Don't hesitate to reach out with photos of any concerns or to share your harvest victories.