Mushrooms find their nutrients in their substrate – the area on which they grow and fruit. Different species of mushrooms prefer different substrates: oyster mushrooms thrive on straw and cardboard while more nutrient-rich materials such as those found around your house or compost pile may be required for success. Selecting the right substrate could mean the difference between success and failure!

Most mushroom growers opt for a combination of sawdust and wood chips in their mushroom kits, but there are other alternatives as well. Coffee grinds make an excellent source of nutrients while providing structure to the substrate. To use coffee grinds in your kit, simply wash thoroughly to remove any contaminants before ringing out any excess water before mixing with cardboard pieces to compress into a bag for inoculation and leaving in a dark location until colonization takes place.

Straw makes an inexpensive and quick mushroom substrate. As its name implies, straw is what’s left from harvesting grain crops with their stem portions, providing an agricultural waste product available in large bails for just $2-4 per bale. Straw colonizes quickly and is the ideal material to support numerous kinds of mushroom cultivation.

To achieve optimal results from mushroom kits, the substrate needs to contain small amounts of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sulfur and phosphorus – elements typically found in substrate materials – but testing each material individually to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition is crucial for success. A humidity level between 50-70% will also encourage mycelium growth for maximum productivity.

Your substrate may require sterilization or pasteurization depending on the type of mushroom kit you’re creating, especially manure which contains microorganisms that could harm mushrooms during cultivation. Substrates high in nutrients (straw, coco coir logs and cardboard don’t usually require this), however.

Make your own mushroom tea easily with only a few ingredients and components! Mix your favorite varieties to achieve desired effects; for instance, some people enjoy Reishi and Lion’s Mane as an energy booster and mental clarity enhancer respectively. When the tea runs out, there will be enough mycelium left over to start another batch; giving you complete control of quality and variety for every cup made!