If you like to grow mushrooms at home, have you considered improving your harvest by moving them to the bathroom? These delicious edible fungi like moist environments and the humidity of our bathrooms provides the perfect conditions for them to grow.
One of the biggest mushroom growing mistakes is growing them in the wrong place where they don't have sufficient humidity. Drier air won't encourage them to grow, as they prefer wetter environments.
Experts have revealed to us why you should opt for growing your edible fungi in the bathroom - and it's less off-putting than it may seem.
Can I grow mushrooms in a bathroom?
Mushrooms are a type of fungi and a delicious ingredient to have in your kitchen garden. They thrive best in moist environments and are susceptible to dehydration in direr climates. The humidity levels in your bathroom provides the perfect environment for them to thrive.
'Bathrooms are often great environments for mushroom growth because they tend to have higher humidity levels due to showers and baths,' says Lindsey Chastain, growing expert and founder of The Waddle and Cluck. 'The slightly elevated temperature in bathrooms can also be beneficial for mushroom growth,' she adds.
Ideal temperatures for mushrooms range from 55-75°F and they will do even better in a dark environment. 'Indirect light or low-light conditions are best, as direct sunlight can dry out the substrate and hinder growth,' says Lindsey.
If you have a darker bathroom, you might just have the ideal location to grow your own mushrooms at home.
In recent years, mushroom growing kits, like this oyster mushroom kit from Amazon, have raised in popularity as a convenient way to grow your own mushrooms. The experts suggest using one in the bathroom to have a healthy and abundant crop of mushrooms.
How do mushroom growing kits work?
Mushroom growing kits are a relatively new craze on the indoor gardening scene. They're easy and convenient for growing your own crop at home and they can be beautiful to look at.
You can get different types of mushroom kits, but growing oyster mushrooms at home tend to be the most popular but you can find others, such as this lion's mane mushroom grow kit from Amazon.
'These kits typically contain a substrate, such as sawdust or straw, that has been inoculated with mushroom spores or mycelium. The substrate is usually contained in a bag with a filter patch that allows for air exchange while preventing contaminants from entering,' says Lindsey.
'When the right conditions are met, the mushrooms will fruit and emerge from the substrate through holes or slits in the bag,' she adds.
Bathrooms are the perfect location in your house to use a mushroom growing kit. The higher humidity levels and cooler temperatures from tiled flooring and walls will aid the growth of mushrooms. You can hang it up using hooks to style it and watch as new mushrooms soon emerge from the bag.
'The biggest thing is that mushrooms also need fresh air exchange,' says Nikhil Arora, gardening expert and co-founder of Back to the Roots. 'Don't just close everything up to make it super humid, you also need to have fresh air, so crack a door or window open,' he suggests.
A lack of air circulation could cause your mushrooms to fail or grow into a different shape. 'It's important to ensure proper ventilation to prevent excessive moisture build-up, which can lead to mold or bacterial growth,' Lindsey adds.
You can mist your mushroom kit to add humidity, like with this plant mister from Amazon. You'll then be able to harvest your mushrooms from the bag when they have reached maturity.
'After harvesting, continue to care for the kit, as it may produce multiple flushes of mushrooms over time,' says Lindsey.
FAQs
How fast do mushrooms grow?
If you are growing your own mushrooms at home, you should provide them with plenty of humidity. In the right conditions, including low-light and plenty of moisture, mushrooms will start to appear after three to five weeks. You can use mushroom growing kits for ease and convenience and they work particularly well in the humid environment of bathrooms.
While it might sound off-putting and strange at first, it's clear that bathrooms can provide the perfect environment for mushrooms to grow and thrive. These environments have optimal humidity and coolness to encourage growth. Once you have successfully harvested your homegrown mushrooms, make sure to store the mushrooms correctly to keep them fresh for longer.
