Directions of use:

Put the growbox directly after buying , cooled (between 2°C and 8°C) in a refrigerator!!!

This growbox is developed to grow 200 – 300 gramme of mushrooms in a period of 1 – 3 weeks.

Before we start to explain you about the growing of this mushrooms, it is good to have some general information to understand the mushroom and his needs.

Categorical, the mushroom is not a plant or an animal, but a Fungus.
This fungus is a micro organism. As everybody knows, fungus likes areas with a high humidity.
Without a high humidity the fungus can not survive.
Also the temperature is very important for the fungus. The temperature regulates the activity of the fungus.

• A temperature of 1°C or lower, the mushroom will die. This temperature is too low for the fungus.
There is no activity in the growbox.

• A temperature between 3°C and 8°C, the fungus is in a “coma”.The energy needs of the fungus are very low and there is almost no activity. The fungus can survive months in this state.

• A temperature between 18°C and 28°C, the fungus starts to grow. The energy needs are high and the activity is also high.

• A temperature of 29°C or higher, the fungus will die by overheating.

It is also good to know that the fungus has it’s own defense system. This works fine again some bacteria (and other micro organisms). But against the most bacteria (and other micro organisms) the defense system of the fungus has no chance. To avoid contamination it is the best, not to touch the fungus with your hands or any other subject.

1. An aquarium, a plastic tray or a clean bucket. Make sure that it’s clean;
2. A thermometer that indicates at least from 0°C until 30°C;
3. A piece of transparent plastic foil;
4. Some cello tape (to attach the plastic foil).

• Take an aquarium, a plastic tray or a clean bucket. Make sure that it’s clean.
• Put this aquarium in a place with a temperature between 20°C and 28°C.
A constant temperature of 24°C is the most ideal and gives you the biggest harvest.
• Put the aquarium in an area with 12- 15 hours light. Don’t put it in direct sunshine.
Normal daylight is suitable or you can use light from any normal lamp.
• Fill the aquarium with 2 or 3 cm of tap water.
• Attach the thermometer inside the aquarium on the wall. Not directly in the water, because we want to measure the temperature in the air.
• Wash your hands and take of the cover of the growbox. Don’t touch the white fungus to avoid contamination!
• Put the growbox inside the aquarium on the bottom.
If the growbox starts to flow, there is too much water in the aquarium. In that case you have to take some water out of the aquarium.
• Close 95% of the aquarium with a piece of transparent plastic foil. Leave 5% open for the air circulation.

Now the preparing is ready.
For the next days it is important to attend the following points:

• Check regular the temperature on the thermometer. The temperature have to be between 20°C and 28°C.
• Check also regular if there is any condensation inside the aquarium. This tells us that there is a high humidity inside the aquarium and this is good.
• Check regular the water level inside the aquarium. If it is too low, you have to fill it with tap water.

In the first week you will see that the white fungus will start growing.
If you look good you will see that the fungus starts to develop tiny pinheads.

A short period after the tinny pinhaeds will look like this:

And the next step is this:

And this:

Now the mushrooms are ready for harvest. To pick a mushroom you can handle the best this rule:
As soon as the skin between the head and the stem breaks, pick the mushroom.

It is important to handle this rule, because the head of the mushroom contains spores.
When the skin between the head and the stem is broken, these spores will fall down.
These falling spores are covering all the little mushrooms in the area with layer of black powder.
Mushroom which are covered with a layer of black powder will not grow anymore, because the light can not reach them anymore. When this happens to you it will have a direct influence on your total harvest amount. So: As soon as the skin between the head and the stem breaks, pick the mushroom.

Wash you hands. Take some mushrooms ( 1 – 6 pieces) and hold them with you fingers at the stem.
Pull the mushrooms with a rotating move out the growbox and lay them beside the aquarium.
Never cut the mushrooms in the growbox with a knife or any other subject! This will cause contamination!
Now you can remove the vermiculite (gold coloured stone) from the picked mushroom.