A Guide To Mushroom Substrates | GroCycle

Ever wondered what makes a good mushroom substrate? In this video we go in-depth on the topic, taking a look at:
- the key nutrients & qualities that mushroom substrate should have
- the difference between sterilising and pasteurising substrate
- a discussion of the top 12 most popular mushroom substrates
- how to decide on the substrate to use
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
0:53 What is mushroom substrate?
1:23 Lignin, cellulose & hemicellulose
1:40 Nitrogen
2:32 Small amount of minerals K, P, Mg, Ca, S
3:35 Ph Level 5 - 6.5
4:00 Good structure for air exchange
5:14 Moisture content 50 - 70%
6:15 Absence of competitor organisms
7:10 Sterilisation vs Pasteurisation
9:52 Popular Substrate Options
10:21 Straw
11:10 Other agricultural byproducts
12:32 Sawdust
14:00 Sawdust pellets or straw pellets
15:01 Manure
15:36 Coco coir & vermiculite
16:15 Coffee grounds
17:17 Cardboard
18:10 Supplementation
19:46 Hardwood logs
20:10 Woodchip beds
20:28 Deciding on your substrate
22:58 Low tech mushroom substrate
23:39 Supplemented sawdust
24:31 Masters Mix
US Masters Mix pellets supplier: mushroommediaonline.com/mushr...
Want to learn more? Join us for a FREE workshop: How to Grow Mushrooms The Low Tech Way grocycle.com/workshop/

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[@constantinaolstedt]

Single mother of three with too many cats finds your generosity overwhelming. So grateful as I'm looking for ways to keep the ship afloat. You guys might not be aware of what a difference you make....thank you from the bottom of my heart...

[@allanh7137]

My old man raised me and my brother on his own. One day your children they will take care of you. Have a good day.

[@RobertSmith-me3gs]

You got this, Queen!

[@sagewarren8431]

You got this! Here, you dropped this 👑 But really. You're doing an amazing job

[@royallan3717]

I like your thinking and strength,I grow mushrooms and I think oyster mushrooms are the cant go wrong. For the greens, beans are so easy and freeze well. All the very best

[@shonkiethahargett3439]

Your so right

[@--sql]

So the gist is... Higher nitrogen: needs more sterilization, higher yields, maybe more expensive Lower nitrogen: maybe doesn't need sterilization, but low yields.

[@blacksheepnomad9000]

The level of information that you are providing in this video is absolutely amazing definitely writing down notes.

[@sharonfletcher-medeiros4054]

1000% agree

[@cathyjanekeen4114]

@@sharonfletcher-medeiros4054This soundswait to begin.

[@cathyjanekeen4114]

Sorry for typos.I am excited to begin

[@marcusholloway1147]

Originally I was planing to grow magic mushrooms but at this point I just find the proccess fcking cool

[@nert7951]

Bless you guys for providing all of this information and in all of your other videos. This is the type of education you'd pay someone thousands to teach you. Y'all are amazing.

[@lizbeth2764]

so true

[@deborahlittke2225]

yes!! Thank you for providing all of this valuable information!

[@kaitlinbachmeyer2175]

I've been following your videos for awhile and I completely appreciate the clarity of this video - great instruction! I'm definitely feeling more confident to work with this knowledge in my local area and within my goals. Thanks!

[@andirohman3180]

You man are the best!! This is what I've been looking for quite a time

[@gwenharris1075]

Major food 4 thought. Knowledge only adds to success. Again it can't be stressed enough thank you sir.

[@danielfernandeznungaray8996]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Respect

[@santiagolema1462]

What a pleasure to find a channel as generous, inspiring and full of knowledge as this one. Thank you so much! Greetings from Argentina

[@GroCycleTV]

Glad you're enjoying the channel!! We have lots of videos to keep you going!!

[@jefflambert7513]

Wow, what an excellent source of information. I cannot thank you enough. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!

[@drak_darippa]

omg this is specifically what i have been wanting to know about

[@vtec1988]

Great information. Thank you sir. Much appreciated.

[@jamesmabe6224]

Great video, thanks for sharing your experience’s

[@dopapier]

This is about the best I have found on domestic mushroom farming. I’ll probably watch it several times. It is intelligent, very clear and not using that curse of amateurs - music playing all the time! Definitely subscribing.

[@sarcasmo57]

Thanks for all the info.

[@jmichel70]

Thanks for all the videos

[@ellachris7291]

Thank you so much for this. I wish you great success with everything you do because you've highly contributed to mine. Thank you.🙏

[@codelicious6590]

GroCycle is definitely one of the most note-taking worthy mushroom cultivation channels on yt.

[@jameskim3915]

I get my from an online store, they got shroom, psychedelic and microdosing products well refined, also ships to anywhere

[@jameskim3915]

He,s on Instagrams with the below handle

[@jameskim3915]

!#Mycopete

[@jessicalouwman5337]

Awesome video!! I am growing on Vancouver Island, Canada and have found this content extremely helpful 👌 thank you very much!

[@UncommonNews777]

Thanks for the video! Very informative

[@karenbogucki1822]

Great informational video, found you guys very helpful as you answered all my uncertain questions as I'm a newbie to growing mushrooms at home. I'll be tuning into to all your videos. Thanks.

[@jerseyjoe8637]

Thank you, the information you shared is very helpful, and you are pleasant to listen to.

[@michigannative2951]

Great video thanks for sharing this information and your work.

[@meatcreap]

I love your project. You have taught me so so much.

[@silvomuller595]

I think it's important to consider that whatever chemicals / pesticides / heavy metals are in your substrate may end up in your mushrooms. The substrate you use may not be intended to be used for consumption. Especially waste produkts such as straw can be highly contaminated with pesticides.

[@pupcomrade]

Yes, always pasteurize your substrate! :)

[@Orrphoiz]

pasteurizing will not get rid of pesticides and heavy metals

[@sueknowles7016]

@@Orrphoiz This is very true. Even burning will not remove metals. So anything that may contain metals is worth avoiding but this is difficult due to geo/solar engineering going on around the world.

[@rebeccajohnson4232]

I love watching time lapse footage

[@joesmith1922]

Thank you for a great, informative video!

[@anxiousbeachbums]

Very helpful video; Subscribed.

[@dc9515]

As always, great stuff. Thanks Adam

[@jaydon.9674]

This really is great

[@sehvoon]

Generous sharing of information!!!

[@Billythakid89]

Great video thank you

[@MPS-GAMING]

Amazing video..thank you so much

[@mahmoudbamarni3803]

thanks for this information

[@nielvanzyl]

Hey Adam, thanks for this, I am a fan of your videos! What do you use to shred the straw at GroCycle?

[@julietchuks6395]

Thank u so much For this , more blessings

[@basherkp3119]

At my first watching, very valuable knowledge videos, subscribed and liked 👍

[@CyberspoonMusic]

great video!

[@2010mamama]

Thanks a lot for this video

[@mrs.lauren7726]

i cant find straw but i use soy for my oysters, you inspired me to grow. i dont have a big production yet but its so fun to spend lockdown doing this, since i lost my teaching job

[@terencebelton344]

Try your local pet store

[@vipr1142]

@@terencebelton344 Do you have to sterilize it?

[@terencebelton344]

@@vipr1142 yes it must be sterilised I use a wall paper steamer in a vented box for 2 hours

[@sanjayrambarun3902]

@Terence. Does the entire store fit inside the steamer or do you use a part at a time?

[@Beltosfun]

@@sanjayrambarun3902 I do it both ways i.e.steam the entire substrate then load it into the plastic bag (This way encourages the possibility of contracting unwanted bacteria) Or Place the plastic bag with the substrate into the steamer and leave for a couple of hours minimum. Depends very much on the size of steamer

[@Chakalakabombe]

Thank you guys

[@truyennam]

excellent

[@olivermartin4858]

Ive been a fan of the channel for a while now and Im always impressed with the info provided guys! Top work. I was wondering, does anyone in the wider community have experience with coffee husts from roasting as a substrate ingredient? I was wondering if I could switch the straw I was going to use with coffee grounds for coffee grounds and coffee hust. Any help much apreciated!

[@ibfishy3878]

Thank you, just the kind of info I was looking for. Sub'ed. Start my first grow in few days.

[@daniels4849]

Wow great video thanks. One thing you didn't mention was if pasteurization was recommended for coco coir + vermiculite substrate?

[@Vorpal_Wit]

Thanks! Perhaps a video on Casing - when, what, why.

[@rodolfoloos3973]

The way you explain the details in all the topics are amazing and enthusiastic! Congratulations! Could you please explain how to measure the pH of the substrates?

[@laurencerosenthalwinckler4439]

ph measurement tool, costs 10 dollars on amazon.. other option would be to follow a pre tested recipe of lime:water ratio from forums

[@ryaeon9793]

thank you!

[@perthkraya3209]

Thank you.

[@JustDrew1t]

This is very valuable thank you. Have you heard of anyone using hemp flower as a substrate?

[@ammarsoffical1947]

Your Channel is very informative! Can you please upload a video about post harvest and preservation techniques.. Thankyou

[@GroCycleTV]

Great suggestion, I've added it to the list of future videos to make :-)

[@melparadise7378]

I'm just getting into growing and I've found this mulch that's made of 'coconut and other woods' which has a nice texture to it. I'm thinking that I will clean and shred some driftwood and mix it with that for growing some mini shiitake, with some extra wood surface for them to do their thing. :3

[@lineaecopermacultura7545]

Buen día, recién estoy iniciando en emundo maravilloso de los hongos, y sus videos me están ayudando mucho para seguir investigando el sustrato ideal según mi zona y quisiera probar con los posos de café, pero quisiera saber cómo pasteurizarlo, gracias y saludos desde Perú

[@blacksheepnomad9000]

Honestly after watching the whole video I came here for answers and now I just have more questions. I guess I'll just take your information and apply it through trial and error for my own situation and work from there

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! This is an excellent introduction to substrates.

[@lawaldanladi9129]

Good keep it up

[@violettracey]

Thanks so much for all the info! Knowing to keep my supplementation down to about 5-10% without sterilization is especially helpful for me personally.

[@albertboyles7637]

I would like to hear your take on anaerobic sterilization.

[@anikohaasz3737]

Hi, Adam (and Eric)! Thanks a lot for all your work! I wonder if you have information about any research on fungi accumulate herbicides into the fruiting bodies from the straw bales they grow on. Is it safe to eat those?

[@pumaTe]

I read that growing oyster mushroom is a way to cleanse the environment of toxins (including petroleum derivatives and inorganic debris). The latter are absorbed by fungi and broken down into harmless substances. But when we eat mushrooms, are they still in them? I do not know

[@louppe8224]

Thank you for sharing these very informative videos on growing mushrooms. I am particularly interested in growing oyster mushrooms. There is abundance of rice straw, rice hull and sawdust with wood chips in my area. What combination of these 3 materials would be best and what proportions should be used for the substrate?

[@ThahnG413]

the answer to your question is likely one you should explore by simply trying it yourself

[@calliecurtis3815]

Thank you for all the great information! Looking to create my mushrooms substrate with sawdust from a cabinet maker, coffee grounds and also experimenting with brewers spent grain (I work at a brewery) Any luck with spent grain or hear of anyone having feedback on it?

[@scottraber8497]

I'm looking to grow from woodshop sawdust also. Do you know a good pelletizer machine?

[@paullong4471]

Thank you.God bless

[@jameskim3915]

I get my from an online store, they got shroom, psychedelic and microdosing products well refined, also ships to anywhere

[@jameskim3915]

He,s on Instagrams with the below handle

[@jameskim3915]

!#Mycopete

[@austin2842]

Would a mix of arborist wood chips and spent brewing grain work for the bagged method? I have free access to both materials. Thank you for these VERY helpful videos.

[@nawam.5688]

thanks for info if you were able to get 121 degrees without the pressure in that case can you sterilize your substrate?

[@nyashamupaso]

Many love copy and paste but subatrate is very personal. Many choices to be made

[@terencebelton344]

My first attempt at mushroom growing, I have decided on a substriaght on 3 year old horse manure Barly straw and CoCo-Coir. Will be using 30% each and 60 grms spawn. I have steamed all. i shall mix all throughly. place in dark for approx 2 weeks then cut small holes and wait for the development in an indirect light approx 20-25 C. What are my chances of success, any sugestions most welcome

[@sunilsambyal2659]

Can you advise on best substrate composition for Cordyceps Millitaris

[@lifeofafarmer1000]

Can you please make a video on growing button mushrooms?

[@RasMajnouni]

Anyone use RYE Flour instead of Brown Rice Flour? (PF TEK} I heard that the Rye flour needs less water in the mix. (I bought Rye by mistake instead of BRF today) A few years ago I tied both separately to compare but I forget . At age 69 I forget short term memory anyways. Can't wait for Golden Teachers!

[@yakbutterblacktea]

Could you use Alfalfa hay for the substrate?

[@sunburntsatan6475]

Hi, I've been hearing that bone ash is a good supplement for Ca/P for substrate. Do you have any experience/info with bone ash addition? Loved the video, extremely informative--especially regarding the ideal substrate particle size, that had some interesting information that I hadn't considered.

[@rias3499]

Thank you for this - your insight is very helpful and resourceful! I’m curious about the secondary metabolite production in medicinal mushrooms grown on the low tech method (zero or little nutrition content) versus sterilisation methods that add mineral supplementation - does it really matter? I would think that stressors in the environment may trigger the mushroom to create different compounds depending on its environment rather than the substrate it’s grown on?

[@jameskim3915]

I get my from an online store, they got shroom, psychedelic and microdosing products well refined, also ships to anywhere

[@jameskim3915]

He,s on Instagrams with the below handle

[@jameskim3915]

!#Mycopete

[@BlaisZeroni]

What are good options for king oyster mushrooms?

[@MythMReality]

Can you reuse coffee grounds even if it hasn’t been brewed recently, if you pasteurise it?

[@lineaecopermacultura7545]

Good day, I am just starting out in the wonderful world of mushrooms, and your videos are helping me a lot to continue researching the ideal substrate for my area and I would like to try coffee grounds, but I would like to know how to pasteurize it, thanks and greetings from Peru

[@jameskim3915]

I get my from an online store, they got shroom, psychedelic and microdosing products well refined, also ships to anywhere

[@jameskim3915]

He,s on Instagrams with the below handle

[@jameskim3915]

!#Mycopete

[@felician2133]

Could you please tell me more about using banana or plantain leaves as substrate. Thank you.

[@DrGreenGiant]

I have a good source of chopped peanuts. In 2-3mm chunks. Is this suitable, or could it be made suitable with some auditives, for grain spawn or a substrate? Keen to use it for a mushroom growing purpose

[@vinishshetty8055]

Just add nut and grain husks like groundnut ricebran etc these have all the required nutrients adding these with sawdust will produce a good yeild....

[@debbieexcell5088]

Thank you. This is exactly what I want: simple but efficient. 👍🏻

[@wilsoncastaway2830]

Brilliant video, thank you. What about hay pellet instead of straw? disadvantages?

[@georgekatsinis5224]

Different nutrient levels, and MUCH FINER can pack too tight, less air, too wet

[@raduandrei9901]

hello, i am trying Lucerne straw, first week now looking good. do you tink it will work?

[@shawnterry5318]

What are your thoughts on growing on say lumber instead of logs?

[@xxxggthyf]

Some interesting ideas there. I've been at this mushroom lark for over a year now and still haven't had a mushroom (unless you include the unexpected ones in my agar cups) but I'm getting closer. Currently trying a mix of coconut, vermiculite, chicken poo pellets with a dash of honey and agar. I'm quietly confident this time... But I've said that before 😀

[@dengshomeinvasions1273]

I reckon just buy masters mix

[@xxxggthyf]

@@dengshomeinvasions1273 No need. It worked that time and the times after using coconut and coffee grounds. I think most of my problem may have been using coco blocks. Now I've switched to loose I'm getting some actual 'shrooms. Nice bigguns too 😀 Still much work to be done on my technique but onward and upward etc.

[@joshuafritz1386]

I think that pasturization is better because actually you want the mycelium to struggle against other organisms. it will ensure you have better quality mycelium, life force

[@akumchila6553]

I use rice straw substrate for oyster mushroom .I want to know which supplement will be best for more yield.

[@Dunnimc1]

Instead of straw, I'm gonna try dehydrating some used tea leaves and mix that in with coffee. I also have some jars I'm trying organic soil mixed with coffee and tea that I might put around the garden. I'll let you know my results. Thanks for all of the info! I also plan on stealing your mushroom powder seasoning idea, but I'm gonna use red belted conk I harvested in the Sequoias here in CA, and some pink peppercorns I harvested in Southern California. I have so much of the polypore dried and powdered I need to try some things out!

[@Dunnimc1]

I made another jar with coffee grounds and the same oyster mycelium , but I used some dead thyme and rosemary that was in the garden as straw replacement for this one.

[@end.olives]

So, did it work?

[@rockskipper5353]

For wood loving mushrooms can you use rice hulls instead of soy hulls? Or maybe chicken poop?

[@fshah48]

Please suggest additives to chopped straw for the production of oyster mushrooms.

[@tridevkotwal2169]

Love from INDIA 🙏🙏🙏

[@beepluss1344]

Thanks for this info, but I was expecting a man taking a deep dive into mushroom substrate, ie from a diving board or something like that

[@scottmcstacy2554]

can you use ground industrial hemp stalks as a mushroom growing substrate? It's anti-microbial and has lignin and cellulose.

[@brettkinggubby4108]

Have you experimented with hemp as a substrate? Seems to be an excess of it in North America now and I'm wondering if it has all of the necessary components - i.e. lignin, cell, and hemicell...? Thanks

[@mansuetapadica1159]

Sir Can you name or label all picture that you put on the screen. So that we can distinguished all .

[@setsappa1540]

What a nice channel. Please, is there some gourmet or medicinal plant which grows on coniferous wood sawdust or shavings? Pine and such and a mixture of diferent. Thats what I do have with no issue. Can find one, thank you.

[@hondo2757]

I will have a substantial amount of sugarcane bagasse what amendments and sterilization would you recommend rice bran?

[@label1877]

Would pine straw work mixed with hardwood chips/sawdust?

[@taymoorjarrahi1020]

i was so overwhelmed and spending 24 hours with your channel has put wind in my sails. thank you so much for you generous guidance and knowledge. aloha from hawaii

[@jameskim3915]

I can recommend you to where I get my stuff from an online store.

[@jameskim3915]

He's on Instagrams also on Telegram with the below handle as...

[@jameskim3915]

Mycopete..

[@ReelBigC]

How to companies that make their kits make the solid grow blocks? All of them seem to mention coffee grinds but other than that Its hard to tell.

[@BigfootIsMyDad]

I would assume the answer is no, but, can you pressure sterilize a supplement (like coffee grounds) and pasteurize the rest of your substrate and improve growth, Or will the unsterilized straw, for example, offset the benefit of sanitizing your supplements.

[@kingmetroplex]

I heard about pastorization I didn't hear about sterilization. What is the ratio of contamination for just the pastorization process?

[@matthewjacobs141]

Question...I'm in the middle of my first attempt at growing in a Monotube...It's been about 2 weeks since I inoculated my substrate...I just noticed that overnight there are puddles of water...forming along the walls of my tub....So far I see no pinning but the extra water puddling has me worried...Is this puddling common...am I in trouble and don't know it?