just starting out what I got to work with

OK ...want to give this a try New Guy have sauna to control environment want to use 5 gal bucket with lid have access to straw and shredded cardboard(:brown card board no ink run through a paper shredder) ether/or OR both? will be pasturized Which species, oyster? WHAT TYPE OF SPORE TO USE HOW MUCH WHERE GIT sub wet not saturated if someone can walk me through the process using what i got thsnks to all

Hello! Your short questions calls for long answers :-) So I’ll give you a general overview of the process, and you can ask for clarification on anything you need...

The most simple and promising options to start with are oyster mushroom varieties such as Pearl Oyster or Blue Oyster. Pink and Golden oysters are also a good choice, but they’re more delicate, so I wouldn’t recommend them for your first attempt.

Grow room and substrate made of straw or cardboard (it is called bulk or fruiting substrate) is not the initial step in mushroom growing. You'll need them later, in the middle of cultivation process...

What you need:

1. Genetics. Typically, oyster genetics is sold as a liquid culture (LC) rather than spore print/swab/syringe.

2. Sterilized grain substrate for inoculation with LC syringe –> it will be your grain spawn in the future. You can use any type of whole grain that is available in your location and... the cheapest one: wheat berry, corn, rye, barley, milo, sorghum etc...

Here are the basic steps to get you started (they are actually apply to almost all mushroom species):

• Substrate types for growing mushrooms

• How to cook grain substrate for spawn

• DIY jars or bags for mushroom spawn

• Grain substrate sterilization

• Inoculation

• Incubator & Grain colonization - room temp. for Oysters colonization will be fine, so you don't need anything extra. Colonization process and possible issues are the same as described in this guide.

3. Fruiting substrate and making fruiting block in a bucket –> Grain to Bulk –> mixing Grain Spawn with pasteurized straw as a bulk (fruiting) substrate. For the first try I'd start with straw, since it's easier to create a proper moisture level (field capacity).

In your case this process will be slightly different, than described here Spawn to Bulk, but the main idea is the same. You need to prepare pasteurized straw (hot or cold pasteurization is up to you) and mix it with a fully colonized grain spawn jar/bag or maybe 2...

4. Bulk colonization.
   Just leave the bucket in a dark place at room temp. to let mycelium spread. It takes ~3-6 weeks.

5. Pinning and fruiting.
   Once the bulk substrate is fully covered with mycelium you need to make a few small holes in a bucket.

Or make them in advance, before Spawn to Bulk step, and cover them with a tape for bulk colonization period. Once the bulk is colonized -> remove the tape and provide fruiting conditions for pinning and fruiting. So they will grow like here:

Fruiting conditions for Oysters - this is the step, where you already need a grow room (or grow tent, or fruiting chamber):

• temperature vary depending on the species, the temp. range may be within 60-85F or 15-30C. For most oyster species 64-73F or 18-23C is fine

• humidity 80-90%

• light 12/12 on/off cycle - light is crucial for Oysters

• fresh air exchange (ventilation) is must have, since Oysters produce too much CO2. How often? It depends on the volume of your grow room and on how many blocks are fruiting at the same time. They are highly tolerant to CO2 tho

Hope all this info will shed light on what you need and where to start from

All the best,
Shroomok