How to Use MushBagz All-in-One Bags: The Easiest Way to Grow Mushrooms at Home

How to Use MushBagz All-in-One Bags: The Easiest Way to Grow Mushrooms at Home

If you're curious about mushroom cultivation but intimidated by the equipment or processes, MushBagz All-in-One (AIO) Bags are the perfect solution. These bags make it incredibly simple to grow your own mushrooms at home, even if you’re just starting out. Affordable and beginner-friendly, MushBagz teach hands-on skills without requiring additional gear or complicated setups.

In just a few steps, you’ll be on your way to harvesting your own fresh, delicious mushrooms. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Getting Started

First, make sure you have the following materials ready:

Materials You’ll Need

• Latex or nitrile gloves
• 70% isopropyl alcohol, a small spray bottle would be handy
• Scissors or utility knife
• Rubber band(s)
• Spore syringe or liquid culture (remove from refrigeration a few hours before use)
• Optional: Alcohol wipes, paper towels, micropore tape, alcohol burner, still air box (SAB) or flow hood, fruiting chamber (e.g., grow tent or monotub)

Step 1: Sanitize Your Workspace

When inoculating Mushroom grow bags it’s crucial to keep your materials and workspace clean of potential contaminants. Here’s how:

1. Choose a low-traffic area with minimal air movement. Shut doors, windows, and turn off fans or HVAC systems.
2. Sanitize your workspace and tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down surfaces and let them air dry.
3. Sanitize your MushBagz AIO bag thoroughly, paying attention to the injection port.

Step 2: Injecting Your MushBagz

If your bag arrived by mail, wait at least one week before injecting it to ensure no damage occurred during transit that may lead to contamination.

1. Prepare Your Syringe: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to sterilize the syringe. If it’s been used before, flame-sterilize the needle until it glows red, then let it cool.
2. Sanitize the Injection Port: Use an alcohol wipe or spray it with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wipe with a clean paper towel.
3. Inject the Bag: Remove the needle cap and insert the sterile needle into the injection port and inject 1 to 10mls of spore or liquid culture, the injection port should be self healing but a small strip of micropore tape can provide an extra level of protection when applied to the injection site and is optional.
4. Store: Place the bag in a clean area away from direct sunlight. The ideal colonization temperature is species dependent but most mushrooms like warmth for colonization.

Step 3: Colonization

Within two weeks, you should see white mycelium growing from the injection point. Follow these steps to ensure full colonization:

1. When the mycelium has spread to between 30% and 70% of the surface area of the block carefully break up the colonized substrate inside the bag and mix it with the uncolonized portions. This is the step known as the "break & shake" and speeds up the colonization process.
2. Wait until the bag is fully white with mycelium. Depending on the mushroom species, this may take 2–4 additional weeks.

Step 4: Initiating Fruiting

Once fully colonized, your bag is ready to fruit! Mushrooms need four key environmental factors to grow:

• Light: Indirect sunlight or artificial light will suffice.
• Temperature: Maintain a temperature range depending on the mushroom species, some prefer cooler temps to fruit and some warmer.
• Fresh Air: Mushrooms require low CO2 levels to trigger fruiting. Ensure adequate ventilation.
• Humidity: Keep the environment moist. Short dry spells can halt mushroom growth.

For beginners, we recommend fruiting directly in the bag. Advanced growers may use fruiting chambers for higher yields.

Step 5: Fruiting in the Bag

1. Prepare the Bag: Tighten the bag around the colonized substrate using a rubber band or multiple rubber bands if preferred, and cut a slit above the filter patch for fresh air exchange. The rubber bands hold the bag close to the surface to concentrate CO2 and helps prevent "side pinning" and fruit forming trapped in a space that they can't fully develop.
2. Wait for Pins: Tiny “pins” (baby mushrooms) should appear within a week near the slit or cut in the bag, though it may take longer depending on conditions.
3. Humidify: Spray the bag lightly near the slit or cut to maintain humidity without soaking the substrate, you can also place the bag in a tray or saucer with a small amount on water in the bottom to help raise humidity as the water evaporates.

Step 6: Harvesting & Multiple Flushes

• When to Harvest: Mushrooms are ready to pick when their caps are still convex or just beginning to flatten. If they have veils, harvest as the veil breaks.
• How to Harvest: Twist and pull the mushrooms from the base or use scissors. Remove all remnants to prepare the bag for another flush and reduce the potential for contamination.
• Multiple Flushes: To encourage additional flushes, spray the inside sides of the bag and fold the top back over as if it were a hood to create a high humidity environment if "top-fruiting", it's also possible to rehydrate the block by fully removing it from the bag and soaking in a bowl or basin of water for 12-24 hours and returning to the bag. Repeat the fruiting process until the substrate is spent.

Enjoy Your Mushrooms!

Once harvested, your mushrooms are ready to enjoy, dry or preserve for long term storage. With MushBagz, you’ll not only experience the freshest flavors but also the pride of growing your own food. Share your harvest on social media and tag Urban Ag Supply—bragging rights included!

Ready to grow? Check out MushBagz All-in-One Kits at Urban Ag Supply and start your mushroom-growing journey today!

Want more guidance? Check out our detailed how-to videos and tips on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Follow along for step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting advice, and inspiration for your mushroom-growing journey. Happy growing!