Do you want to grow fresh mushrooms, but soil gardening just isn’t for you?
There is a solution for this, hydroponic mushrooms!
If you want to find out more about how to use a hydroponic system and what kind of mushrooms you can grow that way, read the article below and begin your amazing journey.
Also, there is an in-depth guide on how to grow your own hydroponic mushrooms without using a mushroom growing kit. You might find that interesting too!
Can Mushrooms be Grown Hydroponically?
Yes, mushrooms can definitely be grown with this type of substrate.
In fact, due to the absence of roots and the presence of mycelium, a hydroponic system is a better growing medium for shrooms. They are growing faster and bigger than their soil brothers.
So, if your hydroponic garden lacks some high-quality mushrooms, it’s time to get some brand new fungs there!
Benefits of Growing Mushrooms Hydroponically
No soil is needed. That is probably the biggest advantage of any hydroponically grown plant. The mushrooms will literally grow on water, giving you the opportunity to eat fresh mushrooms every day without a huge garden outside.
Also, unlike other plants, mushrooms do not need light in order to get nutrients for their growth. They do not contain chlorophyll. They do not perform photosynthesis. Therefore, you can set up your mushroom growing kit anywhere.
Another great perk of having a small mushroom farm is the abundance of various nutrients like proteins and antioxidants. Being rich in potassium and magnesium, they can improve your general health.
Hydroponic mushrooms grow faster than the ones you get by growing them in the soil. That is because water is richer in nutrients, and we, the gardeners, are always adding additional nutrients so our hydroponic crops will grow faster, bigger, and healthier than ever.
So, if you want to have fresh mushrooms on your table constantly, hydroponics is the best way to reach that.
Types of Mushrooms Suited for Hydroponic Growth
Now that you know mushrooms can be grown hydroponically, it’s time for you to discover the best types of mushrooms for your future mushroom farm.
Here is the list of some of the most popular and advantageous species.
Shiitake
Shiitake are low on calories and high in fibers and other minerals and nutrients. They can improve your general health, are delicious, and make every dish taste better.
On top of that, shiitake are easy to grow. They love cold water, so make sure you have plenty. Also, the best way to enhance their growth is by using a sawdust block.
These are considered to be one of the most delicious and expensive mushrooms around the world. Having them in your own hydroponic system will be a fortune.
Lion’s Mane
One of the most popular edible mushrooms, lion’s mane is probably the healthiest type of mushroom on this list.
Being low in calories and sugars, they contain lots of iron and potassium, preventing any possible heart diseases. Also, they help boost your immune system.
Cinnamon Cap
Cinnamon cap mushrooms are small in size, grow in tight medium-sized clusters, and have a rich, nice nutty taste when cooked. This type of mushroom grows quickly and in large packs and is considered a delicacy in Japan.
They are loved around the world not only for their unusual flavor. Cinnamon caps are rich in vitamins. They contain thiamin, niacin, and riboflavin. Also, they can be a source of calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Maitake
Maitake is not the best choice for a hydroponic garden. Although they grow on water and other such substrates, the best place to cultivate them is at the bottom of oak, elm, or maple trees. They are originally from Japan, China, and North America.
Mike does have some unusual health benefits compared to other mushrooms. Some recent studies have proved the fact that mistake mushrooms can treat and prevent cancer.
They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, especially copper, potassium, and magnesium. Also, they contain amino acids that, otherwise, have to be provided by meat.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are probably the best choice if you are a vegan or a vegetarian. In tandem with an amazing richness in both minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, their relatively low price has given them an actual chance to overcome meat and animal products.
The best part about oyster mushrooms is their low-carb structure. Also, they are very easy to grow and maintain. It’s a must-have for all gardeners that own a hydroponic system and love mushrooms, truthfully!
Button Mushrooms
Button mushrooms are the classics. Every person has eaten this type of mushroom at least once. Button mushrooms are small in size, probably averaging 4 to 7 cm.
They are the most cultivated type of mushroom around the globe, and that is because they taste good, have the best nutrients out there, and can be added to almost every dish you might cook.
White button mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium. They also contain some amino acids that make them taste and practically be like meat.
Nutrients for Hydroponic Shrooms
Given the fact that, with no other substrate than water, you must add some nutrients in order to get the most out of your mushrooms.
Mushrooms need fats, protein, sugars, and nitrogen in order to grow properly and on time.
The best source of organic material for your hydroponic setup is brown rice flour. Besides that, you’ll need vermiculite, an inert substance that will provide the mushrooms with room to grow.
Some growers can use other ingredients in order to get the best substrate. Rockwool and coco coir is also good inert substance. However, we recommend vermiculite due to its better growing qualities.
The addition of these nutrients will help your hydroponic mushrooms grow faster and bigger. Also, their taste will be better if you’re going to give them all the carbohydrates they need.
What Lighting do You Need?
Fortunately, hydroponic mushrooms do not need to grow lights to develop properly. A simple window with natural daylight will be enough for them to fulfill their light demands completely.
Although mushrooms can be grown with no light at all, the best way is to use at least some light in order to get the best result possible.
Also, you must know that the maximum amount of time your mushrooms should be exposed to light is about 6 hours.
Recommended temperature for growing mushrooms
Compared to light requirements, the temperature is a little more important and complicated.
If we are talking about germination, 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is best.
However, the biggest and fastest growth can be achieved by putting the mushrooms in a controlled environment with around 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and 90% humidity.
Best Systems for Growing Hydroponic Mushrooms
Growing mushrooms from scratch is not an easy job. Therefore, you might consider a system for growing hydroponic mushrooms.
It will take good care of the mushrooms you put in it, and you won’t have any trouble growing them.
iDOO Indoor Hydroponics Growing System
Build with no-noise technology, this indoor hydroponics growing system by iDOO is the best option for those who want fresh mushrooms without the mess that soil brings in. Equipped with an air pump for better pollinating, it also helps maintain the temperature you need.
A 4.5-liter tank is able to provide nutrients and growing substrate for up to 2 weeks without a refill. On top of that, you are able to see the exact amount of water remaining in the tank through a visual window.
This system can hold up to 12 plants at a time. The super-quite self-watering planter will help the water circulate and deliver all the nutrients to the plant’s mycelium. It is auto-controlled and does not require additional help from the grower.
Arbor Hydroponics Growing System
Providing the whole spectrum of light that any plant can need, this hydroponics growing system is one of the most popular and appreciated mushroom growing kits on the market.
Arbor is equipped with an automatic time controller that would maintain stable lightning for your hydroponic mushrooms. Its tank has a 2.5 liter capacity with a clear level scale to guide you when adding water.
The best part about this hydro is the fact that it is easy to use, and after a little bit of studying and reading the instructions, even a childer can grow beautiful hydroponic crops.
AeroGarden Bounty Elite
Grow up to 9 plants by using this AeroGarden hydroponic system. Being ready to grow mushrooms and any other types of plants, this stainless steel beauty won’t mess up your kitchen with unwanted dirt or soil.
The biggest perk of having this hydroponic system is its modernity. Being linked to your Wi-Fi and Alexa will take the gardening process to a whole other level. It gives you the chance to control the gardening process without even seeing the plants. Isn’t that amazing?
Also, there is a 100% guarantee that your mushrooms will thrive because this hydroponic system gives you the opportunity to choose all the parameters you need, from the water temperature to oxygenation and other interesting things.
How to Grow Mushrooms Hydroponically [Guide]
Mushrooms are one of the simplest organisms to grow hydroponically. However, there are a few steps where you can mess up their growth and destroy them completely.
Therefore, it’s important you possess enough knowledge in every step of your grower career. Here is a thorough guide on how to grow mushrooms hydroponically.
Solution and Growing Media
First of all, like other plants, mushrooms need a substrate to live and grow on. Some use air stones, other vermiculite, or sawdust. We’ll focus on vermiculite.
Besides an inert substrate, hydronic mushrooms need nutrients. Remember, although many tend to compare mushrooms to plants, they are not the same. Mushrooms do not make their own food. Therefore, they need all the nutrients you can give.
They need fats, proteins, nitrogen, sugar, and carbohydrates in order to grow properly. Hence, the substrate you’ll choose is very important for future growth.
The best choice is to combine brown rice flour with vermiculite and water. After that, you can get on with the inoculation of your mycelium into the sterilized grain.
If you are not using a mushroom kit, the growing process will be a little more complicated. As I said, mushrooms are not plants, and they do not grow like plants at all.
The easiest way to get a mushroom farm from scratch is to start with a fresh mushroom. Put it into a petri dish and let it grow mycelium.
After you do that, you can get the mycelium into a sterilized grain and go on with the growing process.
Growth Stage and Maintenance
Besides substrate, you’ll need to worry about temperature and lightning, a proper growing media for the inoculated vermiculite cakes.
First of all, set up the temperature. Keep the shrooms at 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during germination and increase the temperature to 80 to 85 degrees when they are actively growing. You can also buy a water heater if you live somewhere cold.
The lightning is easy. Just ensure 5-6 hours of daylight every day, and your hydroponic mushrooms should be fine.
Also, if you want your mushrooms to develop new generations, you should get an air pump. It will keep the temperature stable, but it will also help the spores get to other mushrooms.
When and How to Harvest Your Hydroponic Mushrooms?
Usually, mushrooms can be harvested after 4 or 5 days of growing.
After you harvest the mushrooms, you can still use the block by letting it sit idle for a few days and repeat the process.
You can use the block until no more mushrooms grow on it. After that, it is finished. Also, you can let the mushrooms spawn and lead to a bigger mushroom farm.
In order to properly harvest a mushroom, you need to carefully cut the fruiting bodies and leave the mycelium in the ground. The part of the mushroom that we are eating is not actually the main, as we might have thought, so its removal won’t hurt the mycelium.
Consider Using a Hydroponic Mushroom Kit
It’s no surprise that growing a mushroom plantation from scratch is not that easy.
Even if you read and know everything there is to know about mushrooms and their development in water, there are numerous possibilities to mess up everything.
If you want a result without any hard work to do, there is a way. It is faster and easier than the traditional one. You can buy a hydroponic mushroom kit.
It will contain a prefabricated block with all the nutrients and substrate that a mushroom needs. More important, it will contain a mycelium that will grow as soon as you put the block in chilled water.
Mushrooms are growing fast, especially in cold water. You’ll be able to harvest your first mushrooms after three or four days.
The biggest downside of a hydroponic mushroom kit is the fact that it isn’t infinite. The nutrients will eventually be spent after 2 or 3 generations of mushrooms, and you won’t be able to refill it.
Final Thoughts
Mushroom growing is not an easy project, especially if it’s hydroponic mushrooms. You need plenty of time and knowledge to harvest at least some mushrooms at the end of the day.
However, after reading this article, you’ll know everything there is to know about hydroponic mushrooms and their gardening. Therefore, you are ready to enjoy the gardening process without any major problems.
Keep in mind that the reward for knowing everything is the fresh and tasty mushrooms you’ll grow on your own. Mushrooms always taste better when they are completely yours!