Can You Get Spores From Dried Mushrooms?
Did you know that you can also grow mushrooms from dried mushrooms? It’s true!
With the right technique and tools, you can obtain dried mushroom spores and use them as source material for cultivation.
In this article, we’ll explain how to tell if a fungus is a spore print, how to release the spores, and more.
Contents
Are dried mushrooms safe?
The short answer is yes, dried mushrooms are safe to grow another crop.
However, they are not ideal for growing mushrooms because the spores of the dried mushrooms may be too dehydrated or dead.
This is why it is important to use fresh spores or seed for growing mushrooms.
How Can You Tell if a Mushroom is a Spore Print?
To know if a fungus has a spore print, you need to perform a process called “spore print”. Here I explain how to do it:
Necessary materials
- A fresh ripe mushroom
- White paper (preferably cardstock) or aluminum foil.
- A clear container with a lid
- clean tweezers
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Spray bottle with water
- Latex gloves (optional)
Steps to follow
Step 1 – Clean your hands and work surface to avoid contamination. You can use latex gloves for greater safety.
Step 2 – Take the mushroom and cut the stem a few inches from the base, so that the head is separated.
Step 3 – Place the head of the mushroom cap down on the white paper. Press lightly with your fingers so that the hat adheres well to the paper.
Step 4 – Place the transparent container on the mushroom cap and let it rest for a few hours (between 6 and 12 hours), so that the spores fall on the paper. If you want to speed up the process, you can spray the cap of the mushroom with water using the spray bottle.
How to Release the Spores
Step 1 – Returning to the previous process and after the rest time, carefully remove the container. You will see that the spores have remained attached to the paper in the form of a print.
Step 2 – If you wish, you can fix the spore print with the water spray to prevent it from coming off.
Step 3 – To plant the spores, use a growing medium suitable for the type of fungus you have and follow the specific instructions for planting.
It is important to note that growing mushrooms is a delicate process that requires a sterile and controlled environment. It is recommended that you look up specific information about the type of mushroom you want to grow and follow the planting instructions carefully.