learntogrow

This video demonstrates how oyster mushrooms grow on various substrates. This old phone book is made from recycled paper and sawdust. We did this science experiment as a family, and the mushrooms were not eaten. Oyster mushrooms are saprophytic, meaning they feed on decaying organic matter like wood and other plant debris, made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The mycelium, or vegetative part of the mushroom, secretes enzymes and acids to decompose these substances, releasing nutrients it can absorb. A few parasitic oyster mushrooms eat bacteria and nematodes. Oyster mushrooms are used in mycoremediation and are known to remove contaminants in soil, water, and wastewater. The phone book was pasteurized in boiling water, providing an area for the mycelium to grow and establish, producing fruiting bodies or mushrooms. Once the book cooled, we added the mushroom spawn (grains inoculated with mushroom mycelium) between layers of pages at a 25% ratio. After inoculation, we placed the book in an undisturbed area with temperatures between 70–75 F to allow colonization. The incubation period can range from 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the environment. I cut out two 3-inch holes from the lid to allow air circulation. Blue Oyster mushrooms benefit from cold shock to stimulate fruiting. We placed the container in the refrigerator for a day. Afterward, I put it in a well-lit area from direct sunlight. The book was misted with water 4X daily. The whole process took approximately 4-½ weeks. Ensure your working area and tools are clean and sanitized to prevent contamination. We sprayed and wiped the counter, container, lid, and tongs with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wore gloves and disposable face masks. Please do your research. Thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoyed it! 🍄😍 #fyp #foryoupage #fungi #fungus #mushroom #oystermushroom #pleurotusostreatus #scienceexperiment

This method is not conventional, but it’s a simple technique and a great intro to growing oyster mushrooms that we’ve enjoyed with our kids. This method allows us to witness the entire process, from the mycelium colonizing the substrate to the earliest stages of growth (primordia) to the mature fruiting bodies. It’s fascinating and educational, and we think they look like a work of art! The scientific name for the oyster mushroom is Pleurotus ostreatus. In Latin, Pleurotus means side-ear due to the lateral growth of its stem (stipe), and ostreatus refers to the shape of the cap resembling oyster shells (bivalve). Oyster mushrooms are saprophytic, meaning they feed on decaying organic matter like wood and other plant debris made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Some eat bacteria and nematodes. The mushroom's mycelium (vegetative part) secretes enzymes and acids to decompose the substrate, releasing nutrients it can absorb. Oyster mushrooms have been used in bioremediation (mycoremediation). They are known to remove contaminants in soil, water, and wastewater and have been used to clean up oil spills! Numerous studies show that fungi can degrade and convert environmental toxins into more innocuous or less harmful compounds. Our total cost of inoculated TP rolls totaled $6.50 each (12 total). We spawned our grain by inoculating a 5 lb bag of sterilized grains with blue oyster mushroom liquid culture. We’ve used bamboo toilet paper and other brands without dyes, prints, or scents. Filter patch bags and grain spawn can be purchased online at most mushroom supply stores. The grain spawn contains nutrients, while the toilet paper provides a structure for the mycelium to establish, provided it’s exposed to air, proper temperature, light, and humidity. Each roll grew two subsequent flushes but was smaller. We placed the bags outside this time as it provided ample humidity, indirect light (beneath a tree), and fresh air. Blue oyster mushrooms will fruit in cool weather or between 50 to 75 F. ✅An adult should accompany this activity. Please do your research and take proper precautions. We wore disposable gloves and masks and sanitized our working area and tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol. 1. Boil water in a large pot and remove from heat. 2. Place a roll of TP in hot water until fully saturated. (Pasteurization) Remove the TP and place it on a cooling rack to drain. Allow it to cool. Removing the cardboard sped up the fruiting process. 3. Put the roll in a filter patch bag. 4. Pour some grain spawn into the center of the TP roll. 5. Close the bag with a binder clip or rubber band above the filter patch as shown. 6. Place the bag in an area with a temperature between 65 and 75 F. We placed them in the hallway closet. The incubation period took about 4 ½ weeks. 7. To stimulate fruiting, refrigerate for 1-2 days. (Cold shock) 8. Remove the bag from the refrigerator and remove the rubber band to expose it to fresh air. 9. Place in a room with indirect light and mist the bag with water 2-3+ times daily. 10. The mushrooms were fully grown after seven days of cold shock, which took approximately six weeks. #foryou #fyp #foryourpage #fungi #fungus #mushroom #oystermushroom #pleurotusostreatus #science #gardening

If you’ve ever grown elephant garlic, you may notice the yellow corms or bulblets growing at the bulb's base (basal plate). Save them or leave them in the ground to mature. Elephant garlic is not a true garlic and is closely related to leek. (Elephant Garlic Scientific name: (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) From my experience, sometimes these corms stay dormant in the first season and may take 2-3 years for each to fully develop and divide into cloves. We usually grow a patch of perennial and elephant garlic and allow them to increase independently- they are perennial plants! Remember, perennial plants come back year after year as long as they are hardy to your climate. Garlic and elephant garlic are cold-hardy to -40 F and will overwinter in the ground, just like when we plant the cloves in the fall. Keep in mind that when you’re growing them as perennials, the bulbs will not grow large, and some may not fully develop, as they have limited space when grown as one clump of cloves. Elephant garlic is an excellent crop in permaculture gardens or a food forest. If allowed to bloom, it will summon pollinators to your garden, which helps increase crop yields! Do you grow elephant garlic as well? Happy Gardening!🧄💚🧄💚 #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #garlic #elephantgarlic #allium #gardening #gardeningforbeginners #vegetablegarden

I hope you enjoyed this video! 🌷 For planting tips and information, visit @FlowerBulbs.com https://flowerbulbs.com #fyp #foryou #foryourpage #flowerbulbsdotcom #flowerbulbs #pollinatorgarden #flowergarden

You can force rhubarb in winter. Have you ever tried forcing rhubarb? You’ll not only get an earlier harvest but the stalks or petioles will be milder in flavor as stored sugars are concentrated in them instead of the leaves. Due to blocked sunlight, the leaves will be pale, but look at how gorgeous the reddish-pink petioles are! (Leaves are toxic!) We usually start to force rhubarb in the Pacific Northwest in January-February and are harvested in March-April. ✳️It’s best to wait for your plants to establish before forcing them to grow. Newly planted rhubarb is usually harvested in the second season. If you’d like to force it, it’s a good idea to wait till the third year. ✅ Place a tall pot over the crowns as shown, (30-36 inches tall). Cover any holes to prevent light from entering. Covering the crowns will also create a microclimate inside, warming up the soil and waking the buds from dormancy. ☀️Plants cannot photosynthesize without sunlight, therefore the stalks stretch in search of light and the foliage remains a light color. (Phototropism: Direction of plant growth in response to a light source) ✅ Keep the crowns covered for 7-8 weeks. Harvest the stalks when they’re about 8-12 inches long. Compost the leaves as they’re not edible and contain a significant amount of oxalic acid which can make people ill. ✅ Allow your plant to regenerate for the remainder of the year and store energy for next year’s harvest. It’s a good idea to grow multiple plants to alternate forcing them every other year and harvest throughout the season. 🌱This variety is called Victoria. When planting rhubarb, space each plant 4-6 feet apart. Happy Gardening!💚 #fyp #foryourpage #foryou #rhubarb #gardeningtips #vegetablegardening #foodforest

I hope you enjoy this video and find it informative! Thanks for watching! Happy Gardening! 💚🌱🌷 #foryoupage #fyp #plants #gardening #science #growfood #homeschooling

Experimented with growing oyster mushrooms using wine corks as substrate. This took 4 months to fruit and was placed outside as it was too dry indoors. As you can see the mycelium did not colonize the top two corks due to lack of moisture. I hope you enjoy this video! Thanks for watching! 🍄❤️ #foryourpage #foryou #fyp #fungi #fungus #mushroom #mushrooms #oystermushroom

Oyster mushrooms, with their unique saprophytic nature, are fascinating organisms. They thrive on decaying organic matter such as wood and plant debris, particularly those rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Interestingly, some oyster mushrooms even consume bacteria and nematodes. This video demonstrates how oyster mushrooms can be grown from stem ends. Mushrooms comprise the same substance that makes up the mycelium: tiny filaments called hyphae. For the substrate, I used pasteurized pieces of cardboard, and once the mycelium colonized it, I added a layer of spent coffee grounds on top (pasteurized from the brewing process). The process took nearly three months. I placed the pan outside, where it was cool and humid. Unfortunately, the area wasn’t entirely sheltered from the rain; as you can see, it washed away some of the mycelium on top. I drained the excess water. While this method of growing oyster mushrooms from stem ends hasn’t resulted in a bountiful harvest, in my experience, it’s important to note that each attempt is an exciting experiment. The environmental conditions and substrates play a significant role in the growth process and can have varying outcomes. I hope you found this demonstration informative! Please comment below if you have any questions or want to share your experiences with growing oyster mushrooms. ✅Please do your research and take proper precautions. We wore disposable gloves and sanitized our working area and tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol. #foryourpage #foryou #fypage #mushrooms #oystermushrooms #fungi #mycology #reusereducerecycle