Mushroom Kit & Instructions FAQ

Your kit is pretty versatile – most people grow them inside on a shaded windowsill or kitchen worktop/table, really anywhere that has some indirect light, and isn’t near an air conditioner will provide the conditions needed for growth.

Humidity is most important wherever you position it – remember to spray daily to stop it drying out. 

Oyster mushrooms in particular are quite tolerant of temperature and will grow happily between 10-25C, ideally around 18C.

You can store your kit for up to 4 weeks in a dark spot between 18-25C, then continue as per the instructions in the box.

If you need to store longer than this then put the bag into the fridge for up to two months.

Note, do not put pink oyster into a fridge that is less than 10C or it will die.

This white layer is mycelium, or ‘mushroom roots’. It grows throughout the substrate and has completely colonised it before we send it out to you. It’s this mycelium that gathers up the nutrients and uses them to produce delicious mushrooms.

Too much humidity may lead to mould - The solution - reduce the amount your spraying as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to eliminate competing moulds once they have infected your grow block.

Try taping up the cut plastic, flip the bag over and cut a new smaller opening and you might have a grow.

Once the bag has been cut, you need to mist routinely to stop the kit from drying out and to create the humidity that mushrooms love to grow in. 

Until you see mushrooms pinning or starting to form, spray the outside of the plastic a few times approximately 2-3 times a day.

Once mushrooms are starting to form (initially it might just look like a different colour around the cuts, gently pull back flaps while misting (approximately 10 sprays) then allow them to fall back into place. Ensure entire cut area is well hydrated.

Aim to mist at least twice a day.

We have a lot of faith in our product and are sure of its success. The first step is just to give your kit a little extra time.

As a living organism, your mushrooms will not always behave like clockwork – although most are ready for harvest after 14 days, some kits will take an extra week or two to start growing.

Read through these FAQ’s and if you can’t work out what may be the problem, drop us an email to hello@kaikaifarm.au with a photo and explanation of what has happened.

We’ll do our best to advise and get your kit working.

The first crop is always the biggest as it is grown at its peak with all the nutrients in the bag available.

Each successive crop gets smaller as more nutrients and water are extracted from the kit. Soaking overnight between crops and misting well can help to mitigate the moisture loss, but the nutrients will slowly run out, producing smaller crops over time.

Your second crop will start to grow in around 7-14 days, but can occasionally take up to 21 days.

Once you have had at least 2 crops from it, it’s worth trying to re-soak and get another, but if you do this and no further crops emerge after 4 weeks, then it is time to break up the mixture that is left and add this rich soil amendment to your plants!

Fruit flies love moisture and bacteria. Make sure you aren’t over-misting the grow block, as this can attract flies.

To dissuade fruit flies from visiting your block, try placing a Fruit Fly trap (made with a small container of apple cider vinegar, a couple drops of dishwashing liquid and covered in plastic wrap with small holes) in the same room as the mushroom growing kit.

They will seek out the vinegar and leave the mushroom kit alone.