We are here to help you with your reishi mushroom growing journey
Instructions and FAQs are below otherwise feel free to reach out to us at hello@kaikaifarm.au at any time.
Our mushroom kits come fully colonised with mushroom mycelium and are ready to grow. They must be opened within four weeks of receiving. For best results, open immediately otherwise store the bag in the fridge for up to two months.
Grow, Harvest, Boil and Enjoy!
Step 1 - Prepare the kit
Find a well lit but out of direct sunlight location. Hint, bathroom or kitchens work well
Open the top of the box and unravel the grow bag. Initially the bag will be very deflated, don't worry as the mushrooms will produce CO2 and inflate the bag over the next few weeks.
Reishi anters will begin to form after a week or two.
Optional: cut a small slit in the bag for fresh air.
Click here for optional steps on creating a mushroom kit stand
Step 2 - Patience :)
Reishi is a slow grower but does develop interesting and unusual patterns of growth. It is almost a living work of art as it grows.
You can let the reishi grow inside the bag where it will keep growing as antlers reaching for the top of the bag or you can cut the top of the bag off and let the reishi form into conk formation where it grows more horizonitally than vertically.
Step 3 - Harvest Time!
Wait for the growing edge of the caps to no longer be white or when brown dust starts to appear over the mushroom or around the base of the box. Reishi are quite tough and might require knife or scissors to remove from the base of the block.
Step 4 - Repeat for another crop (or two)
You should get another one to two crops.
Hint, try taping up the the bag and cut open from the the other side after the second harvest.
You also can try soaking the bag overnight after the second or third crop.
Mushroom Kit Stand
Optional steps below for creating a grow bag stand to display your grow!
Step 1
Cut the cardboard side tabs off the top of the mushroom kit box
Step 2
Cut a slit into the middle of each tab about half way up
Step 3
Slot the tabs together into the cuts made so they make an X shape
Step 4
Take the grow bag out of the mushroom kit box and place the connected tabs at the bottom
Step 5
Place the grow bag back into the mushroom kit box, now the kit is positioned much higher and you can watch the grow happen more closely
Reishi Mushroom Kit Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hasn't My Kit Started Growing?
Certain kits may require more time than usual to commence growth. As a living organism, each kit operates on its unique schedule. This delay can occur, especially in cooler environments (below 16C) or if daily misting is overlooked, leading to dehydration.
If there is still no sign of life after 3 weeks, then please send us an email to hello@kaikaifarm.au with a photo and we’ll work with you to resolve.
Where Should I Place My Kit?
Put your kit in a shaded spot, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Somewhere with enough light to read a book is adequate.
Warm, dry air or direct sunlight will dehydrate the mushrooms during growth, so avoid areas near an air conditioner, wood burner, or direct sunlight.
A shaded windowsill or kitchen worktop is an ideal location. Near a sink is typically a naturally humid place for the mushrooms to grow.
Think about cultivating them outside under cover or in a shed with a window when temperatures stay between 10C and 30C.
How And When Should I Harvest?
The growth period from mushroom initiation to harvest usually spans up to a month or sometimes longer, with the pace varying based on temperature (quicker in warmer environment, slower in cool or cold).
Harvest the mushrooms when their cap edges are no longer white or you can see brown dust on the mushrooms or around the bottom of the kit.
Reishi are quite tough and may require cutting with a knife or scissors.
How Do I Get A Second (Or Third) Crop?
After harvesting the 1st crop, leave the kit to rest for at least 2 days. Then, remove the grow bag from inside the box and place it with the slit side down in a bowl of clean water for at least 2 hours. This will help enable it to soak up some water and to rehydrate the growing medium ready for another crop.
After 2 hours, drain as much water out of the bag as possible, and return it to the grow kit with the top of the bag folded down – this time with the other (un-cut) side of the bag facing out of the window. Cut another 5-10cm X slit in the bag towards the top of the cut out. Continue misting 2-3 times daily with water.
A 2nd (smaller) crop should begin to develop approx. 10-20 days later (sometimes it may take a little longer). Follow the same process as for the first crop, misting lightly 2-3 times a day until harvest. You can try repeating this process again for a possible 3rd crop.
What Can I Do With The Kit Once Finished?
Mushroom substrate makes a great compost or soil additive. Empty the contents of the bag into your garden and you might even see some mushrooms growing! The box is also compostable, only the bag should be disposed of in a regular bin.