Grow Kit In-A-Bag™ Wood-Loving Guide - Initial Steps

We specifically designed this bag to make it as easy as possible to grow mushrooms with the least number of supplies. 

Materials Needed:

• Alcohol Wipe and/or Spray Bottle Filled with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
• Spray bottle
• Latex Gloves and Face Mask
• Temperature and humidity control (if possible)

This first step is very important! Even the smallest amount of bacteria can ruin your mushroom bag if it gets inside. 

1. AIR: Turn off any fans, A/Cs, or heaters.
2. BODY: Wear gloves and a mask. 
3. WORKSTATION: Clean your workstation with the alcohol wipe provided or optional spray bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
4. BAG: Wipe your bag down with an alcohol wipe or alcohol spray bottle. Do not wipe or get alcohol inside the air filter patch. 
5. INJECTION PORT: Leave a fresh alcohol wipe or paper towel with isopropyl alcohol over the injection port until you are ready to inject.

1. Attach the sterile needle to your syringe. Flame sterilize your syringe needle and allow it to cool.
2. Carefully insert your syringe needle into the injection port and inject the bag with 10-20 CCs of liquid culture or spores. If you’re working with spores, make sure that all the fluid is injected in a single spot in the bag so the reproductive cells are near each other.
3. Carefully pull the needle out the injection port and place the cap safely back on. Dispose of the needle in a designated receptacle.
4. Cover the injection port with clean scotch tape to protect the bag from outside contamination. You may also place the alcohol wipe back on the injection port and allow the injection port to self-heal. 
5. If you’re doing multiple injections with the same needle, make sure to re-sterilize your needle with a lighter between each injection.

Store the bag in a semi-dark room with no direct sunlight, off the ground, at about 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The time to full colonization can change depending on species.

Pro Tip: keeping your environment at 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit will result in faster rates of colonization.

Once the substrate is fully colonized, move to the next steps in the guide, found HERE