Why can’t I grow mushrooms!.. complete failure.

I did a course on growing mushrooms. I’ve tried growing every variety of mushroom…mushrooms in grain and straw and in buckets it didn’t work. I didn’t even get one so I moved to logs; drilled the holes and filled them with pellets and cover them with wax two years later, still no mushrooms so I got a large dog cage that was spare put it in my garden and filled it with straw wood chip and a tiny bit of compost and put in it a mix that guaranteed to grow mushrooms wild in your garden. Guess what? Nothing! I’m in Tasmania Australia. I have tried all the weathers seasons I have made sure I’ve watered them not overwatered them left them be completely! Why can’t I grow mushrooms?

While I can't be sure on all the details of your situation, I do know this feeling. I love blueberries. And despite doing all the courses, all the methods, with all the right parameters and I still can't grow them despite trying for years.

I have had some success with mushrooms, though. If I had to guess, it's a moisture problem and probably getting dry. Not because you're not watering enough, but because getting some of these commercial strains started may call for more consistent moisture to get them established. For me, it was almost daily watering a bed of wood chips and layers of blue oyster sawdust spawn over landscape fabric. My easiest mushroom, though, was the wine cap or king stropharia. Several bags of mushroom spawn in a pile of fresh ash and maple chips sitting in a tarp in a small depression so the base of the chips were always sitting in water. I've used these chips in hugelkulter beds, my regular garden mulch, and just keeping weeds down usually at one part inoculated and one part non-inoculated chips. I've been able to pick mushrooms from these chips the first year and more every year since. I've added fresh wood chips every year and mixed them in and close the tarp over the top for a while in the cooler months or if it gets hot and dry out. The wood chip pile is also a good source of big mushrooms if you keep it in the shade. Aside from making a pile of wood chips, it's low maintenance.

I've failed on several mushrooms I've tried to start (lions mane, shitaki, chestnut...) but these two just worked. I think it was a moisture problem when I failed.

I'm not the most experienced with mushrooms, but I have dabbled a bit with mushrooms that grow in chipped organic matter such as Winecaps and Blewits.

What types of mushrooms are you trying to grow? What wood/substrate are you utilizing?

If you happen to have any pictures of your setup or logs it may clue us into something that might be missed.

Giselle Burningham wrote:so I moved to logs; drilled the holes and filled them with pellets and cover them with wax two years later, still no mushrooms Why can’t I grow mushrooms?

Covering the dowel spots with wax should happen right away or in the next few days. The idea is to stop worms, slugs, etc. from wiping them out before they can really get going on the wood.  Also, make sure that you drill your mushroom spawn encased dowels within a few weeks.

Otherwise, I agree with the other posters that mushrooms can dry out easily. Most cultivate them in shade or put a cover on them.  I am going to spray them with water from a misting bottle this summer.

John S
PDX OR

I live in a place where humidity can vary drastically (we can be at 85% for a week, then down to 40% during the daytime for a week, all over the place). The only people I know who can grow mushrooms have specific structures built for it. I've seen greenhouses and also sheds specifically converted to maintain the humidity stable. I have grown mushroom kits with crummy results, while my friend who lives in a forest a few hours away (where it's always humid and shady) has fabulous mushrooms.

Tereza Okava wrote:I live in a place where humidity can vary drastically (we can be at 85% for a week, then down to 40% during the daytime for a week, all over the place). The only people I know who can grow mushrooms have specific structures built for it. I've seen greenhouses and also sheds specifically converted to maintain the humidity stable. I have grown mushroom kits with crummy results, while my friend who lives in a forest a few hours away (where it's always humid and shady) has fabulous mushrooms.

YES YES YES>. I get it now.. that is my problem!!.. well that makes me feel better.. I will now review my whole watering system.. obviously I need  damper environment. THANK YOU

Timothy Norton wrote:I'm not the most experienced with mushrooms, but I have dabbled a bit with mushrooms that grow in chipped organic matter such as Winecaps and Blewits.

What types of mushrooms are you trying to grow? What wood/substrate are you utilizing?

If you happen to have any pictures of your setup or logs it may clue us into something that might be missed.

I’m growing Wine Caps , and the wood is mainly eucalyptus cause that is what is in Tasmania.

Eucalyptus is a very particular kind of wood, like Cedar, BLack walnut or Black Locust.  None of the others are recommended for cultivating mushrooms.  I would definitely look into that if I were you.
John S
PDX OR

Eucalyptus wood chip mulch is an effective, readily available substrate for growing mushrooms, particularly oyster and wine cap varieties, when properly prepared. While some eucalyptus oils can initially inhibit fungi, using aged (aged 2-4 weeks) or semi-fresh chips helps, as does inoculating with hardy mycelium in shaded, moist environments.

Suitable Mushroom SpeciesOyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.): Pearl and Phoenix oysters are highly adaptable and thrive on eucalyptus, making them ideal for beginners.Wine Cap (Stropharia rugosoannulata): These "garden giants" thrive on wood chip beds and can colonize eucalyptus mulch, especially when mixed with straw.Shiitake (Lentinula edodes):

While typically grown on logs, some success has been reported with shiitake on eucalyptus chips.Cultivation MethodPrepare the Chips: Use chips aged for a few weeks to allow volatile oils to dissipate.Inoculation: Layer sawdust or grain spawn with the eucalyptus chips, adding moisture as you go.Environment: Place in a shady, moist area. A, suggests lining beds with cardboard to manage weeds and maintain moisture.

Maintenance: Keep the bed moist but not waterlogged to allow the mycelium to dominate.Key ConsiderationsFreshness: Freshly chipped eucalyptus can be hot and acidic; letting it sit for a few weeks ensures better success.Contamination: Use high-quality spawn to ensure your chosen mushroom outcompetes natural fungi in the wood.

Water Management: As mentioned on Reddit, maintaining high moisture levels in the heap is critical, and, according to a Facebook post, you can try heat/pressure sterilization, but the "best fungi" often win in outdoor beds.

Soil Health: Note that repeated, heavy use of wood chips, including eucalyptus, can sometimes create hydrophobic, water-repellent soil conditions over time.