3D printing & Oyster Mushrooms experiment

K, so i 3d printed a test object for a test mushroom experiment. The Piece is a "honeycomb vase" i found on Thingiverse. It is printed out of biodegradable Coffee-infused PLA (Polylactic Acid). (I no longer use ABS). I'm planning on putting some "pea-straw" with some Dextrin and Agar. Maybe i should add some other nutrients as well. Anyway, i'm hoping the Dextrin, Pea-straw, and PLA will provide enough nutrients and support for the Oyster Mushrooms. I hope to avoid major sterilization. My only worry is that mold will colonize the dextrin before the oyster mycelium, but we will see.





I also just got my first Blue Oyster Mushroom kit from Fungi Perfecti. I wanted to start easy. I will be growing that in the garage.

okay, got it ready. didn't take a photo, sorry. But i put in first a layer of Dextrin powder followed by some (TSA) tryptic-soy-agar, followed by some oyster mushroom spawn dowels, followed by a layer of pea-straw mixed in with some Teosinte/Corn "straw", followed by a few more layers of roughly the same. Also included small sprinkles of some mushroom soup bullion cube powder that has yeast extract in it. No sterilization done. I'm taking a page out of Joseph's lazy book and hoping that the oyster mushrooms have the ability to out-compete the mold and any other contaminants.

Looks great!

I can’t tell for sure, but is it wrapped in plastic? I think it would need to be to control moisture in the substrate? After they start fruiting, will you use something for humidity control so the mushrooms don’t dehydrate?

How cold does your garage get?

Ken W Wilson wrote:Looks great!

I can’t tell for sure, but is it wrapped in plastic? I think it would need to be to control moisture in the substrate? After they start fruiting, will you use something for humidity control so the mushrooms don’t dehydrate?

How cold does your garage get?

Not sure how cold. It is about 42-44F right now. The Blue Oysters need 45–65 °F to grow, but are not affected by freezing from what i'm told.

I put a humidity tent over it. Are you saying i should put an even more restrictive covering on it until the mycelial mat grows well and then put it in the humidity tent? not a bad idea. That's sort of how the kit is. Maybe i should emulate that even more.

It might not be necessary with the humidity tent, but I would wrap the pot with plastic to help keep the substrate moist. Also I’ve read that having lots of holes makes for lots of tiny pins.


I’ve only grown from purchased blocks until now, so I’m not an expert.

I’m growing two 5 gallon buckets of oysters now.  I used hardwood heating pellets pasteurized with boiling water in a cooler.  Started a few weeks ago. It’s growing. Not too fast but no contaminants so far. I think my basement might be a little cool for fast growth.

Hi
I am new to the world of Fungi I was introduced by Paul Stamets on the JRE  Podcast. I have been into 3d printing for a few years now and amazed I can now join my loves together :) (yes I have very quickly fallen in love with fungi)

am following this thread as would love to see your progress