SHROOMFOLK
ALL-IN-ONE GROW BAG KIT — WOOD LOVERS
Instructions for Use
Oyster • Lion’s Mane • Shiitake • Reishi • & More
Your Kit Contains
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✓ All-in-One Grow Bag Sterile rye grain (bottom layer) Hardwood & soyhull substrate (top layer) ✓ Agar Test Plate ✓ Humidity Grow Bag ✓ Perlite Bag |
✓ Alcohol Wipes (2) ✓ Nitrile Gloves ✓ Spray Mister ✓ Clothespin ✘ Culture syringe (sold separately) |
Your bag has two layers. Inject ONLY into the lower grain layer through the bottom injection port.
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⚠ CRITICAL WARNINGS • Never inject into the substrate layer — only the rye grain layer accepts liquid culture • Always wear PPE — re-sanitize gloves before handling • Never open the bag during colonization — this introduces contamination • Use only sterile/distilled water — tap water contains contaminants |
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1 |
PRE-INOCULATION PREP |
• Clean your work surface thoroughly with included alcohol wipes.
• Put on the provided nitrile gloves. Wear a face mask if available.
• Wipe the injection port on the bag with an alcohol wipe.
• Have your culture syringe, agar tester, and bag ready before proceeding.
Work in a still, draft-free room. Turn off fans and close windows.
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2 |
AGAR TESTING (MANDATORY) |
Test your culture BEFORE injecting into your kit. This protects your investment.
• Shake your liquid culture syringe vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Inject exactly 0.5ml (about 3 drops) onto the agar tester surface.
• Seal the agar tester and store at 75-80°F for 3-5 days.
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✔ HEALTHY — Proceed Pure white, fluffy growth radiating from the drop points. No discoloration. |
✘ CONTAMINATED — Discard Any green, black, pink, or yellow colors. Sour smell. Slimy or wet patches. |
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⚠️ |
If your agar test shows contamination, DO NOT inject into your kit. Contact your culture supplier for a replacement. |
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3 |
INOCULATION |
• Shake the liquid culture syringe vigorously for 30 seconds to break up and distribute the mycelium.
• Wipe the injection port closest to the BOTTOM of the bag with a fresh alcohol wipe.
• Insert the syringe needle through the bottom injection port.
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⚠️ |
INJECT INTO THE GRAIN LAYER ONLY. The needle should reach into the rye grain at the bottom of the bag. Never inject into the substrate layer on top. |
• Slowly inject 5-10ml of liquid culture while gently rotating the needle to distribute the culture across the grain.
Even distribution is critical — uneven inoculation causes patchy colonization and increases contamination risk.
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4 |
COLONIZATION |
• Place the bag in a dark environment such as a closet or cabinet.
• Store in complete darkness at 70-75°F (21-24°C).
• DO NOT OPEN the bag during colonization. The filter patch handles gas exchange.
• Check progress every few days by looking through the bag — do not open.
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LIQUID CULTURE 4-8 weeks for full colonization |
SPORE SYRINGE 8-12 weeks for full colonization |
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5 |
BREAK & SHAKE |
This step is essential for even colonization and preventing anaerobic conditions inside the bag.
• When to do it: Once 30-40% of the grain layer shows white mycelium growth. You will see white patches on the grain when looking through the bag.
• How to do it: Without opening the bag, use your hands to gently break up the colonized grain through the bag and mix it together with the substrate layer. Knead and massage the bag until the grain and substrate are blended together.
• After mixing, lay the bag flat and spread the contents evenly.
• Return the bag to darkness at 70-75°F.
• Allow the bag to fully colonize — the entire contents should appear bright white with no uncolonized patches.
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⚠️ |
Do NOT open the bag during this process. All mixing happens through the sealed bag. |
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6 |
FRUITING SETUP |
Once the bag is 100% colonized (all white, no brown patches visible), it is time to trigger fruiting. Wood-loving species like oysters require high fresh air exchange, so we use a humidity bag method.
• A. Prepare the humidity bag: Open the provided humidity grow bag and pour in the included perlite. Spread it evenly across the bottom of the bag (1-4cm deep).
• B. Add water: Pour distilled water into the bag until the perlite is damp throughout. There should be NO standing water — pour off any excess.
• C. Cut the AIO bag: Using clean scissors, cut a large X or slit on one side of the fully colonized AIO bag. This is where the mushrooms will fruit from. For oysters, you can cut 2-3 slits on different sides of the bag.
• D. Place in humidity bag: Set the AIO bag upright on the damp perlite bed inside the humidity grow bag. The cut slits should face outward, not pressed against the humidity bag walls.
• E. Mist: Using the provided mister, lightly mist the inside walls of the humidity bag and the exposed substrate through the slits with distilled water.
• F. Close the bag: Fold the top of the humidity bag over a couple of times and secure with the provided clothespin. Leave a 2-inch air gap — do NOT seal it airtight. Wood-loving species need plenty of fresh air.
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7 |
FRUITING & HARVESTING |
Daily Maintenance
• Mist the inner walls of the humidity bag 2x daily with distilled water. Mist the walls, not the mushrooms directly.
• Open and refold the bag top during misting for fresh air exchange.
• If the substrate surface looks dry at the slits, mist the exposed area lightly.
Conditions to Maintain
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TEMPERATURE 60-70°F |
HUMIDITY 85-95% |
LIGHT 12hr/day (indirect) |
When to Harvest
• Oysters: Harvest when cap edges begin to flatten or curl upward, before they fully flatten out. They grow fast — check twice daily once pins appear.
• Lion’s Mane: Harvest when spines are about 1cm long and before they begin to yellow.
• Shiitake: Harvest when caps have opened about 70-80% but edges still curl slightly under.
• Harvest by gently twisting and pulling the mushroom cluster at the base. Do not cut.
Multiple Flushes
After harvesting, soak the substrate by carefully pouring distilled water into the AIO bag through the slits until the substrate is saturated. Let it sit for 6-12 hours, then carefully tilt and drain off the excess water. Return the bag to the humidity bag and resume fruiting conditions. Most kits produce 2-4 flushes.
Questions? Email support@shroomfolk.com
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