Pausito

Long stems and small caps

Long, thin stems with small caps usually mean your mushrooms get too little fresh air, sometimes also too little light. It is a shape problem, not a contamination: you can simply eat this harvest.

Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving / Wageningen UR · BS-47Fungi Ally (VS) · BS-81

In an (almost) closed box or room, CO₂ builds up. The mushrooms then grow 'in search of air' towards an opening or the light. In oyster mushrooms you sometimes see trumpet- or coral-shaped fruits.

Fungi Ally (VS) · BS-81Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving / Wageningen UR · BS-47

What do you adjust?

Ventilate more: open the box or tent further, air the room daily or make the opening in the bag bigger. Give more indirect light, possibly with a lamp on a timer. The next flush usually improves.

Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving / Wageningen UR · BS-47Fungi Ally (VS) · BS-81

In which species?

It mainly occurs in oyster mushrooms, king oyster, lion's mane and pioppino, on kits, pellets and straw.

University of Florida / IFAS Extension · BS-01Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-09Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-10Field & Forest Products (VS) · BS-11Fungi Ally (VS) · BS-81

Exception: enoki

In enoki, long, thin stems are exactly what you want: you harvest when they are 10 to 15 cm long.

Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-26Mushroom Mania (BE) · BS-32

Source

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This is general growing information from the sources listed. Always follow the instructions of your kit or supplier. Only eat what demonstrably grows from your own culture of the bought, named species; if in doubt about colour, smell or shape, do not eat it.

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