How to Grow Mushrooms from a Kit with Your Kids

Learn how to successfully grow mushrooms from a kit with step-by-step instructions perfect for families and kids of all ages.

1. What You'll Need. Your mushroom growing kit should include a growing block or substrate (the material mushrooms grow from), plastic covering, and detailed instructions. You'll also need a spray bottle for misting, a shallow tray or plate, and access to indirect sunlight. Most kits grow oyster mushrooms, shiitake, or other beginner-friendly varieties. Read through all the instructions that come with your specific kit before starting, as different mushroom types may have slightly different requirements.
2. Setting Up Your Growing Environment. Find a spot in your home that stays between 65-75°F and gets indirect light - a kitchen counter away from direct sunlight works perfectly. Place your growing block in the shallow tray to catch any water runoff. If your kit includes plastic covering, tent it loosely over the growing block to maintain humidity while still allowing air circulation. The goal is to create a humid but not soggy environment that mimics a mushroom's natural habitat.
3. The Growing Process. Most kits require you to either soak the growing block initially or make small cuts in the plastic covering - follow your kit's specific instructions. Mist the block 2-3 times daily with room temperature water, keeping it damp but not waterlogged. Within 3-7 days, you should see tiny mushroom pins (baby mushrooms) emerging. This is the most exciting part for kids! Continue misting regularly and watch as the mushrooms double in size each day. The mushrooms are typically ready to harvest in 7-14 days when their caps flatten out and before they start dropping spores.
4. Harvesting Your Mushrooms. Harvest mushrooms by cutting them at the base with clean scissors or gently twisting and pulling them off in clusters. Don't pull individual mushrooms apart - take the whole cluster. Harvest when the caps are still slightly curved but have opened up significantly. After harvesting, continue misting the block as many kits will produce a second or even third flush of mushrooms over the following weeks.
5. What Kids Learn from This Experiment. This project teaches children about fungi, which are neither plants nor animals but their own fascinating kingdom of life. Kids observe how mushrooms don't need soil or sunlight like plants do, and they learn about spores instead of seeds. The daily care routine teaches responsibility and patience, while the rapid growth provides instant gratification. It's also a great introduction to concepts like humidity, life cycles, and how decomposers work in nature.