If you have dreams of growing your own mushrooms, you may feel overwhelmed by the precision required for successful growing. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot of money or effort to cultivate your own mushrooms. One key tool in the process is a mushroom incubator to ensure that your mushroom colonies remain at the best temperature for growing. Not only can an incubator speed the growth of mushroom colonies, but it can reduce the appearance of contaminants that can negatively affect growth. Building an incubator is also an inexpensive and easy-to-make project.

  • If you have dreams of growing your own mushrooms, you may feel overwhelmed by the precision required for successful growing.
  • One key tool in the process is a mushroom incubator to ensure that your mushroom colonies remain at the best temperature for growing.

Gather two plastic boxes or two foam coolers large enough to contain your inoculated mushroom jars. Choose two boxes or coolers of the same size.

Place a fully submersible aquarium heater in the bottom centre of the first plastic box or cooler. Secure the heater with waterproof tape.

  • Place a fully submersible aquarium heater in the bottom centre of the first plastic box or cooler.

Place four or more spacers such as small glass jars or bricks in the bottom of the first box or cooler. Arrange them at an equal distance from each other; they will be used to support the second box and prevent the heater from touching the plastic or foam, so choose spacers tall enough to hold the second box out of reach of the heater.

Pour warm tap water into a large pot or other container. Place a thermometer in the water to monitor the temperature. Pour the water into the bottom of the first box or cooler when you have achieved a temperature that reaches 27 degrees. Submerge the heater entirely. Follow the directions on the aquarium heater and adjust the thermostat so that the heater shuts off when the temperature reaches 27 degrees.

Place the second box inside the first one, setting it atop the spacers. Ensure that once the second box is secure, the water level rises so that it reaches 2/3 of the first box's height. Add or remove water if necessary.

  • Place the second box inside the first one, setting it atop the spacers.
  • Ensure that once the second box is secure, the water level rises so that it reaches 2/3 of the first box's height.

Place your inoculated mushroom jars in the second box. Place a towel, blanket, or cooler lid over top of the jars so that they stay warm and light does not reach them.

Monitor the water temperature and level. Adjust your heater's thermostat as necessary to ensure that the temperature stays at, but does not exceed, 27 degrees. Add water so that the level remains at 2/3 the first box's height. Avoid allowing the heater to remain on when not submerged, as doing so can ruin your heater and the box or cooler.