Growing mushrooms at home can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you’re just getting started with indoor growing or are looking for new methods to expand your skills, there are many different types of mushrooms out there that will thrive under the care of a devoted grower. However, keep in mind that not all species of mushrooms are as easy to grow as others. Some may require a bit more attention than you’d expect, especially when it comes to light exposure. To help you get started on the right foot, here is everything you need to know about sunlight and mushroom growth.
Do mushrooms require sunlight to grow
Sunlight is essential for the growth of mushrooms, just like it is for all other plants. In fact, many species of mushrooms cannot grow at all in the dark. While some species of mushrooms can handle a bit of light exposure, others are best grown in complete darkness. In general, mushrooms that are grown indoors should receive at least six hours of sunlight per day. If you’re growing mushrooms outdoors, make sure they get at least an hour of direct sunlight every day.
What Is Sunlight And Why Does It Matter For Mushroom Growth?
What is sunlight
Sunlight is the most direct source of energy for all life on earth. Sunlight can be classified as electromagnetic radiation, and it is responsible for everything from photosynthesis to mood regulation. The first thing you need to know about sunlight is that it can come in many forms: infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, and more. The type that matters when growing mushrooms is visible light, which falls into the 400-700 nm wavelength. Sunlight has two parts: UVB rays and UVA rays. While UVA helps plants produce chlorophyll, UVB is what helps plants make vitamin D3 through exposure to sunlight. It also activates systems involved in photosynthesis, which provides light-independent growth. Some people may not realize this, but UVB rays are critical for human health too. Vitamin D3 deficiency can cause diseases like cancer or arthritis, so it’s important to get enough sun exposure to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D3 production without burning your skin in the process.
Why does sunlight matter for mushrooms?
Light is more than just a way to see your surroundings. It is also an important component of the growth process for mushrooms, plants, and other organisms. The sun provides natural light and it is an excellent choice for many indoor growers. Mushrooms are no exception to this rule. They need their fair share of sunlight to grow, so if you’re planning on growing them yourself at home, then you must be prepared to provide them with enough light. Sunlight can come in the form of natural or artificial light and both of these types are needed for mushrooms to do well. If you live in a densely populated area then natural sunlight may be hard to come by, but there are still options that you can explore like using LED lights for your mushrooms’ needs.
Types Of Mushrooms That Require Sunlight
1. Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular types of mushrooms in the world because they have a deep, rich flavor. They grow naturally on the roots of the oak and other hardwoods. You can also find them at your local grocery store. Shiitake mushrooms are easy to grow indoors because you only need indirect sunlight and high humidity levels to cultivate them.
2. Oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most common mushrooms that can be grown in a room with little to no natural light. They are found in forests and grow on trees, but don’t require sunlight.
3. Cloud Ear Mushrooms
These fungi are prized for their crisp and crunchy texture. They grow out of black, hanging clusters that resemble a person’s ear with the name “Cloud Ear” coming from the resemblance. The mushrooms can be found in the wild in China, Taiwan, and Japan or they can be purchased at many Asian markets.
4. King Oyster Mushrooms
King oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest species of mushrooms to grow indoors. King oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest species of mushrooms to grow indoors. The name might sound a little intimidating, but this is an edible mushroom with a deliciously earthy flavor that is perfect for adding texture and richness to any dish. King oysters like moist, rich soil and need sunlight or they will not grow properly. Make sure you keep your king oysters in a brightly lit area, as it will help them produce more flavorful fruiting bodies.
5. Golden Tree Fungus
This is a popular choice for mushroom gardening because it can grow in low-light conditions. It’s often called the “kitchen king” because of its versatility in cooking and flavor.
6. Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms are a type that requires sunlight to grow. Maitakes are usually found in the fall and grow best on decaying trees, so you know they require some light. They are the largest of all the mushrooms and have a brownish-purple cap with a white stem.
How To Tell If Your Mushrooms Are Getting Enough Light
Check the Colour of Your Shrooms
Do your mushrooms have a healthy green color? Healthy, well-fed mushrooms will have a bright green color. Does the Colour Change with the Light? Do your mushrooms change color when the light changes intensity? If so, you may need more light. Check for Spots of Infestation Are there any spots on the mushroom caps or stalked mushrooms? Those could be signs of mold or fungus. Check to see if they’re just white spots, which are usually just natural spores that get picked up during growth, or dark brown spots, which can be harmful to your plant and should be treated immediately.
Check the Weight of Your Shrooms
One of the most obvious ways to check if your mushrooms are getting enough light is to weigh them. If they end up being too heavy, they’re probably not getting enough light. But if they are lighter than usual, it means that they need more light.
Check the Leaf Tingeness
One of the easiest ways to check if your mushrooms are getting enough light is to look at the leaves. If they’re turning dark green, that might mean that they aren’t getting enough sunlight or water. The darker the leaves get, the more likely it is that your mushrooms will be healthy and not lack any vital nutrient it needs for growth.
Check the Stem Tingeness
The easiest way to see if your mushrooms are getting enough light is to check the stem tinges. If the stem feels very soft and pliable, it’s probably not getting enough light. But if the stem is crisp and firm, you’re good to go!
Tips For Giving Your Mushrooms The Right Amount Of Light
1. Use LED Grow Lights
LED grow lights are more expensive than fluorescent lights, but they are worth the investment. They provide you with the perfect spectrum of light for your plants. LEDs use a combination of red and blue wavelengths in order to create a full-spectrum light that is ideal for growing. The intensity of these lights can be adjusted depending on the requirements of your plants. These lights are also very durable and have a long life when used appropriately. LED grow lights will save you money in the long term because they consume less power than other types of grow lights. So, if you want to get the most out of your indoor gardening experience, invest in an LED grow light for your mushrooms instead of using fluorescent bulbs or halogens that are typically used by beginners. And, one more thing: don’t forget to keep them at least three feet away from any surface!
2. Find the Right Light for the Right Space
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much light your mushrooms will get. You can measure this by finding your mushroom’s location on the light intensity scale. This is a scale that ranges from low-light plants (0) to high-light plants (10). Mushrooms with the placement of 3 or 4 are perfect for growing indoors because these types of mushrooms thrive in medium-intensity lighting, which is usually what a grower can produce. If you want to keep things simple, it’s best to stick to fluorescent lights if you’re looking at getting high output and low energy consumption.
3. Find the Right Exposure Window
The most important thing to remember is that there is no standard for plants. What works for one plant might not work for the next. For example, tomatoes need a lot of light but strawberries need less light. “It all depends on the type of plant and what you expect out of it,” says Steve Gonsalves, a researcher in the Plant Sciences Department at Cornell University. “Also, it depends on how much light you want to provide.” On average plants require about 16 hours of daylight (or 12 hours if they are being grown indoors) with a little bit more than two hours of artificial light during the night time or when the sun goes down. However, this is just an average as different types of plants require different amounts of sunlight and artificial lighting. The best way to figure out the right exposure window for your mushrooms is by conducting some research beforehand so that you don’t end up spending too much on energy bills or watering your plants too often or not enough.
Use an MH and an MH-C lamp together
If you are using high-output lamps like MH or HPS lamps, you should also use an additional low-output light source like MH-C or CMH to supplement the lighting. When a plant is under continuous light for 24 hours a day, it will start to show signs of stress. This is because the cytochrome enzymes in green tissues can only produce energy from photosynthesis for about 12 hours. The plant will start to show signs of leaf curling and growing taller as it tries to reach some other object to block the light and get some relief. Plants that are more acclimated to lower levels of light will have better tolerances at higher intensities and vice versa. Putting these two types of lights together, you’ll be able to provide your plants with an adequate amount of light without them becoming stressed out.
Conclusion
Sunlight is a crucial component of mushroom growth. It provides the energy necessary for mushrooms to photosynthesize, making it possible for them to grow and thrive. While some mushrooms, like shiitake, can grow indoors without access to sunlight, most mushrooms will thrive with a bit of sunlight each day. When choosing a light source for mushroom growing, be sure to select a bulb that produces blue-green light. This will provide your mushrooms with the light they need to thrive.
