Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 4 September 2025
Product & Sterility
Q1. Are MycoNutrients® products organic?
All materials and raw ingredients are food-grade, pesticide-free, and sourced from trusted suppliers. We are in the process of obtaining organic certification.
Q2. What type of bags do you use?
All MycoNutrients® products are prepared in genuine Unicorn Bags made from 100% virgin, FDA‑approved polypropylene resin. They are free from BPA, PLA, coatings, inks, pigments, and epoxy. They comply with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 and EN 1186 for food‑contact and high‑heat safety and are suitable for autoclaving.
Q3. How are MycoNutrients® bags sterilised?
Every batch is sterilised in commercial autoclaves under tightly controlled pressure and temperature. Each run is logged, batch‑coded, and verified with biological indicators as part of our QA process.
Q4. How should I store MycoNutrients® bags, and how long do they last?
MycoNutrients® bags are sterilised and shipped ready to inoculate immediately. If you’re not using them right away, keep sealed bags at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Stored this way, they remain viable for several months. Always check the bag visually before use to confirm it remains clean and uncontaminated.
Q5. My bag has condensation inside — is that normal?
Yes. Condensation is completely normal and usually means the bag has come out of the steriliser recently and is still fresh. It does not affect quality or performance. As the substrate re-absorbs moisture and the bag stabilises, condensation will fade.
Q6. Can I inoculate with a spore syringe or liquid culture?
Yes — MycoNutrients® bags can be inoculated with either:
- Spore syringes – suitable for beginners, but colonisation will be slower and contamination risk is higher.
- Liquid culture (LC) – faster colonisation and generally lower contamination risk when using a clean culture.
Please note
- MycoNutrients® does not sell or supply spores or liquid culture.
- Spores and LC must be purchased separately, and we cannot verify or guarantee their sterility.
- Customers are solely responsible for ensuring that any spores or cultures they use are legal in their jurisdiction.
Disclaimer
MycoNutrients® provides sterile substrates and bags intended for legal gourmet and medicinal mushroom cultivation. We do not provide spores or liquid cultures. Any third-party spores or cultures are outside of our control, and we cannot guarantee their sterility or legality. Customers are responsible for ensuring compliance with all local laws and regulations. For more information, please review our Terms of Service.
Q7. What if the injection port on my MycoOne™ bag is not aligned with the grain?
In MycoOne™ All-in-One bags, the grain layer can shift during shipping, so the injection port may appear to sit over substrate. This is normal. Simply angle the needle downward toward the grain (being careful not to push through the very bottom of the bag) and inject slowly. Gravity will carry the spores or liquid culture down, and the mycelium will colonise the grain first before spreading into the substrate.
Q8. How do I reduce contamination risk?
Work in a clean environment — ideally in front of a laminar flow hood or a still air box (SAB). If neither is available, ensure doors and windows are closed in the room to reduce airborne contamination risk.
- Wear gloves and sanitise with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Flame-sterilise and cool needles before inoculation.
- Minimise handling and exposure time.
Without sterile technique (laminar flow hood or SAB), contamination risk is significantly higher when using grain and substrate bags separately. To reduce this risk, many growers start with our MycoOne™ All-in-One bags, which combine grain and substrate in one sterile bag.
Q9. How long does colonisation take?
Usually 2–4 weeks depending on strain, temperature, and bag size. Colonisation may be faster with smaller bags or higher spawn ratios.
Q10. Do you provide growing guides?
Yes. Each product links to our How-to Guide. QR codes for step-by-step sterile techniques, inoculation, and fruiting instructions — as well as these FAQs — are also printed on the card that comes with your order. For broader learning, you can also explore the Growing Tips & Knowledge section further down this page.
Spores & Liquid Culture (LC)
Q1. Do you sell spores or liquid culture?
Not yet. MycoNutrients® currently focuses on sterile substrates and grain spawn. However, we are actively exploring bringing spores and liquid culture (LC) into our range in the near future. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when these become available.
Q2. Where can I buy spores or LC in the meantime?
Spores and cultures are available from specialist genetics suppliers. We don’t sell them directly at present, but they are widely available online.
Q3. Do I need spores or LC to use your bags?
Yes. To begin growing, you’ll need either spores or liquid culture (LC). These act as the “seed” for your mushroom cultivation, while our sterilised spawn and substrates provide the optimal growing environment.
Q4. What’s the difference between spores and liquid culture?
Spores
Think of spores as the “seeds” of mushrooms. They contain the full genetic blueprint, but they haven’t started growing yet. When introduced into sterile grain (like our MycoSpawn™ bags), spores need time to germinate and form mycelium before colonisation can take off. This makes them slower to establish and more prone to contamination if conditions aren’t perfect.
Liquid Culture (LC)
Liquid culture is like a “starter culture.” It contains living mycelium that’s already germinated and suspended in a nutrient-rich liquid (usually sugar water or malt extract). Because the mycelium is alive and growing, LC colonises grain much faster and with a lower risk of contamination compared to spores.
Which should I use?
Beginners often start with spores because they’re cheaper and widely available.
More experienced growers (and commercial setups) tend to prefer LC for its reliability, speed, and consistency.
Some growers even use spores to create their own LC — combining the advantages of both.
Q5. Should I turn spores into LC?
Many growers choose to transfer spores into liquid culture (LC) before inoculation. This allows the spores to germinate in a nutrient broth, meaning:
- Faster colonisation once introduced into grain spawn
- Lower contamination risk compared to using spores directly
That said, every transfer step (e.g., moving spores into LC, or LC into grain) carries a contamination risk if not performed in sterile conditions. Most growers use tools like a still air box (SAB) or a laminar flow hood to reduce this risk, but even with these, contamination can still occur.
⚠️ Important note: The success of spore or LC inoculations depends on the genetics you purchase and the sterile technique you use. MycoNutrients® provides sterile substrates and grain spawn only, and we cannot be responsible for contamination, quality, or outcomes related to third-party spores or cultures.
Shipping & Delivery
Q1. How quickly do you dispatch orders?
During our pre-launch phase, orders will
begin dispatching from the week commencing 22nd September. Standard processing time is 1 day and Royal Mail 2nd Class shipping is 2–3 business days. For most of our products, you can upgrade to Royal Mail 24 Tracked which ships in 1 business day. See our Shipping Policy for full details.
For large or custom orders, please Email us to arrange fulfilment.
Q2. Which couriers do you use?
We use reliable couriers such as Royal Mail Second Class as standard, unless you upgrade to Tracked 24 for an additional fee. DPD and pallet services may also be used depending on order size and destination, at no additional cost to you
Q3. Do you ship internationally?
Not yet. MycoNutrients® ships within the UK only.
We’re working on expanding to European countries next and then who knows? - sign up to our newsletter here for updates.
Returns & Refunds
Q1. What if my bag arrives damaged?
If your bag arrives damaged, please take photos immediately and contact us. We will arrange a replacement or refund in line with our Refund Policy.
Q2. What if I see contamination?
If contamination is visible before inoculation, please contact us with photos. Once inoculated, bags are outside our control and cannot be guaranteed.
Q3. Can I return unused bags?
For sterility reasons, MycoNutrients® cannot accept returns of sterile products once they have left our facility. Please review our Refund Policy for details.
Legal & Compliance
Q1. Are these products legal to use?
Yes — our bags and substrates are intended for gourmet and medicinal mushroom cultivation. Customers are responsible for ensuring compliance with local laws regarding mushroom species. More information is available in our Terms of Service.
Q2. Do you guarantee yields?
MycoNutrients® bags are made using premium ingredients, sterilised in professional autoclaves, and batch-tested in our facility. When used correctly, they provide an excellent foundation for high-yield grows. However, final results always depend on your strain, growing conditions, and cultivation methods, which are outside of our control.
Q3. Where can I read your full terms?
You can find our full legal terms, conditions, and policies on our Terms of Service page. Other policies can be found at the very bottom of every page.
Growing Tips & Knowledge
Q1. What is the mushroom lifecycle?
The typical lifecycle is: spore → germination → mycelium → fully colonised substrate → pinning → fruiting (mushrooms) → spores again.
Q2. What are spores?
Spores are the microscopic “seeds” of a mushroom. Each spore carries the genetic material to form new mycelium, which then colonises a substrate and eventually produces mushrooms.
Q3. What is mycelium?
Mycelium is the root-like network of a fungus. It spreads through grain or substrate and later produces mushrooms when conditions are right.
Q4 What do mushrooms feed on?
Mycelium (the vegetative body of the fungus) digests organic matter like cellulose and lignin. The mushrooms you see are the fruiting stage, produced once the mycelium has enough resources. Our blends (MycoCoir™ for coir-based strains, MycoWood™ for wood-loving species) are formulated to give the right structure, moisture, and nutrition.
Q5. Why is coco coir used as a substrate?
Coco coir is widely used in mushroom cultivation because it provides excellent structure, keeps substrates airy, and holds water evenly. It is also naturally resistant to many contaminants. Our MycoCoir™ blend takes plain coir further by adding vermiculite for texture and gypsum for balanced pH and mineral support.
Q6. Is coir nutritious enough on its own?
On its own, coco coir has negligible nutritional value — it’s mainly for water retention and structure. That’s why growers combine it with grain spawn to supply food for the fungus. Our MycoOne™ Coir All-in-One bags include ~50% grain and ~50% CVG substrate in a single sterile unit, while professional growers often use MycoSpawn™ alongside MycoCoir™ bulk coir substrate to boost colonisation and yields.
Q7. MycoCoir™ vs. MycoWood™ — which should I choose?
Wood-loving species prefer hardwood blends; many oysters thrive on coir mixes. If you’re unsure, start with a MycoOne™ All-in-One bag — a simple, ready-to-fruit solution for beginners.
Q8. What is liquid culture (LC), and why is it faster than spores?
LC is live mycelium suspended in nutrient solution. Because it’s already active, LC usually colonises bags faster and more evenly than spores.
Q9. How do spores become liquid culture?
Spores germinate into mycelium in a nutrient-rich liquid. We’ll soon be launching MycoNutrients® Nutrient Shots — a simple way to turn a spore syringe into a clean LC. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Q10. Do I need a laminar flow hood or still air box?
If you plan to open and reseal bags (e.g., transferring grain into substrate), a Still Air Box or Laminar Flow Hood is strongly recommended to avoid contamination. Without one, contamination risk is high. Beginners who want to avoid this should use MycoOne™ All-in-One bags, which don’t require opening or resealing during colonisation.
Q11. What temperatures and humidity should I aim for?
Colonisation: ~20–24 °C in a dark or dim space, away from direct light.
Fruiting: ~18–22 °C with 85–95% humidity, gentle fresh air, and indirect light.
To maintain humidity, mist the inside walls of the bag/monotub 1–2× per day, or use a humidity-controlled grow tent or room.
Q12. How much spore or liquid culture (LC) syringe should I use?
For most bags, 5–10 mL of either a spore syringe or liquid culture syringe is sufficient. Lower volumes may still work, but using 5–10 mL helps ensure faster, more reliable colonisation.
Q13. What is “break & shake” and when should I do it?
When your grain bag is ~30–50% colonised (white mycelium covering about half the grains and the bag feels firm), gently massage it to redistribute the mycelium and oxygen. This usually speeds up full colonisation.
Q14. How do I recognise contamination?
Warning signs include sour or fermented smells, slimy patches, or green/blue mould (different from harmless blue bruising).
Harmless bruising often looks light blue/grey and fades, especially where the block was handled. Contamination is usually bright or patchy green, black, or vivid blue with fuzzy edges. If in doubt, treat it as contamination and discard safely.
Q15. How can I improve yields?
Use the right spawn:substrate ratio (~1:6–1:8), fully colonise before fruiting, and maintain humidity (mist bag/tub walls, not the block). For multiple flushes, rehydrate by adding bottled mineral water to the base of the bag/tub (see our How-To Guide for volumes).