How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022 (2024)

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How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022 (1)

  • Mike Hjorth Andersen

Mycelium requires a certain level of light to develop mature fruiting bodies. While some growers prefer to use LED lights at 12-hour intervals, others believe that indirect sunlight from a window is enough.

Some mushroom species do not require light at all to grow, such as e.gPsilocybe Albino prefer it to be almost completely dark for a high yield. Others, such as the psychedelic Psilocybe Cubensis(Wizard naked hat), requires plenty of light to develop healthy, mature fruit bodies. That said, there are differing opinions on how much light mushrooms really need. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about lighting for your next mushroom production!

Table of contents

What kind of lighting works best for mushrooms?

There are different opinions on what kind of lighting works best for edible mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms or magic mushrooms.
Some growers prefer to use special types of LED light for growing mushrooms, others choose to use nothing but natural daylight. While the mycelium may not need light to grow, it would be a mistake to assume that fungal fruiting bodies don't either. Whether the light is natural or artificially generated, it is believed that some illumination is necessary for the fungus to complete the fruiting process and guide the fruiting body's growth direction.

How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022 (2)

Somemushroom growersprefer to use fluorescent tubes as lighting to grow mushrooms, and others prefer the more modern and efficient LED lighting. Using artificial light guarantees that mycelium has access to the light it needs even in the absence of natural daylight.

When choosing which grow lights If you're looking to grow mushrooms, the primary considerations should be the lamp's light intensity, spectrum and heat output. Ideally, mushrooms are best suited to a colder light that leans towards the blue end of the spectrum, such as "daylight" fluorescent or LED lamps that emit light in the 6,000-7,000 Kelvin range.

Also, it is strongly recommended to avoid using incandescent bulbs for growing any kind of mushrooms as they emit a warm light of around 2700-3500 Kelvin along with a lot of heat radiation which is bad as mushrooms thrive best in cold rooms.

Many mushroom growers have stated that they can produce healthy and beautiful mushrooms with only natural light, if you make sure that the mushrooms are not exposed to sunlight at any time and a high humidity can be maintained at all times.

Mycelium apparently only requires a minor amount of light form knowing which direction to grow and set its fruits. Placing your terrarium or grow tent somewhere where it can get a healthy amount of indirect daylight can be good enough for most mushroom species.

Overall, your mushrooms will require some sort of light source to set fruiting bodies. Don't expect your mushrooms to just grow in the dark!

How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022 (3)

How much light do mushrooms need?

Mushroom growers have different opinions on the subject.
Some growers rely on a fixed schedule of 12/12 lighting, others prefer to give their mushrooms much less light.
A 12/12 schedule ensures that mushrooms have a healthy amount of light to grow. A lot of light is probably unnecessary and the fruiting process can just as well be completed with much less.

Depending on the intensity of the light you use, it can even be harmful to expose your mushrooms to 12 or more hours of artificial light per day.
Lights measuring below 7,000 Kelvin should be fine to leave on for longer periods of time. If you're worried about your light being too intense or burning your mushroom block, you can safely limit the light to 3-4 hours a day.

Lighting distance from the mushroom block

It is always important to avoid excessive heating. Placing your lights too close to your terrarium or mycelium can result in overheating or even burn damage, damaging your mushrooms or preventing fruiting bodies from fully germinating. Remember to leave some space and watch closely for burn damage, especially if you are using particularly intense grow lights.

UV light turns mushrooms into vitamin D bombs

Fungi produce large quantities D vitamin, when illuminated with ultraviolet light. This discovery could make mushrooms a big hit with vitamin D-starved Scandinavians.

Links to further information on growing mushrooms/mycelium

Guide to medicinal mushrooms

Tips for growing mushrooms in the garden

PrevPreviouslyCoffee plant | How to grow a coffee tree in your living room

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How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022 (2024)

FAQs

How much light do mushrooms need to grow? - Guide 2022? ›

The ideal amount of light varies from species to species, but generally, most mushrooms grow well with 10 to 12 hours of indirect natural or artificial LED light.

How much light do you need to grow mushrooms? ›

Mycelium requires some degree of light in order to develop mature fruiting bodies. While some growers prefer to use LED or CFL lights on 12-hour schedules, others simply rely on the indirect sunlight provided by a window. Some mushroom species require no light at all in order to grow.

What light level do mushrooms need? ›

The most important requirement for a mushroom to grow is the correct light level. It's also why it's pretty risky to farm mushrooms, because its low light level might invite mobs to spawn into the farm. Mushrooms require a light level of 13 or less.

What is the best light for mushroom growing? ›

One of the reasons blue light is effective for mushroom growth is that it mimics the natural conditions under which many mushrooms grow. In the wild, mushrooms are often exposed to the blue light present in daylight.

Can you grow mushrooms with LED lights? ›

Growing mushrooms in a grow room or Grow tent with artificial light such as LED strips, will affect and help them in a few ways. Light will help the mushrooms form initial pins, this is crucial for your mushrooms to then go on and form good sized fruiting bodies.

Does mycelium grow better in the dark? ›

Mycelium apparently only requires a minor amount of light form knowing which direction to grow and set its fruits. Placing your terrarium or grow tent somewhere where it can get a healthy amount of indirect daylight can be good enough for most mushroom species.

Do mushrooms grow in full shade? ›

Some kinds of mushrooms, like King Stropharia and Boletus, are tolerant of some sunlight provided that it doesn't dehydrate their growing medium, while others like Chicken of the Woods will only reliably fruit in wet, full shade conditions.

Do mushrooms need total darkness to grow? ›

Q: Can mushrooms grow in complete darkness? A: While mushrooms don't require light for the initial mycelium colonization phase, they need light during the fruiting stage for proper development. Complete darkness throughout the entire growth cycle is not suitable for most mushroom species.

What light level does mycelium grow? ›

The mycelium needs light level 9+ above it, while the dirt needs light level 4+ above it, and must not be covered by any light-impeding block or any opaque block. Mycelium reverts to dirt when covered by one of the light-impeding blocks above, and the light level at that block is below 4.

Do mushrooms like red light? ›

During the fruiting stage, mushrooms require red light to stimulate fruiting body formation. Full spectrum LED lights or HPS lights, which emit red light, are ideal for the fruiting stage.

What conditions are needed for a mushroom to grow? ›

The ideal growing conditions for mushrooms are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and greater than 90% humidity. Natural logs work well and oaks and maples serve as the best hosts. For natural logs, it is best if the log is newly cut so that it hasn't dried out.

What does a 6500K light look like? ›

4600K-6500K: gives off a bright amount of blue-white light, similar to that of daylight; best for display areas and work environments where very bright illumination is needed.

What is a mushroom lamp shade? ›

The shades for each of the minimal table lamps is made from mycelium – the vegetative part of a fungus – while more conventional metal forms the stand and base. Each lamp is illuminated from below by a separate light source, which projects onto the mycelium shade to create a soft, natural glow.

How much light for mushrooms? ›

Exactly how much light mushrooms need is not clear. Some say it can be as little as 2 hours a day, but generally, growers agree it's best to provide 10 to 12 hours of light daily. Lack of pin development, long stems and pale coloration are all signs that your mushrooms may not have enough light.

What light level do mushrooms grow at? ›

Mushrooms naturally generate in poorly lit areas (light level of 12 or less).

Do mushrooms need UV light? ›

There's just one catch: mushrooms need UV light to produce Vitamin D. When they're grown outdoors, they receive this energy naturally. Mushrooms grown indoors do not. Except, that is, for indoor mushrooms that are exposed to Pulsed Light after harvesting.

Do mushrooms need light to grow indoors? ›

A: While mushrooms don't require light for the initial mycelium colonization phase, they need light during the fruiting stage for proper development. Complete darkness throughout the entire growth cycle is not suitable for most mushroom species.

Do mushrooms need a lot of sunlight to grow? ›

Unlike plants that rely heavily on direct sunlight for photosynthesis, mushrooms do not require direct sunlight. In fact, excessive exposure to direct sunlight or full sun can be detrimental to their development. The ideal lighting condition for mushrooms is often described as mimicking natural daylight.

What is the best environment for growing mushrooms? ›

Substrate: They aren't picky, but they do best in straw or hardwood sawdust. Humidity: High humidity levels are essential, around 80-90%. Temperature: A temperature range of 55-75°F (13-24°C) promotes healthy growth. Light: They require low levels of indirect light to trigger fruiting.

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