Mushroom grow-kit help
Mushroom Grow Kit Not Growing? What to Check
Before cutting again or adding more water, check how long your kit has been open, whether the surface stays damp and where you’ve placed it.
01
When will mushrooms appear?
Count from the day you open and start caring for your Nature Lion kit. These are times to the first tiny mushrooms, not to a finished harvest. Your room conditions can change the pace.
- Oyster mushrooms: usually sprout in 1–3 weeks.
- Chestnut mushrooms: average 4–5 weeks; allow 4–6 weeks for sprouting.
- Lion’s Mane: watch for small white growth at the opening. Keep up the tent routine; ask us if you are unsure about its progress.
02
Work through these checks
A quiet block is not automatically a failed kit. Chestnuts in particular take longer than oysters.
Check your start date
Count from when you opened the kit and began misting. If your oyster kit is past 3 weeks or your chestnut kit is past 6 weeks without sprouts, send us photos so we can help.
Check the opening
For a Nature Lion boxed kit, the back window should be open and the plastic cut in an X. The flaps stay attached. If you have not started yet, follow the opening instructions.
Set up your kit →Check where the water goes
Mist the exposed block underneath the flaps 2–3 times daily, not just the outside of the plastic or the cardboard.
Check its surroundings
Move the kit away from direct sun, heaters and air vents. Keep it in indirect light with room around the growing opening.
Check the Lion’s Mane tent
It should have a few slits and fit loosely. Mist inside it. Once mushrooms are growing, remove it for 1–2 hours daily before replacing it.
03
It started growing, then stopped
Don’t scrape off the baby mushrooms or repeatedly cut the block. Check for drying air and water sitting on the mushrooms. Take a close photo today so we can see what has stalled.
Long oyster stems with very small caps can be a sign of too little fresh air. Keep the kit out of a closed cupboard or sealed container. If you are unsure, ask us before making several changes at once.
04
Not sure? Show us your kit
Email info@naturelion.ca with a clear photo of the whole kit and a close-up of the opening. Tell us the mushroom variety, when you opened it, where it sits and how often you mist. Include your order number if you have it. We can help you choose the next step.
Keep a photo diary with Dr. MycoTek
Want to remember how your mushrooms grew?
A few photos on your phone are a good start. If you’d like to keep dates and photos together, you can use Dr. MycoTek. It’s optional—everything you need to follow this guide is on this page.
Continue exploring
Set up your kit
Open the box, cut the X and give your kit its first mist.
See the growing stages
Know what you are waiting for and what comes next.
My kit isn’t growing
Check the timing, moisture and location before changing anything.
Know when to harvest
Learn what to look for and how to pick your mushrooms.
Nature Lion opening and care instructions apply to our boxed kits. For another maker’s kit, follow the instructions supplied with that product. Growth photos show individual examples; timing and results vary.