Equipment

Don't buy everything at once! Select your growing method below to see the specific shopping list for your needs.

Hygiene & Sterilization

• 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Crucial for sanitizing surfaces and tools. Do not use 90% (evaporates too fast).
• Nitrile Gloves Powder-free. Keep your hands clean.
• Face Mask Prevents breathing bacteria onto your work. Surgical masks work fine.
• Spray Bottle (Fine Mist) For alcohol and later for water misting.
• Flame Source Lighter or alcohol lamp for flame sterilizing needles/scalpels.

• Wide Mouth Half-Pint Jars Kerr or Ball brand. Must be wide mouth to slide cakes out.
• Vermiculite Medium or fine grade. Used for substrate and moisture retention.
• Perlite Coarse grade. Used in the fruiting chamber to maintain humidity.
• Large Pot (Stock Pot) For steam sterilizing jars. Must be tall enough to fit jars.
• Shotgun Fruiting Chamber (SGFC) Clear plastic tote (60L+). You will drill holes in it.

Monotub / Bulk Growing

• Pressure Cooker (23qt) Presto 23qt is the gold standard. Reaches 15 PSI. Essential for grain.
• Whole Oats / Rye / Bird Seed Bulk grain for spawn. 50lb bags from feed stores are cheapest.
• Coco Coir (Bricks) Pet store reptile bedding (Eco Earth) works great.
• Quart Mason Jars For grain spawn. Regular or wide mouth.
• Monotub Tote Clear plastic tote (54qt - 66qt). Sterilite usually.
• Polyfill or Micropore Tape For air exchange filters on jars and tubs.
• Gypsum Adds calcium/sulfur and prevents grain clumping.

Lab & Agar Work

• Still Air Box (SAB) Large clear tote with arm holes. Essential for sterile work.
• Petri Dishes Sterile plastic (disposable) or glass (reusable).
• Agar Agar Powder Gelling agent. Ensure it's not pre-sweetened.
• Light Malt Extract (LME) Nutrient source for mycelium.
• Scalpel & Blades #11 blades are standard for transfers.
• Parafilm Laboratory film to seal petri dishes.
• Media Bottle (500ml) Borosilicate glass bottle for sterilizing agar.

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