Grow Oysters on Kitty LitterGrow Oysters on Kitty LitterItIt’’s easy!s easy!

Technique developed by: Technique developed by:

Milton TamMilton Tam

Puget Sound Mycological Society,Puget Sound Mycological Society,

Milton Tam. Home Cultivation: Non-sterile Cultivation of Oyster Mushrooms FUNGI Magazine - Vol. 6, No.4 - Winter 2013 -

Grow Oysters on Kitty LitterGrow Oysters on Kitty LitterItIt’’s easy!s easy!

Supplies:Supplies:

•• 4 cups Purina Yesterday4 cups Purina Yesterday’’s News Kittys News KittyLitter (Litter (pelletedpelleted newspaper)newspaper)

•• 4 cups of 4 cups of dechlorinateddechlorinated tap watertap water

•• Handful (l/4to 1/3 cup) of guinea pig chowHandful (l/4to 1/3 cup) of guinea pig chow

•• 3/4 cup oyster mushroom spawn3/4 cup oyster mushroom spawn

•• Plastic bagsPlastic bags: newspaper tube, veggie: newspaper tube, veggieproduce bags, bread bags, whateverproduce bags, bread bags, whatever

•• LimeLime——Ca(OH)Ca(OH)2. 2. [optional][optional]

Grow Oysters on Kitty LitterIt’s easy!

Pelletted Newspaper Kitty Litter

Guinea Pig Chow

Pelletted Newspaper Kitty Litter

Lime Ca(OH)2[optional]

•Hydrated lime•Slacked lime•Quick lime

No Magnesium!

4 cups litter +4 cups water

1 gm Ca(OH)2 in 1 qt waterpH ~ 12 [optional]

Add chow and spawn

Soak 10 min

SPAWNSPAWN

Grain SpawnGrain Spawn

Stem Butt SpawnStem Butt SpawnChopped Oyster stem butts Chopped Oyster stem butts

in kitty litter substratein kitty litter substrateThen use as spawnThen use as spawn

Veggie produce bagVeggie produce bag

• Make slits/holes in bag Make slits/holes in bag

•• Put bag in cool dark place withPut bag in cool dark place withtemp between 60temp between 60--70 degrees*70 degrees*

•• Contents will become covered Contents will become covered with white myceliumwith white mycelium

•• Check for Check for ““primodiaprimodia”” (little (little pinheads) around 2 weeks pinheads) around 2 weeks

•• Place in indirect lighting at roomPlace in indirect lighting at roomtemptemp

•• Use a humidity tent and mist Use a humidity tent and mist 2x/day2x/day

•• Harvest in ~2 weeksHarvest in ~2 weeks

Humidity TentHumidity Tent

Chop sticks supports Plastic bag with holes for ventilation

Phoenix Oysters ready for harvest.

Kitty Litter Substrate

Kitty Litter in Newspaper tube

4 weeks