How to Grow Mushrooms Using a Black Light & Natural Light

Empty 1/2 cup vermiculite into a mixing bowl, adding just enough water to moisten it. Mix 1/4 cup rye flour to the bowl, combining all ingredients with a spoon. Spoon the mixture into glass jars, filling the jars 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the top. Fill the remaining space with dry vermiculite.

Place three layers of foil atop the jar, pressing the ends of the first two layers firmly against the jar and leaving the ends of the third layer folded upward for easy removal.

Stack the jars on the rack of a pressure cooker containing 1 inch of water. Cook the mushrooms over medium heat at a pressure of 15psi for 45 minutes. Remove the jars once the pressure cooker is cool and remove the top layer of foil.

Inject mushroom spore into the outer edges of each jar through the foil lining. Replace the top foil layer and place the mushrooms in a dark place with temperatures of 80 F for up to five days.

Expose jars to 12 continuous hours of sunlight once tiny mushroom pricks begin to form inside the jars. Expose the mushrooms to black light along with sunlight during this time if desired.

Place mushroom mixture from jars into larger plastic containers filled with moistened pearlite. Cover the container loosely with plastic bags.

Continue placing mushrooms into natural light, misting them with water to provide moisture when necessary. Black light may be used as a supplemental light source if desired throughout the growth of mushrooms.