Mushroom Network Macrame Fruiting Chamber Kit - Rustic Red, Terracotta Base, Grey Oyster

Description

The Mushroom Network Macrame Fruiting Chamber Kit - Rustic Red, Terracotta Base, Grey Oyster is a kit consisting of a mushroom grow stick, terracotta base and macrame hanging planter. A great kit that is both a functional and attractive piece of home decor.

Grey Oyster mushrooms have a slightly sweet taste, with a woodsy characteristic. Compared to the shiitake mushroom, they have a milder and more tender flavour profile. They are versatile and can substitute well into many mushroom recipes. They are a fantastic meat replacement in stir-fries. In preparation, the stems of these mushrooms should be cut away, as they are tough even when cooked.

Grey Oyster mushrooms go particularly well in egg dishes like omelettes or quiches and are a delicacy often used in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cuisine. Once cooked they have a pleasing and tender texture, especially when fried, roasted, or grilled. Braising will bring about a softer texture. Grey Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are the most common type of oyster mushroom and can be found across the world. This species is very forgiving to cultivate, and a great option for beginner home growers. When the mushrooms first start pinning, they're a lovely dark grey-blue colour that then fades to a light grey as they mature.

The Terracotta base with rustic red macrame mushroom fruiting chamber makes for a piece of home decor that is both attractive and functional. It's a great way to accentuate the beauty of mushrooms grown from ready-to-fruit grow sticks. It also allows the grower to place them in a spot that is best suited to a successful yield. Recycled t-shirt yarn is used for the macrame, which is designed to stabilize the grow stick while also providing enough space for the mushrooms to grow. The unglazed ceramic base that sits inside the macrame has been specially designed to maintain a humid environment with minimal effort.

A ready-to-fruit grow stick rests on the circular pillar in the centre of the base so that it doesn't touch the soaked perlite surrounding it. This prevents contamination, maximises the space available for fruiting and contributes to the slow evaporation rate between misting which helps maintain an adequately humid environment for successful fruiting. The versatile ceramic base can also stand alone on a countertop if desired.


Kit Instructions:

Step 1: Soak the 50g of perlite with 150ml tap water. After about 10 minutes, drain off any excess water.

Step 2: Fill the outer ring of the ceramic base with the soaked perlite. Leave the inner circle empty as this is where your grow stick will stand.

Step 3: Hang the macrame from the desired place in your home, using the wooden circle at the top as an anchor. Avoid direct sunlight and strong breezes.

Step 4: Place the ceramic base inside the macrame making sure the knots are evenly spaced, and the base is level.

Step 5: Place the grow stick on the ceramic stand as demonstrated in the picture. Remember to position it so that the place where the fruits will come out is closest to the perlite.

Step 6: Before you make slits in the plastic to initiate fruiting, refer to the instructions for how to best fruit your specific variety of mushrooms!


Grey Oyster Harvesting Instructions:

Like the other oyster mushroom species, these mushrooms should be harvested just before the edges of the caps start to curl up. A good sign to watch for is for the curling up of the cap edges on the largest mushrooms in the cluster, as soon as they do this, harvest straight away.

- Grey oysters should be harvested all at once in their clusters.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before harvesting
- Lightly grip the base of the cluster and with a twisting and pulling motion carefully separate the mushrooms from the substrate of the grow stick.
- Try not to take too much substrate off of the grow stick.
- Tape up your hole with some clear packaging tape as neatly as possible, with as little chance for air to enter the gaps.

Features

Terracotta Base with Rustic Red Macrame

• Easy fruiting
• Attractive stand
• Unglazed base
• Ceramic stand designed to provide adequate moisture
• Attractive and functional macramé
• Maintains a humid environment
• Slow evaporation
• Practical and easy to use

Grey Oyster Stick

• Slight Sweet taste
• More tender flavour profile
• Fantastic meat replacement in stir-fries
• Pleasing and tender texture
• Go well with egg dishes

Specifications

Package Content

• 1 x Terracotta base
• 1 x Rustic red macrame
• 1 x Grey Oyster grow stick
• 1 x 50g Bag of Perlite