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

Description

The Mushroom Network Macrame Fruiting Chamber Kit - Rustic Red, Terracotta Base, Chestnut Mushroom 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.

The Chestnut Mushroom, a close cousin of the slimy capped Nameko Mushroom (Pholiota microspora), is a wonderful clustering, wood loving mushroom. They form dense clusters of beautiful shaggy-capped mushrooms with dark orange gills. They are a saprophytic and weak parasitic species that grow on living and dead stems of European beech trees in their natural range. The Chestnut prefer cooler temperatures, they take a little longer to mature once they have started pinning. Expect to harvest 7 to 10 days after primordial (pins) have formed.

With Chestnut mushrooms, both the stem and the cap are great for cooking with, although the very tip of the stem can be quite tough. Once you've harvested the chestnuts in their clusters, break them up into smaller clusters of 4 or 5 mushrooms each, and then slice off the very tips of the stems all at once. These mushrooms have a wonderful nutty flavour, similar to the Shiitake mushroom, only milder and with a slightly peppery finish. They are particularly known to keep their texture quite well after cooking, retaining some of their snap, resulting in a satisfying texture for whatever dish you put them in.

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 where your grow stick will stand.

Step 3: Hang the macram 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 macram 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!


Chestnut Mushroom Harvesting Instructions:


Chestnut mushrooms should be harvested before the cap flattens out, any longer and the harvests shelf life will be significantly shorter. Harvest them in their clusters, gently twist and pull them being cautious to not pull out too much substrate. Your next flush of fruits will come straight from the previous fruiting site.

-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

Chestnut Mushroom Stick

• Stem and cap can be harvested
• Keeps texture quite well after cooking
• satisfying texture
• Wonderful nutty taste

Specifications

Package Content

• 1 x Terracotta base
• 1 x Rustic red macrame
• 1 x Chestnut Mushroom grow stick
• 1 x 50g Bag of Perlite