Equipment and Supplies for Cultivation

The right equipment makes mushroom cultivation easier, cleaner, and far more consistent. You do not need a full lab to get started, but you do need a few key tools that support sterile work, proper sterilization, and stable fruiting conditions. Let's break down the essentials for home and small-scale growers, including pressure sterilizers, clean-work options like a flow hood or still-air box, the best containers for spawn, simple fruiting chambers, and affordable ways to monitor and control temperature, humidity, airflow, and lighting.

Pressure Sterilizer

A pressure cooker or autoclave is essential for properly sterilizing grain spawn and supplemented substrates.

For home growers, an All-American 21- or 25-quart pressure cooker (which can reach 15 PSI) is the gold standard; it’s heavy-duty and can fit several spawn jars or bags at once. More budget-friendly options, such as a Presto 23 qt, can also work (just be careful to monitor the pressure). Some small-scale cultivators even use an Instant Pot for limited batches, though standard pressure cookers are preferred for true sterilization (15 PSI). Look for used pressure canners in good condition to save on costs.

For commercial scale, larger electric sterilizers or even custom steam autoclave setups might handle dozens of bags at once.

Laminar Flow Hood or Still-Air Box

Because sterile technique is critical when working with cultures and spawn, you’ll need a clean workspace.

A laminar flow hood equipped with a HEPA filter provides a sterile stream of air for work, preventing airborne contaminants from landing on your agar plates or grain spawn. Professional flow hoods can be purchased (vendors like Fungi Perfecti and Laminar Flow Designs offer models for hobbyists and farms), but they can be costly. When purchasing a flow hood, ensure it utilizes a HEPA filter rated at 99.99% efficiency at 0.3 microns. Some companies also sell pre-made “flow cabinets” for mushroom cultivation, sized for home use.

A still-air box (SAB) can serve as a budget-friendly alternative. Simply a large, clear tote with arm holes that creates a relatively still, clean air environment for doing inoculations. Many small growers start with a SAB (costing under $50 to make) and upgrade to a laminar hood as they scale up.

Remember, sterile technique (using gloves, flame-sterilizing tools, and sanitizing surfaces) in conjunction with this equipment is key.

Spawn Containers

To propagate spawn, you’ll need suitable containers that can be sterilized.

Glass mason jars (quart size) with modified breathable lids (Tyvek, filter disks, or synthetic filter disks with holes for inoculation) are classic for grain spawn. They’re reusable and inexpensive.

Alternatively, autoclavable spawn bags with filter patches are an excellent option. They allow larger spawn batches and are the same bags used for bulk substrate. Look for medium-sized filter patch bags (0.2 micron filter for spawn) from suppliers like Unicorn Bags, MycoHaus, or Out-Grow. These bags can be sealed with an impulse sealer or tied off after sterilization. Plastic or glass petri dishes (90 mm) are used for agar work. Disposable, sterile plastic plates can be purchased in sleeves at a fairly low cost for culture work.

Tip: You can also use small glass jars for agar (baby food jars or 1/4 pint jars) if petri dishes are unavailable.

Fruiting Containers/Chamber

Once colonized, your substrate block needs a high-humidity environment with fresh air. 
Many home growers use a simple humidity tent to maintain optimal humidity levels. Just remember to allow some air in by cutting a few small holes or leaving a gap.

A step up is a mini-greenhouse fruiting chamber: a shelving unit enclosed in plastic sheeting. These can be purchased as “indoor greenhouses” (often 4-tier zip-up units) and outfitted with a cool-mist humidifier and a small fan for airflow. This kind of setup is great for controlling the environment and can yield several blocks at once.

If you dedicate a closet or room as a grow room, you’ll want to install humidifiers (such as ultrasonic or disc foggers for fine mist) with a hygrometer controller, and fans or ducting to bring in fresh air (often on a timer or CO₂ controller). Additionally, have a lighting setup, such as a simple fluorescent shop light or an LED strip on a timer for a 12/12 cycle. The intensity doesn’t need to be high; ~500–1000 lux at the grow surface is plenty (equivalent to a bright indoor room).

Environmental Controls

Digital hygrometers and thermometers are very useful for monitoring humidity and temperature in your fruiting area. These are inexpensive and can be found through gardening suppliers or online retailers.

For larger grow tents or rooms, a thermostat-controlled heater or cooler may be necessary to maintain fruiting temperatures within range (for example, a small space heater with a thermostat in winter, or an AC unit in a hot climate). An ink-bird humidity controller or similar device can automate your humidifier (turning it on/off to maintain target RH).

For fresh air, some growers employ inline duct fans with timers or DIY an automatic venting schedule.

Tools & Miscellaneous

Other handy tools include a spray mist bottle (for manual humidification), rubbing alcohol, and a torch or alcohol lamp (for sterilizing tools). Additionally, scalpels or inoculation loops are useful for agar work, and a good digital scale is essential for accurately measuring supplements and water.

Personal protective gear, such as disposable gloves, face masks, and hairnets, helps maintain cleanliness during inoculations.