Grow-it-Yourself Phoenix Oyster Mushroom Kit, for Indoor or Outdoor Mushroom Gardening

I really had a great time so far with this and they were fun to grow. Great for homeschooling but it was really pricey for the experiment.

This is about the third kit I have grown. The Hantana bag kit comes with everything you need, except the water, about 2 cups of used coffee grounds and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. The directions are clear and really very simple. Mix the contents as per instructions, seal the bag. Be patient. A white mycleeium will start to form in about 7 to 14 days. It will continue to grow through out the bag. Again follow directions by cutting an X in the bag, fold back the plastic(tape it out of the way) and spray/mist the opening every day, per directions. Soon small pinheads will form, then it will grow more quickly. Amazing to watch how fast they grow. Your kids or grandkids will love the project. The best part of all is cutting the flush off and eating the mushrooms. They are delecious and you can't get them fresher. The flavor and texture are wonderful. After the first flush, let the bag rest for a few days and start the process (cut X and spray) on the opposite side. After the second flush, I broke the mycellium apart and put it in the compost with some Oak tree shavings/sawdust/chips and began to water it about twice a week. I have picked two flushes in the past two months. Outstanding, and I believe there will be more.March 2nd, 2012-It has been almost a month since I wrote the review. Today I noticed two seperate flushes beginning in the compost. That makes 2 from the grow bag and 4 (so far) from the compost. I will order more soon. The folks at The Imaginary Farmer add a personal touch with their helpful costomer service. My questions by email have been answered promptly.

The instructions tell you to be really meticulous about keeping the product sterile, but when I picked up the compressed sawdust, the bag was broken, so it went all over my furniture and floor. I followed all the other directions to the letter and got absolutely nothing. Not a single mushroom.

I highly recommend this fun mushroom kit. This was my first mushroom growing experience. Followed the clear instructions, and had a great mushroom bloom. They were delicious. Waiting for my 2nd flush (and preparing an outdoor log/area for the mycellium - for hopefully further natural blooms). Mine took a little longer to "pop" than the instructions said, but ... I wasn't in a hurry. I think due to slightly lower temperatures (it is about 0 degrees to 15 degrees outside, and I grew in a basement, that was probably about 55 degrees, until ready to flush. Once pin-heads formed, I wrapped down the bag tight, cut a little hole in the side, put an old t-shirt around (to keep everything but hole dark) and put on a kitchen chair by the window, and spayed with a little water. Our house is a little cold too, so it probably took about 2-3 weeks for the mushrooms to fully mature. I went on vacation, and when I got back, they had fully opened up, and a fairly large spore deposit was on the towel below the mushrooms. I was supposed to harvest prior dropping spores I think, but they were still really delicious (eat fairly quickly as they don't last too long, and taste better fresh - 1 week max unless you dry them. Mine were gone in less than a week! The mushrooms are grown on a sawdust/coffee ground mix, with a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide, so you don't need a super sterile environment, which is good for us amateurs. All in all, a great experience.

I purchased this kit as a gift for my 70 yr-old greenthumb mother because I couldn't think of anything else. She lives in the west where the air is dry. I didn't know if it would work or not. She put it down in the basement and followed the instructions.At first when I saw it, she told me that she didn't think it was working. I read the instructions with her. It said that when it first starts to grow, it has a cottony look to it. It looked just like that, the way mold appears when it first starts to grow. She thought that it was moldy. I told her to give it some time and be patient. All of a sudden, it took off and produced a batch of mushrooms in a matter of days. She told me that she got a second batch as well, and was hoping for a small 3rd. It seems that you will not get more than that out of it. Do not buy this if you are hoping to grow mushrooms continuously. She was thoroughly in love with this gift from me! I hope I can think of something next year ...

Received my mushroom kit promptly from "The Imaginary Farmer". Directions were easy to follow in setting up the kit. Everything was included except for used coffee grounds and hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and a misting bottle (all under a dollar each to purchase.) After the 10 days in the dark, I checked the bag for 3 days and decided it was time to start the fruiting. Having second thoughts about perhaps opening it too soon, I contacted the supplier and was reassured that it would come out ok, and what to do if it didn't. Three days later, my kit went crazy and the mushrooms grew before my eyes...I posted pictures on my Facebook page twice a day and amazed my friends as well. Any time I had a question, I emailed "The Imaginary Farmer" and was promptly answered by Owen Tallman. I felt like they treated me like I was their only client and were as pleased with my results as I was. I have cooked with the mushrooms twice and they have been delicious. I am looking forward to my second "flush" of mushrooms from the kit.