Mushroom Growing Conditions: Temperature, Humidity & Timing Chart
These are the mushroom growing conditions — colonization and fruiting temperature, humidity, fresh-air needs, spawn rate, and time to harvest — for every species we cultivate, compiled from MushroomGuide.ca's own Canadian grow guides. Use it to pick a species that suits your space and to dial in your fruiting chamber.
Quick reference: most cultivated mushrooms colonize at20–25 °C in the dark and fruit at85–95% humidity with fresh air. Fruiting temperature is what differs most: warm growers (pink/yellow oyster) want18–30 °C, cool growers (shiitake, blue/king oyster) want 10–18 °C, and lion's mane needs low CO₂ (<500 ppm) to form solid clusters.
Environment by species
| Mushroom | Colonization temp | Fruiting temp | Humidity (RH) | Fresh air / CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey oyster (P. ostreatus) | 18–24 °C | 13–24 °C | 85–95% | High — tolerant to ~1000 ppm |
| Blue oyster (P. o. var. columbinus) | 18–24 °C | 10–18 °C | 85–95% | High |
| White oyster (P. ostreatus) | 18–24 °C | 13–22 °C | 85–95% | High |
| Pink oyster (P. djamor) | 24–30 °C | 18–30 °C | 85–95% | High |
| Yellow oyster (P. citrinopileatus) | 24–30 °C | 18–30 °C | 85–95% | High |
| King oyster (P. eryngii) | 20–24 °C | 15–18 °C | 85–95% | High — low CO₂ for thick stems |
| Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) | 21–24 °C | 15–22 °C | 85–95% | 6–8 ACH — keep CO₂ <500 ppm |
| Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) | 21–24 °C | 10–18 °C | 85–95% | Moderate — ~4 ACH |
| Chestnut (Pholiota adiposa) | 22–25 °C | 15–22 °C | 85–95% | ~6 ACH |
Timing, substrate & yield
| Mushroom | Spawn rate | Colonization | Pin → harvest | Substrate | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey / white oyster | 5–10% | 14–21 days | 5–7 days | Pasteurized straw / Masters Mix | Beginner |
| Blue oyster | 5–10% | 14–21 days | 5–7 days | Pasteurized straw / Masters Mix | Beginner |
| Pink / yellow oyster | 5–10% | 10–14 days (fast) | 4–6 days | Pasteurized straw / Masters Mix | Beginner (warm room) |
| King oyster | 5–10% | 14–21 days | 10–14 days (slow) | Supplemented sawdust | Intermediate |
| Lion's mane | 5–10% | 14–21 days | 5–10 days to pin, +7–10 to mature | Supplemented hardwood sawdust (sterilized) | Intermediate |
| Shiitake | 5–10% | Weeks — block must brown (up to 12 wk) | 5–10 days to pin, +7–10 to mature | Supplemented hardwood sawdust (sterilized) | Advanced |
| Chestnut | 5–10% | 14–21 days | 5–10 days to pin, +5–7 to mature | Supplemented hardwood sawdust (sterilized) | Intermediate |
Yield (biological efficiency): oyster mushrooms are the baseline (highest BE). Lion's mane runs about 0.7–1.0 lb fresh per 5 lb block on the first flush; king oyster ~30–40% BE on the first flush; shiitake roughly 25–35% of oyster's yield. All species give a smaller second flush 10–14 days after a cold-water soak.
What the columns mean
- Colonization temp — the dark, warm phase while mycelium eats the substrate. Warmer than fruiting for nearly every species.
- Fruiting temp — the cooler conditions that trigger and grow mushrooms. This is the number that decides whether a species suits your basement, garage, or heated room. Dropping the temperature ~5 °C for 48 hours is a common pinning trigger.
- Humidity (RH) — 85–95% during fruiting is near-universal; below that, pins abort or caps crack.
- Fresh air / CO₂ — air changes per hour (ACH). Too much CO₂ gives long stems and small caps. Lion's mane is the fussiest (<500 ppm); oyster is the most forgiving.
- Spawn rate — grain or sawdust spawn as a percent of substrate weight. Higher = faster colonization, lower contamination risk.
- Biological efficiency (BE) — fresh mushroom weight as a percent of dry substrate weight; the standard way growers compare yield.
How to use this chart
Start from your coolest reliable space and read across to the fruiting-temp column. A 13–18 °C basement suits grey/blue/king oyster and shiitake; a 20 °C+ heated room suits pink and yellow oyster. Then size your setup with the calculators below and follow the species guide for the full method.
Use this data (with attribution)
This table is free to cite and share. If you republish it, please credit the source with a link:
Source: Mushroom Growing Conditions Chart — MushroomGuide.ca
Species guides referenced
- How to grow oyster mushrooms in Canada
- How to grow lion's mane in Canada
- How to grow shiitake in Canada
- How to grow chestnut mushrooms in Canada
- When to harvest king oyster mushrooms
- When to harvest blue oyster mushrooms
Size your grow
- Substrate calculator — mix, water, and sterilization time
- Fruiting chamber calculator — chamber volume and air exchange
- Yield estimator — expected harvest by species and substrate weight
- Spawn calculator — how much spawn and what it costs
Methodology: ranges are home-cultivation figures compiled from our own Canadian grow guides, intended for hobby growers in typical indoor conditions. Commercial operations run tighter tolerances. Always wear an N95 when handling dry substrate or opening fruiting chambers —spore safety guide.