Welcome to this tutorial on how to make mushroom jar lids!
In this guide, we will show you how to create your own mushroom jar lids using either low cost methods such as micropore tape or professional style lids using an air port.
Regardless of which method you choose, the process is easy and can be done at home with a few simple materials.
The purpose of grain spawn or liquid culture lids is to provide a gas exchange barrier for your mycelium whilst blocking out unwanted contaminants and their spores.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to make your own mushroom jar lids for grain spawn, liquid culture or agar.
These lids should give you the ability to easily and effectively create a sterile environment for your mycelium to grow.
There is a plethora of methods to making mushroom jar lids, in this post I will cover the following:
- Injection Port and Air Pot lids.
- Micropore tape Lids.
- Stiff Felt Lids.
Making Injection Port And Air-Port Mushroom Lids.
This setup is the most professional style of the lid you can make.
It uses a small airport for gas exchange and a self healing injection site.
This type of lid makes creating sterile grain spawn and liquid culture much easier.
Premade Lids.
Pros.
- Lower contamination rate.
- Precise air exchange.
- Self healing injections.
Cons.
- Can be messy to set up.
- Makes putting foil on the top of your jars more difficult.
Instructions
I drill holes in the lid that's large enough to fit the injection port and air port.
Put a smaller hole in the centre (this is where the air exchange port will go) and place the injection port nearer the edge of the lid.
This makes it easier to extract liquid culture or inject down the side of grain spawn.
The hole doesn't have to be the perfect size or shape, as I will seal it with RTV later.
I push the thin side of the airport through the hole to ensure there's a good fit.
I apply RTV silicone generously to the underside of the air port, so there's a thick amount on the whole underside (the thinner side should be face down).
I push the injection port through the hole I created and apply pressure for around 20 seconds.
Next, I do the same for the injection port.
I push the injection port through the hole to ensure a good fit.
I apply a generous amount of RTV to the underside of the injection port.
I push the injection port through the hole I created and apply pressure for around 20 seconds.
Finally, l set the jar aside and leave it to cure for 24 hours before use. This will allow the RTV silicone to cure before exposing it to heat.
Alternatively, it is possible to create your own injection port using only RTV silicone.
To do this you just fill the hole you’ve made with RTV silicone then inject through the silicone when you are using your lids.
Making Stiff Felt Mushroom Lids.
It is possible to use stiffened felt to create the gas exchange filter over the hole in your lids.
I have had lots of success with these lids before I moved onto air ports.
Pros.
- Cheap.
- Simple.
- Effective.
- Long term setup.
Cons.
- Felt may wick moisture into/out of jars.
- Can be fiddly/messy to set up.
- Can't inject through the felt.
