Shrooly pods: how to refill or replace one

What is in a Shrooly pod?

A pod is a sterilized block of sawdust, wheat bran, and water, colonized by one mushroom culture, in a bag sized for the chamber.

The Shrooly product page says you need pods to use Shrooly, and describes the substrate as sawdust, wheat bran, and water, sterilized before the culture goes in. The Shrooly Pods page sells them as ready to grow and lists one to two harvests per pod. The AnyMush pod is different: it comes with no culture in it, and its substrate is mostly coconut coir in a bag made for clean injection.

Can I get a second flush from a used pod?

Yes, many pods give a second, smaller harvest, oysters most often.

The Shrooly support article: Second flush article says pods give up to two harvests and that oysters often give a second. After you pick the first flush, spray the cut face two or three times, set the pod back cut side up, and start a new program. If you are not ready to grow it again, seal the opening with a sticker or tape and keep it in the fridge. A short rest and a few hours in cold water before the second run often helps. See grow kit not growing for what to do if it stays quiet.

Can I refill a Shrooly pod myself?

You can, but it is an advanced step, because the new substrate has to be sterilized and the culture added without letting mold in.

A spent pod bag is not reusable as is. To refill one, you mix a new sawdust and bran substrate at the right moisture, sterilize it in a pressure cooker, let it cool, and add grain spawn or liquid culture in a clean space. Owners on r/shrooly: making your own pods have tried it. For most people it is less work, and more reliable, to buy a block that is already colonized and drop it in. If you want to try the full process, start with how to grow mushrooms at home.

What can I use instead of a Shrooly pod?

Any ready to fruit grow block or all in one grow bag of about 1 to 2 lb that fits inside the chamber.

Owners on r/shrooly: making your own pods report that any 1 or 2 lb all in one bag works, and that a 2.5 to 3 lb bag might fit. In a thread on r/shrooly: bags and blocks that fit, an owner found a 9 × 5 × 4 inch bag almost perfect, a 10 × 5 × 5 inch bag a little too big, and 1 lb bags a perfect fit. Measure the inside of your chamber first, and see r/shrooly: pod dimensions for what owners measured. Fold the top of a tall bag down rather than cramming it in.

• Pick a colonized block. It should be white all the way through. A block still colonizing needs a few more weeks in the dark first.
• Open it the way the seller says. Usually an X or a slit on one face, facing the open side of the chamber.
• Pick species that like the chamber. Oysters, lion's mane, and other fast species do well in a small space. See how long each mushroom takes.

Can I use an AnyMush pod with my own culture?

Yes, AnyMush pods were made for that: you inject liquid culture through the port, let it colonize, then grow it on a manual program.

The Shrooly support article: AnyMush guide says to inject 25 to 30 ml of liquid culture through the injection port, wait 5 to 10 days, shake the bag to spread the growth, then wait about 7 to 14 more days until it is fully colonized before you fruit it. If you still have AnyMush pods, they are the closest thing to a refill.

What settings should I use without a pod?

Use the conditions for the species in the block, stage by stage, from a free grow profile.

A pod told the stock app which program to run. Without one, you set the temperature, humidity, fresh air, and light yourself. Each grow profile lists them for every stage. With free OpenShrooly software on the chamber, you can pick a profile and it runs the stages for you. Plan the dates with the grow timeline calculator.