> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kuzquality.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kuzquality.com/resources/premium-resources/shrooms-cultivation/growing-guide.md).

# Growing Guide

This page covers the full cultivation process from start to finish, using the underground cellars or your own placed workstations.

***

**Step 1: Inoculation**

Head to the **worktable** inside the cellar. Here you inject mushroom spores into a substrate bag to create an inoculated substrate.

You need two items in your inventory before you can start:

* A **spore syringe** (strain of your choice)
* A **substrate bag** (grain, compost, or sawdust)

Right-click either item to cycle through your available options and select the combination you want. Each substrate affects the grow differently:

| Substrate | Growth Speed | Mold Risk       | Yield  |
| --------- | ------------ | --------------- | ------ |
| Grain     | Normal       | Normal          | Normal |
| Compost   | Faster       | Slightly higher | Normal |
| Sawdust   | Slower       | Normal          | Higher |

Interact with the worktable to begin the inoculation minigame. A successful injection produces one inoculated substrate bag.

***

**Step 2: Colonization**

Take your inoculated substrate bags to the **colonization shelf**. Open the plastic covering, place the bags inside, and close it back up to keep the bags insulated while the spores colonize the substrate.

Colonization runs in the background. You do not need to stay near the shelf. Once complete, the bags change appearance visually to indicate they are ready. Colonization time varies per strain and substrate combination.

***

**Step 3: Planting**

Once your substrate bags are fully colonized, head to a **planter**.

1. Add soil to the planter
2. Place 3 colonised substrate bags inside
3. Moisturize the soil using the moisturizing interaction

The **moisture meter** sitting in the soil shows you the current moisture level at a glance. Keep it in range throughout the grow.

***

**Step 4: Managing the Grow**

While the shrooms grow, two things need attention: **moisture** and **mold**.

**Moisturizing**

Check back on your planters regularly and moisturize when the meter is running low. Do not over-moisturize. Dry soil slows growth significantly. Soil that is too wet increases mold chance sharply for every shroom in the planter.

**Mold**

Each shroom has a base chance of developing mold during the grow. Mold appears visually on the shroom model. If left untreated, fully molded shrooms can spread to their nearest neighbour. Remove moldy shrooms before they take the rest of the planter with them. Mold spread chance varies per strain, so some strains require closer attention than others.

***

**Step 5: Harvest**

Once fully grown, enter **inspect mode** on the planter to pick the shrooms individually. Growth time varies per strain and substrate combination.

After harvesting, clear the used soil from the planter. You will receive a small number of spores back from the strain you just grew. The planter is then ready for the next cycle.

***

**Step 6: Drying**

Place your fresh shrooms on the **drying rack** and wait for the drying process to complete. Once done, enter inspect mode on the rack to collect the dried shrooms. Drying time varies per strain.

Dried shrooms are the final product and can be consumed or sold depending on your server's setup.