Video of mushroom grown on toilet paper goes viral; understand

The internet never tires of producing unexpected experiments that raise the question “Is this really possible?”

The video that provoked the curiosity of internet users this week teaches how to cultivate the fungus species Pleurotus ostreatus (shimeji-black) on a toilet paper.

@ learntogrow1

Hi everyone! I’ve been waiting and am so excited to finally share this method of growing oyster mushrooms on TP🧻! While this did not have a high yield, watching the process was fun and educational for our family! Hope you enjoy this short video and let me know if you give it a try sometime! The information is below. Thanks to @fieldandforestproducts for the inspiration! 🍄❤️ Gray Dove Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) 🍄🍄 1. Boil water in a large pot and remove from heat. 2. Place a roll of TP in the hot water until fully saturated. Remove TP and place on a cooling rack to drain. Allow it to be cool. 3. Put the roll in a filter patch bag. 4. Pour some grain spawn into the center of the TP roll. 5. Close the bag with a rubber band above the filter patch. 6. Place the bag in an area with a temperature between 65-75 F. We placed them in the hallway closet. This is the incubation period which took about 4 ½ weeks. 7. To stimulate fruiting, place the bag in the refrigerator for 2 days. 8. Take the bag out of the refrigerator and remove the rubber band to allow air circulation. 9. We misted the bag 2-3 times daily. We harvested the mushrooms after 7 days from removing the bag from the refrigerator. The process took approximately 6 weeks from preparation to harvest. P#pleurotusostreatusooystermushroomsmmushroomsffungig#growingyourownfood fungusmycellium

♬ original sound – learntogrow

Posted on TikTok, the experiment did not take long to go viral and, above all, cast several doubts about whether it is even possible to plant fungi in unusual places. In case that place is a toilet paper, the answer is Yes .

fungal cultivation

Taxonomist Mateus Ribeiro explained in a video posted on Twitter how the experiment works. Cultivation on toilet paper is possible because it is basically composed of cellulose, the “only element that the species needs to grow”.

Mateus also claims that it is also possible to reproduce the same crop on “cardboard and other items made with cellulose”.

For those who wondered if it is safe to eat the mushroom, Mateus clarifies: “Yes, it is safe to consume the mushroom grown in this medium”.

About mushrooms and toilet paper: pic.twitter.com/a66uGLBFCw

— Mateus dos Fungos🍄 (@mateusdosfungos) January 30, 2023

How to do the experiment at home

In the video posted on TikTok, gardening expert Misilla Dela Llana explains step by step how you can grow food inside toilet paper. Check out:

1. Boil water in a large pot and remove from heat;
2. Place a toilet paper roll in hot water until completely wet. Remove and set aside to drain. Let cool;
3. Put the toilet paper in a plastic bag;
4. Pour some seeds into the center of the roll;
5. Close the bag with a very firm rubber band;
6. Place in an area with a temperature around 18°C. The incubation period for the video experiment lasted about four and a half weeks;
7. To encourage fruiting after the four and a half week period, place the bag in the fridge for 2 days;
8. Remove the bag from the refrigerator and the elastic band to allow air circulation;
9. After the mushroom has fruited, remove it from the refrigerator and spray it with water about 3 times a day.