How to Grow Pleurotus pulmonarius (Xiuzhen Mushroom): Mastering Environmental Conditions and Fruiting Management Key Points

Pleurotus pulmonarius (Xiuzhen Mushroom) is a type of oyster mushroom, named for its small fruiting body, thick fleshy cap and crisp, tender texture. In recent years it has become fairly common in edible mushroom cultivation across various regions. It has strong adaptability and can be grown either seasonally in greenhouses or scheduled for off-season fruiting with the help of temperature-controlled facilities, making it a variety many mushroom growers are willing to choose.

Growing Pleurotus pulmonarius first requires meeting its growth conditions. During the mycelial growth stage, light is generally not needed; it prefers a warm environment, and the substrate should be kept moist but not waterlogged. Once it enters the fruiting stage, it needs appropriate scattered light, relatively high air humidity and good ventilation, and a certain temperature difference stimulus helps primordia form. Poor ventilation or excessive humidity inside the greenhouse can easily lead to contamination by weed molds and pest problems.

In cultivation, the bag method is mostly used. Substrates are commonly prepared from agricultural by-products such as cottonseed hulls, corncobs and sawdust. After mixing, bagging, sterilization and inoculation, the bags are placed in a spawn-running room for mycelial colonization. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the bags, they are moved into the fruiting greenhouse, the bag openings are loosened or cut open, and humidity and ventilation are increased while waiting for mushroom buds to appear. During fruiting, attention should be paid to replenishing water and maintaining moisture, while keeping the air in the greenhouse fresh.

The focus of daily management is balancing the relationship among temperature, humidity and ventilation, along with proper disinfection of the greenhouse and timely cleaning of residual substrate surfaces to reduce pest breeding. Harvesting is generally arranged when the caps have not yet fully opened, as the mushroom quality is better at this point. As long as environmental conditions are stable and management is done well, Pleurotus pulmonarius can produce multiple flushes, and the overall difficulty of cultivation is not considered high.