From: The Mushroom Cultivator
A Practical Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home,
By Paul Stamets And J.S. Chilton Copyright 1983
Agarikon Press, Olympia Washington

Panaeolus cyanescens Berkeley and Broome

Growth Parameters

Mycelial types: Linear to cottony mycelia; white to off-white, sometimes bruising bluish where injured.
Spawn medium: Rye grain.
Fruiting substrate: Pasteurized wheat straw; horse manure/straw compost.
Method of preparation: Chopped wheat straw pasteurized in a hot water bath at 160 f for 20-30 minutes, cooled and spawned or horse manure/ straw compost.

Spawn Run:

Relative humidity: 90+ %
Substrate temerature: 79-84 degrees f.
Duration: 7-12 days.
CO₂: 10,000 ppm or higher.
Fresh air exchanges: 0 per hour
Type of casing: Standard peat based casing, 1/2-1 inch.

Post casing pre-pinning:

Relative humidity: 90+ %
Substrate temperature: 79-84 degrees f.
CO₂: 10,000 ppm or higher.
Fresh air exchanges: 0 per hour
Light: Incubation in total darkness.

Primordia formation:

Relative humidity: 95+ %
Air temperature: 75-80 degrees f.
CO₂: 5,000 ppm or lower.
Fresh air exchanges: 2 per hour
Light: Diffuse natural or fluorescent grow-lights.

Cropping:

Relative humidity: 85-92 %
Air temperature: 75-84 degrees f.
CO₂: 5,000 ppm or lower.
Fresh air exchanges: 2 per hour
Harvest stage: When caps are covex.
Flushing interval: 5-7 days.
Light: Diffuse natural or fluorescent grow-lights.

Moisture content: 90-92% water, 8-10% dry matter.

Comments: This rapidly growing species fruits readily on pasteurized wheat straw provided a thin layer of casing is applied 1/2 inch. No more than one week passes from the time of casing to the first flush.