Cultivating mushrooms is an exciting way to challenge yourself and test your patience and perseverance. That said, you need all the proper supplies to start. You also need to know how to use these supplies and which are ideal for your needs. For example, you need to determine which growing lights to get. Thankfully, we have several tips for choosing the right mushroom growing lights. Read on for more.
Let’s talk about bulbs. When looking for mycology supplies, especially your grow lights, it’s important to choose the right ones for your needs. White LED lights are standard for grow lights, and there is some evidence that it improves mushroom growth. Blue UV Lights, specifically the ones with a wavelength of 330-400 nm, are a powerful stimulant for mushroom growth. Blacklight is purple, and it also has a wavelength of 365 nm. Some mushrooms might become more stimulated than others by certain colors, so play with your lighting and see what works!
When it comes to growing mushrooms at home, providing the proper lighting is critical for healthy growth and maximum yields. But with so many lighting options available today, it can be confusing trying to figure out the best light source for mushroom cultivation.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the most popular lighting technologies used by mushroom growers – fluorescent, LED, incandescent, and natural light. We’ll examine the pros and cons of each option, along with key factors like spectrum, intensity, heat output, and cost.
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to choose the ideal lighting setup for your mushroom operation, no matter the size or species you are growing. Let’s dive in!
Understanding Light Spectrum Needs for Mushrooms
The key to picking the right grow lights for mushrooms lies in understanding their specific light spectrum requirements.
Mushrooms don’t use light as an energy source for growth the way plants do since they lack chlorophyll. However, light does trigger key developmental processes and enhance growth through phototropism in mushrooms.
Research shows two wavelength ranges are particularly valuable:
-
Blue light (400-500 nm) – Stimulates fruiting and production of spores. Also influences the development of stems, caps, and gills.
-
Green/yellow light (500-600 nm) – Drives overall biomass growth by impacting mycelium density and mushroom size.
An ideal mushroom light delivers balanced intensities of blue and green/yellow wavelengths Broad spectrum white light also provides benefits
Let’s see how the different lighting technologies stack up when it comes to meeting the spectral needs of mushrooms.
Fluorescent Grow Lights
Fluorescent lighting has been a top choice of mushroom cultivators for years. Their combination of efficiency, low heat output, and design options make fluorescents well-suited for mushroom cultivation.
Pros:
- Efficient – use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs
- Low heat – won’t raise ambient temperatures
- Long-lasting – up to 20,000 hour lifespan
- Compact size – T5 and T8 models fit tight spaces
- Affordable upfront cost
- Ability to tailor spectrum – choose cool/blue or warm/red tubes
Cons:
- Contains mercury – proper disposal required
- Output declines over bulb lifetime
- Frequent bulb replacement
- Limited light intensity
- Not as energy efficient as LED
Within fluorescent lighting, T5 and T8 are generally the preferred choices of mushroom growers:
-
T5 – High light output in a compact form. Can closely mimic natural daylight.
-
T8 – The standard fluorescent tube design – affordable and easily found.
Fluorescents require separate ballasts to operate. And the bulbs must be replaced every 6-12 months as output declines. But the spectrum range and gentle heating of fluorescents make them a solid contender for mushroom cultivation.
LED Grow Lights
Over the past decade, LED grow lights have surged in popularity for growing mushrooms and other crops.
Offering even greater efficiency and longevity than fluorescents, LEDs give mushroom cultivators ultimate control over the light spectrum and intensity.
Pros:
- Highly energy efficient – use up to 60% less energy than fluorescents
- Long lifespan – 50,000 hours or more
- No bulb replacements needed
- Cool operation – produces nearly no excess heat
- Compact, lightweight designs available
- Can customize and optimize spectrum
- Dimmable on some models
- Higher light intensity than fluorescents
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Spectrum can degrade over time
- Need proper heat dissipation
With LEDs, growers can select full-spectrum white light formulas, blue-enriched recipes, or spectra tailored to individual mushroom species. This level of control makes LED the ideal modern choice for the highest yielding mushroom production.
Incandescent Bulbs
Standard incandescent light bulbs are seldom used these days for mushroom cultivation. But they do offer some unique benefits:
Pros:
- Very inexpensive to purchase
- Easy to find at any hardware store
- Familiar, simple technology
- Broad light spectrum
Cons:
- Very energy inefficient
- High heat output
- Short lifespan – 1,000 hours or less
- Can’t customize spectrum
- Light intensity declines with age
- Bulbs must be replaced frequently
- Unsafe for confined spaces (fire risk)
While incandescent lights shouldn’t be ruled out entirely, there are good reasons LED and fluorescent dominate modern mushroom cultivation. Incandescents may work for small hobbyists setups, but their high operating costs and intense heat make scaling up impractical.
Natural Light
Outdoors, the sun provides the perfect balance of blue, green, and yellow wavelengths to satisfy all of a mushroom’s light needs. Nothing can fully replicate the full spectrum intensity of natural sunlight.
But consistent access to natural light isn’t always feasible, especially for commercial cultivation. And supplemental lighting is still needed at night.
For small hobby growers, placing mushroom fruiting chambers near a bright window can provide adequate light for growth. But relying solely on the sun comes with considerable limitations, especially in northern latitudes.
Utilizing the sun’s free photons to offset energy costs is great. Just be sure to have backup artificial lighting ready for dark days and night cycles.
Key Factors in Choosing Grow Lights for Mushrooms
Beyond spectrum, there are a few other important factors to evaluate when selecting lighting:
-
Intensity – Measured in lumens or PAR. Ensure adequate brightness for the grow space size.
-
Coverage – Light should distribute evenly over the entire mushroom cultivation area.
-
Energy Efficiency – Lower electricity costs will quickly offset LEDs higher upfront cost.
-
Heat Output – Minimal excess heating prevents climate control challenges.
-
Lifespan – How often do bulbs or fixtures need replacing?
-
Cost – Compare total lifetime costs, not just purchase price.
-
Control – Dimmable and customizable spectra allow optimizing the light recipe.
-
Safety – Ensure good electrical safety and fire prevention measures are in place.
Prioritizing these factors will lead you to the best lighting system design for your specific needs and budget.
Best Grow Light Options for Mushrooms
Given the spectrum needs, efficiency, and control offered by modern lighting technologies, here are my top recommendations:
For Small Home Growers
-
T5 or T8 Fluorescents – Affordable, cool, easy to install in confined spaces for hobby cultivation.
-
LED Panel – Compact all-in-one LED fixture ideal for a small mushroom fruiting chamber. Offers spectrum control.
-
Natural Light – Situate fruiting chamber near a bright window. Supplement with CFL or LED at night.
For Commercial Grow Facilities
-
Integrated T5 LEDs – Combine LED efficiency with familiar T5 fluorescent form. Daisy chainable.
-
Horticulture LED Bar Light – Optimize spectrum and intensity. Mount over vertical rack systems or shelves.
-
Full Spectrum LED Grow Lamp – Screw-in replacement for traditional HID lamps, with far greater efficiency and customization.
Regardless of the scale, always provide adequate light intensity evenly across the entire mushroom cultivation area. Monitor and adjust spectrum and brightness to determine the optimal recipe.
Takeaways on Finding the Best Mushroom Grow Lights
When lighting is tailored specifically to their photobiology, most mushroom species respond with faster, denser growth and larger, more abundant fruiting.
While simple to provide, lighting for mushrooms deserves more attention than just flipping on a shop light in the corner.
By making informed choices based on efficiency, spectrum, coverage, and control, cultivators can unlock better performance through lighting. Partnering the right grow lights with dialed environmental conditions and substrate formula will lead to success growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms at home or commercially.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color light is best for mushroom growing?
Research shows blue and red light wavelengths are particularly valuable for optimal mushroom growth. Blue light stimulates fruiting while red light drives overall biomass growth. Full spectrum white light also provides benefits.
Do mushrooms need light to grow?
While mushrooms don’t use light as an energy source, light does trigger developmental processes that enhance growth and fruiting. Some supplemental lighting optimized to their spectrum needs is recommended.
What is the best artificial light for mushrooms?
LED and fluorescent lights are generally the top choices for mushroom growers. LEDs offer ultimate efficiency and control over spectrum, while fluorescents provide gentle lighting in an affordable package.
How many hours of light do mushrooms need?
12-16 hours of light per day is recommended for most mushrooms, with a consistent dark period for rest. The exact photoperiod depends on the specific variety being cultivated.
Can mushrooms grow in the dark?
Most gourmet and medicinal mushrooms require at least some supplemental lighting to grow properly and produce abundant fruiting bodies. Complete darkness may result in slow, sparse growth.
Choose the Right Voltage for Your Mushrooms
We mentioned earlier that mushrooms prefer wavelengths of about 330 to 400 wavelengths. When growing mushrooms, the ideal lighting temperature will be 5,000 to 7,000 Kelvin. Smaller, compact fluorescent lights work well here, while you should forgo standard incandescent light bulbs. The latter outputs soft, re-spectrum light, which isn’t ideal for growing. You’ll want a lamp with the above wattage for your mushrooms to grow properly.
Understand Your Lighting Cycle
Get a grow lamp that turns on and off automatically at 12-hour intervals. This mimics sunlight, in which you have about 12 hours of sun and 12 hours of darkness. Getting a grow lamp with an automatic feature means you won’t need to babysit your grow kit and adjust the lighting, especially in the middle of the night when you’re trying to sleep.