Wood Lover vs. Manure Lover Substrates: Choosing the Right RyzaPod for Your Mushrooms
RyzaPods come in two flavors, depending on what your mushrooms like to eat.
Quick Summary: Which RyzaPod Do I Need?
You provide your own spores or liquid culture – RyzaPods come ready-to-inoculate. But you’ll need to select the right RyzaPod substrate type. RyzaPods come in two types:
Manure Lover – for mushrooms that prefer nutrient-rich compost or animal droppings (like button, portobello, pioppino)
Wood Lover – for mushrooms that grow on wood (like oyster, shiitake, lion’s mane)
Choose a Manure Lover RyzaPod if your mushroom naturally grows in:
Fields, compost, or manure-rich soil
Examples: Button, Cremini, Portobello, Pioppino, Shaggy Mane
Choose a Wood Lover RyzaPod if your mushroom naturally grows on:
Logs, hardwood, sawdust, tree stumps
Examples: Oyster, Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Reishi, Maitake, Turkey Tail
Not sure which to pick? Look up where your mushroom grows in nature — wood = wood-lover; soil/manure = manure-lover.
Which RyzaPod type do I need?
Growing mushrooms at home is an exciting journey, especially for beginners. One of the first questions new growers face is which growing substrate to use for their chosen mushroom species. Just as different plants prefer different soils, mushrooms have preferences for the material they grow on (their “food”). At Ryza, we offer two types of all-in-one grow kits called RyzaPods – one for wood-loving mushrooms and one for manure-loving (dung-loving) mushrooms. In this post, we’ll explain the difference between these two substrate types and help you pick the right RyzaPod for your mushroom project. Don’t worry – we’ll keep it beginner-friendly, and approachable!
Important Note: All RyzaPod kits come pre-sterilized and ready to inoculate, but you’ll need to provide your own mushroom spores or liquid culture. Think of it like seeds for a garden – you get the growing medium from us, and you add the mushroom “seeds” (spores or culture syringes) purchased separately. This gives you the freedom to grow any legal gourmet or medicinal mushroom you want, and it’s as easy as injecting your spores into the RyzaPod and letting nature do the rest. Now, let’s dive into the two substrate types and which mushrooms love each one.
What Are Wood-Loving Mushrooms (Wood Lovers)?
Wood-loving mushrooms are species that naturally grow on wood, trees, or woody debris. In the wild, you’ll find these fungi on decaying logs, tree stumps, sawdust piles, or wood chips. They have special enzymes to break down tough components of wood (like lignin and cellulose) and turn them into nutrients. Because of this, their ideal habitat is something made of hardwood or other fibrous plant material. Common examples of wood-loving mushrooms include oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, reishi, maitake, and turkey tail, among others. If you’ve heard of gourmet or medicinal mushrooms that grow on logs or sawdust blocks, they’re likely wood lovers.
Wood Lover Substrate: To successfully cultivate these mushrooms at home, we need to mimic their wood-based diet. Ryza’s Wood Lover RyzaPods are filled with a nutritious hardwood-based substrate specifically formulated for wood-loving species. This substrate is a blend of sterilized hardwood sawdust and soybean hulls, which is a proven recipe in mushroom cultivation. (Soybean hulls add extra nutrients and boost yields, making the mix even more effective for wood decomposers.) We also integrate a portion of rye berries (grain) to act as a high-energy food source and help the mycelium colonize quickly. In simpler terms, the Wood Lover RyzaPod is like a “log in a jar,” providing the perfect woody meal for your fungi. All you need to do is add your wood-loving mushroom spores or culture into the pod. The mycelium (mushroom roots) will spread through the hardwood/soy hull mix, feed on it, and eventually produce healthy mushrooms right inside the pod.
Which Mushrooms Need Wood-Based Pods? Choose a Wood Lover RyzaPod if you plan to grow any mushroom that normally grows on wood. Some beginner-friendly options include:
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) – Fast-growing and hearty, often grown on straw or sawdust.
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) – A delicious medicinal mushroom that grows on hardwood.
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) – Famous culinary mushroom that thrives on oak logs or sawdust.
Reishi (Ganoderma spp.) – A woody conk mushroom with medicinal properties, grows on logs.
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) – A medicinal polypore that decomposes wood.
Maitake (Grifola frondosa) – “Hen of the woods,” found at bases of trees.
All of the above love a wood-based substrate and will do best in the Wood Lover pods. Just add your spore or liquid culture syringe to the kit, and you’re off to the races cultivating these wood-loving wonders!
What Are Manure-Loving Mushrooms (Dung Lovers)?
Manure-loving mushrooms are species that naturally thrive in nutrient-rich, compost-like environments. In nature, many of these mushrooms are found in grasslands, farms, or anywhere there’s decaying plant matter enriched by animal manure (hence the nickname “dung-loving”). Don’t let that unglamorous description scare you – what it means is these mushrooms prefer a substrate full of decomposed organic material, nitrogen, and minerals. They evolved to make the most of environments like well-aged manure piles or rich compost heaps. A classic example is the common white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) – the kind you find in grocery stores – which is traditionally grown on composted straw mixed with horse or cow manure. Other examples of manure-loving mushrooms include portobello (actually the larger cousin of the button mushroom), pioppino (Black Poplar mushroom), shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus), and some specialty or wild species that pop up in fertile, manure-rich soil.
Manure Lover Substrate: To cultivate dung-loving mushrooms at home without the mess (or smell!) of actual manure, growers use what we call manure-like substrates. Ryza’s Manure Lover RyzaPods contain a sterilized blend of coco coir, organic nutrients, and grain that perfectly simulates a rich compost. Coco coir (fibrous coconut husk) serves as the base – similar to straw, it provides a soft structure and holds moisture. We enrich it with ingredients like gypsum (for calcium and sulfur, and to stabilize pH), worm castings (essentially nutrient-rich compost from worms, a manure equivalent), and coffee grounds (used in small amounts to add nitrogen and trace elements). This mix is often abbreviated as CVG – short for Coir, Vermiculite, Gypsum – plus other supplements for extra nutrition. Vermiculite is included as well, which is a mineral that helps retain water and keep the substrate fluffy. On top of that, Manure Lover pods are fortified with roughly 25% rye grain by volume, giving the mushroom mycelium an extra boost of energy to grow and fruit. The result is a rich, soil-like medium that dung-loving mushrooms can feast on – without you having to handle any actual manure yourself. Like the wood pods, these are all-in-one and ready for you to inoculate with your spores or liquid culture.
Which Mushrooms Need Manure-Based Pods? Choose a Manure Lover RyzaPod if your mushroom of choice normally grows in fields, compost, or enriched soil rather than on wood. For example:
Button, Cremini & Portobello (Agaricus bisporus varieties) – Classic edible mushrooms grown on straw/manure compost. (Portobello is just a big, mature button mushroom!)
Pioppino (Cyclocybe aegerita) – A gourmet mushroom that enjoys nutrified substrates (often grown on supplemented sawdust or compost).
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) – An edible mushroom often found in lawns and manure-rich grounds.
Other Agaricus species (e.g., Almond Agaricus) – These thrive on manure-enriched compost.
(Some wood-loving mushrooms are adaptable and can also grow on enriched compost) – for instance, Lion’s Mane has been successfully fruited on our manure-based mix as well. However, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to stick to the substrate type that matches a mushroom’s natural preference for consistent results.
All the mushrooms listed above will do well in the Manure Lover pods – simply inject your spores or liquid culture into the pre-made substrate and let them colonize it. The rich nutrients in the pod will support robust mycelium growth and, eventually, a nice crop of mushrooms for you to enjoy.
Choosing the Right RyzaPod for Your Mushroom Species
Now that we’ve covered both categories, how do you choose the right RyzaPod? The answer comes down to identifying what type of substrate your mushroom prefers. Here’s a quick guide:
If your mushroom grows on wood, logs, or sawdust in nature, choose the Wood-Loving RyzaPod. This includes species like oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, maitake, and other wood-decayers. These fungi will thrive on the hardwood/soy hull mix in the wood-lover kit. (Tip for beginners: Oyster mushrooms and lion’s mane are particularly forgiving wood-loving species – great for your first grow!).
If your mushroom grows in rich soil, compost, or dung, choose the Manure-Loving RyzaPod. This includes mushrooms such as white buttons, cremini/portobello, shaggy mane, pioppino, and similar species that need a nutrient-dense, manure-like environment. The coir/compost blend in the manure-lover kit will provide the nutrition and conditions they need. (Fun fact: Many common “button mushrooms” sold commercially are grown in trays of pasteurized manure compost – our kits let you achieve a similar result on a smaller, cleaner scale at home!)
If you’re not sure which category your mushroom falls into, consider its common habitat or do a quick search on where that mushroom grows. You can also check out Ryza’s Mycopedia or reach out to the community for guidance. In general, gourmet and medicinal species will clearly align with one of the two groups. Matching your mushroom to the right substrate is key – a wood-lover on a manure substrate (or vice versa) may struggle or yield poorly, so it pays to get the right kit from the start.
Final Tips for New Growers
Whichever RyzaPod you choose, remember that patience and proper technique are part of the process. Always work in clean conditions when injecting your spore or liquid culture syringe to avoid contamination. After inoculation, give the mycelium time to colonize the entire pod (this can take a few weeks). Once it’s ready, you’ll introduce fruiting conditions (like light and fresh air) as instructed, and soon you’ll see baby mushrooms emerging!
By choosing the correct RyzaPod type, you’re setting your mushroom up for success with the food it loves most. We hope this explanation clears up the differences between our Wood Lover and Manure Lover substrates. In summary: wood-loving mushrooms get a wood-based diet, and manure-loving mushrooms get a manure-like diet. It’s that simple! Our goal is to make home mushroom cultivation simple, fun, and rewarding for you.
Happy mushroom growing! With a bit of care and the right substrate, you’ll be harvesting your own home-grown mushrooms before you know it. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions – we’re here to help you grow with confidence. Good luck, and enjoy the journey of learning and growing your very own fungi friends!
