Did you know that a large number of our HEPA filters are purchased by individuals and businesses involved in mushroom cultivation? From hobbyists growing gourmet mushrooms at home to commercial growers supplying supermarkets and food wholesalers, the one thing all successful operations have in common is a controlled indoor environment, and that’s where HEPA filters play a vital role.
Regardless of the size of your mushroom farm or the type of mushrooms you grow - whether it’s oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, or classic white buttons - maintaining optimal air quality is essential. Mushrooms are sensitive organisms that require specific environmental conditions: consistent temperature, controlled humidity, and above all, clean, fresh air.
Ventilation and filtration are key because mushrooms "breathe" oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Without proper airflow and filtration, CO₂ build-up can stunt growth and increase contamination risk. This is why mushroom growers trust our HEPA filters (also known as Absolute or Zero filters) to create a clean growing environment by trapping airborne particles, spores, mould, and bacteria.
As part of our mission to support the mushroom growing community, we’ve put together this overview of common terms and their origins. Whether you're a new grower or an experienced mycologist, understanding the language of mushrooms is both fascinating and useful.
Fungiculture is the technical term for the cultivation of fungi, including mushrooms, and is often referred to in the industry as mushroom farming.
Mycology, derived from the Greek word mykes (meaning fungus), is the scientific study of fungi. So while many growers may casually refer to themselves as mycologists, the term more accurately describes researchers studying fungal biology.
Fungistatic, on the other hand, refers to substances or processes that inhibit the growth of fungi - not exactly what you want when trying to grow mushrooms!
Many people use the word mushroom interchangeably with fungi, but there’s a distinction. While all mushrooms are fungi, not all fungi are mushrooms.
According to the Collins Dictionary, a mushroom is “an edible, spore-producing body of various fungi with a stem and domed cap, proverbial for its rapid growth.” This definition typically refers to familiar varieties like the white button mushroom. Interestingly, it omits the presence of gills, the structures under the cap where spores are produced and dispersed.
The word “mushroom” is believed to be derived from the French mousseron, a flat-cap mushroom common in France. Mousseron is closely related to mousse, the French word for moss, possibly alluding to the environments where these mushrooms were originally found. While the etymology isn’t crystal clear, it's a fun dive into linguistic history that adds depth to your knowledge of fungi.
This post is just a starting point. If you are interested in the different types of mushrooms you can grow, how to set up your indoor grow room, or ways in which HEPA filters can enhance your yields by preventing contamination - get in contact with us for specialised advice and recommendations for how our high efficiency filters can help you.
In the meantime, check out our full range of HEPA filters for mushroom cultivation, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need expert advice on your filtration needs.