So you want to grow mushrooms in Minecraft? Good call. Whether you're trying to make stew for your cave explorations or just want some glowing red decor for your base, mushrooms are crazy useful. When I first started playing years ago, I remember spending three real-life hours trying to farm these temperamental fungi before I figured out the light-level trick. Let's save you that headache.
Minecraft Mushroom Basics (What You Absolutely Need)
First things first: There are only two types:
- Red Mushrooms: Glowy red caps, spawn in caves and Nether
- Brown Mushrooms: Looks like portobellos, common in swamps and dark forests
Both work for recipes, but you need one of each to make mushroom stew. Now here's the critical part most tutorials skip:
| Growth Requirement | Details | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Light Level | MUST be 12 or lower (0-12 range) | Using torches near your farm |
| Blocks for Planting | Almost any solid block (dirt, stone, wood) | Trying to place on glass or slabs |
| Growth Speed | 1 spread per 60-90 Minecraft minutes | Expecting wheat-like growth speed |
| Special Blocks | Mycelium/podzol allow growth at light 13 | Not using these when available |
Finding Wild Mushrooms First
Before you can grow 'em, you need starters. Here's where I hunt:
- Caves: Bring torches! Look near coal ore veins
- Swamps: Check under trees at night
- Nether: Every fortress has clusters (watch for ghasts!)
- Mushroom Islands: Obvious, but rare to find early
Pro tip: If you find a mushroom biome early, dig up mycelium with Silk Touch. This purple grass lets mushrooms grow in slightly brighter conditions.
Step-by-Step: How Do You Grow Mushrooms in Minecraft Successfully
Method #1: Beginner Dark Room Farm (No Bonemeal)
- Dig 3x3 room at least 4 blocks high
- Cover floor with dirt/cobblestone
- Place 1 brown + 1 red mushroom in corners
- Seal completely (no light leaks!)
- Wait 2-3 Minecraft days
- Return and harvest extras with shears/hand
Method #2: Bonemeal Giant Farming (Fast Results)
My personal favorite when I have bone meal:
- Plant mushroom on dirt/grass
- Ensure space above:
- Red: 5 blocks clearance
- Brown: 7 blocks clearance
- Right-click with bone meal
- Chop giant mushroom with axe
- Collect 10-20 small mushrooms!
| Resource | Cost Per Giant Mushroom | Average Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Bone Meal | 1 | 12-18 mushrooms |
| Time | Instant | ≈ 30 seconds harvesting |
Warning: If it doesn't work? Check for torches, leaves, or uneven terrain blocking growth. Happened to me yesterday near my oak farm.
Advanced Mushroom Farming Tricks
Using Special Blocks Strategically
Found a mushroom island? Grab these:
- Mycelium: Spreads like grass. Mushrooms ignore light up to level 13
- Podzol: Found in giant tree taigas. Same light tolerance
- Nylium: Nether version (crimson/warped)
How do you grow mushrooms in Minecraft using these? Simple:
- Place mycelium/podzol block
- Plant mushroom on it
- Add partial roof for light control
- Enjoy faster spreads without total darkness
Automated Redstone Farm (Late-Game)
For technical players - my endgame setup:
- Platform with dispensers facing up
- Plant mushrooms on dispensers
- Clock circuit activates dispensers with bone meal
- Pistons break giant mushrooms automatically
- Hoppers collect drops
Costs: ≈ 32 redstone, 8 pistons, 1 hopper clock
Output: 200+ mushrooms/hour
Troubleshooting Your Mushroom Farm
Based on my fails (and yours in comments):
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Mushrooms disappearing | Light level > 12. Add roof or dig deeper |
| Not spreading | Ensure adjacent blocks are valid. Use F3 debug screen to check light |
| Ghasts destroying Nether farm | Build with cobblestone (blast-resistant) |
| Hostile mobs spawning | Place carpets/trapdoors - mobs can't spawn but mushrooms spread |
| Slow growth | Increase planting density. More starters = faster spreads |
Why Even Grow Mushrooms? Seriously.
Beyond decoration, here's why I farm them:
- Mushroom Stew: 6 hunger points (same as steak!) + saturation
- Rabbit Stew: Requires brown mushrooms
- Fermented Spider Eye: Brewing potions of weakness
- Villager Trading: Expert farmers buy brown mushrooms for emeralds
Just remember: Stew doesn't stack. Annoying for long trips. I usually make 3-4 bowls before mining expeditions.
FAQs: Your Mushroom Questions Answered
How do you grow mushrooms in Minecraft without dark rooms?
Honestly? You don't. But use mycelium/podzol blocks outdoors with roof overhangs. Partial shade works if light stays ≤13.
Can mushrooms grow on trees?
Only if you place them there manually. They won't naturally spread to wood. Tried making a "magic forest" last week - looked cool but didn't multiply.
Why won't my red mushroom grow with bone meal?
Check space above! Needs 5 empty blocks vertically. Also confirm block below isn't transparent like glass.
How do you grow mushrooms in Minecraft Nether safely?
Build enclosed cobblestone room with warped nylium floor. Bring scaffolding for ceiling checks. Lost three attempts to ghast fireballs before learning this.
Do mushrooms spread faster in certain biomes?
Nope. Biome doesn't affect spread rate despite rumors. Light level and block type are the only factors.
My Personal Farming Setup (After 100+ Failed Attempts)
Here's what finally worked consistently for me:
- Location: Underground beneath wheat farm
- Size: 7x7 dirt floor with 3-block height
- Light Control: Ladders instead of stairs (blocks light)
- Starter: 4 brown + 4 red at edges
- Harvesting: Shears every 2 real-time hours
Yield: ≈ 32 mushrooms per harvest. More than enough for stew and trading.
Final Reality Check
Growing mushrooms isn't hard once you respect their vampire-like hatred of light. Start with a simple dark box, upgrade to bone meal giants when possible, and grab mycelium if you find it. When people ask me "how do you grow mushrooms in Minecraft efficiently?" I tell them: Stop overcomplicating it. Dark space + patience = piles of shrooms.
Still stuck? Dig deeper. Literally. Your farm is probably too close to the surface.
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