Dragons and Fairy Dust Review - Merryhill Mushrooms Grow Kits

17th March 2026

Dragons and Fairy Dust Reviews Our Mushroom Growing Kits | Merryhill Mushrooms Blog

Dragons and Fairy Dust Reviews Our Mushroom Growing Kits

Pink oyster and chestnut mushrooms that were too eager to wait

When Dragons and Fairy Dust blogger tried our Pink Oyster and Chestnut Mushroom growing kits, she discovered mushrooms so eager to grow they couldn't even wait for her weekend plans. Her detailed review captures the fascinating daily transformation of watching mushrooms emerge "as if they'd decided it was a perfectly good place to become a woodland."

Mushrooms That Couldn't Wait

"I didn't even manage to properly set up the pink oyster mushroom kit before it started growing. When I opened the box the mushrooms were already pushing out through the little plastic-covered holes in the side, clearly not interested in waiting for my weekend plans."

This enthusiastic start set the tone for her entire growing experience. The pink oyster mushrooms were so eager to fruit that they began sprouting before she'd even officially started the process. For anyone worried about whether their mushrooms will grow, this reviewer's experience shows just how vigorous and ready-to-produce our kits truly are.

A Long-Standing Curiosity Realised

The reviewer had been curious about mushroom grow kits for a while. A few years ago, she'd sent one to her parents as a Christmas present, and they loved watching the mushrooms appear almost overnight. When offered the chance to try our kits from Merryhill Mushrooms, she was genuinely excited to see how they worked firsthand.

What she received were kits that contain the growing medium and mushroom mycelium already established – no starting from spores required. As she notes, you're essentially caring for mushrooms that are ready to grow, which makes the entire process accessible for beginners to grow edible mushrooms indoors with very little equipment.

The Pink Oyster Experience: Simple and Rapid

She set up her kits in the dining room on the sideboard, with a plastic bag underneath to stop water leakage. The pink oyster mushroom kit proved remarkably straightforward.

How It Works

The box has three growing points on the side covered with plastic

When ready to begin, simply break the plastic covering

Mist the mushrooms with water twice daily

Watch the daily transformation as they grow noticeably larger

Her pink oysters were so keen to grow that they'd already started sprouting before she officially began. The mushrooms grew noticeably larger each day, and checking them morning and evening became "a small ritual because they visibly changed every day."

Pink Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit with mushrooms forming

Impressive Speed

Within about nine days, the cluster had reached full size and was ready to harvest. As she beautifully describes it: "Watching them grow felt a bit like a quiet experiment. One day there was just a box on the sideboard in my dining room, which doubles as my office, and the next there was a cluster of mushrooms appearing as if they'd decided it was a perfectly good place to become a woodland."

The Chestnut Mushroom Journey: A Different Approach

The chestnut mushroom kit works differently from the pink oyster variety. Instead of growing from holes in the side of the box, the mushrooms grow from soil inside the box – a process that fascinated the reviewer.

Step 1: Prepare the Box

Cut along the dotted lines on the box and raise the sides to create extra growing space.

Step 2: Create Humidity

Pull the included clear plastic bag up over the sides to maintain humidity.

Step 3: Water and Wait

Add 100ml of water, then comes the challenging part – don't open the box for eight days.

Step 4: The Reveal

After eight days, lift the lid to find mushrooms already emerging through the soil.

The Challenge of Patience

The reviewer found the eight-day waiting period surprisingly difficult. The lid includes tick boxes so you can mark off each day, but as she admits: "Curiosity makes this surprisingly difficult. I really wanted to lift the lid and look."

"When the eight days were finally up and I lifted the lid, the first mushrooms were already emerging."

The wait was worth it. The anticipation only added to the satisfaction of seeing the first mushrooms pushing through the soil.

Chestnut Mushrooms which are almost ready to harvest

What This Review Tells Us

Dragons and Fairy Dust's review highlights several key aspects of the mushroom growing experience:

Key Takeaways

Vigorous Growth: The mushrooms are so ready to fruit that they may even start before you complete setup – a reassuring sign of vitality.

Daily Engagement: Checking the mushrooms becomes a pleasant daily ritual, with visible changes creating genuine excitement.

Different Experiences: Each variety offers its own growing journey – the pink oyster provides immediate gratification whilst the chestnut builds anticipation.

Minimal Equipment: Both kits can be successfully grown indoors with just a suitable location and a water mister.

Quiet Wonder: The experience feels like "a quiet experiment" that transforms ordinary domestic spaces.

Perfect Placement

The reviewer's choice of placement – on a sideboard in her dining room which doubles as her office – demonstrates how easily these kits integrate into everyday living spaces. The mushrooms became part of her daily environment, visible reminders of the growing process happening right alongside her regular activities.

This accessibility is central to what makes our kits work so well. They don't require dedicated growing spaces, special lighting, or complicated environmental controls. They simply need a spot away from direct sunlight and someone willing to mist them twice daily.

The Magic of Transformation

What shines through in this review is the sense of wonder at the transformation process. The reviewer's description captures something essential about growing mushrooms at home – it's not just about the final harvest, but about witnessing the daily changes, the unexpected eagerness of the mushrooms to grow, and the quiet satisfaction of nurturing something living.

For the Curious: Those who've wondered about mushroom growing but hesitated to try

For Gift Givers: Following in the footsteps of her parents' Christmas gift experience

For Daily Ritual Seekers: Those who appreciate small daily moments of observation and care

For Space-Conscious Growers: Anyone wanting to grow food without outdoor space or complex equipment

About Dragons and Fairy Dust

Dragons and Fairy Dust is a UK lifestyle blog sharing honest reviews and personal experiences across a wide range of topics. With a thoughtful, observational writing style, the blog offers readers genuine insights into products and experiences. The detailed, evocative descriptions in this mushroom growing review demonstrate the care taken to share not just facts, but the actual feeling of the experience – from the surprise of over-eager mushrooms to the challenge of waiting eight days before peeking. We're grateful for such a thoughtful and engaging review of our growing kits.