Solve · No pins have appeared after 5–6 days of fresh air and misting
Slow to Pin
A slow start to pinning is usually about humidity or fresh air, and almost always resolves with small adjustments rather than a restart.
Normality: common · Severity: low
Relevant to: Lion's Mane, Blue Oyster, Pink Oyster, Coral Tooth · stage: Pinning
Likely causes
- Humidity around the block is too low or inconsistent
- Not enough fresh air exchange to signal it's time to fruit
- Room temperature is on the cooler side, slowing everything down
What to do now
- Increase misting to twice daily and check the humidity bag is sealing well
- Fan the opening for 10–20 seconds, 2–3 times a day, to refresh the air
- Move the kit somewhere slightly warmer (18–24°C) with indirect natural light
Less common causes
- The block hasn't fully finished colonising yet
- Not enough indirect light to cue fruiting
It’s tempting to worry the moment pins don’t appear on schedule, but “schedule” is always a usually, not a guarantee. Fresh air and humidity are the two levers that make the biggest difference here.
What happens next
Most kits pin within a few days of these adjustments. If there's still no sign of pins after two full weeks of fresh air and good humidity, it's worth checking the block for any warning signs of contamination.