Mushroom Life Cycle The mushroom life cycle is truly fascinating! Whether you're observing the growth of small mushrooms, which can sprout in just a day, or marveling at the development of larger mushrooms over the course of 3-4 days, there's something mesmerizing about watching these fungi thrive. But for mushrooms to reach their full potential, the environment must be conducive to their growth. Steady moisture is key for the mushroom life cycle to unfold. What is a Mushroom? Mushrooms are a type of fungus, not plants. To get more specific, mushrooms are like the ‘fruit’ of fungi. Similar to how a tree produces fruits, the fungi produce mushrooms. One difference is that mushrooms don’t only grow in the ground, mushrooms can also grow on trees and in controlled environments.   Dropping Spores Mushrooms produce and release  spores  from the gills that are located underneath the mushroom cap. Spores are produced as either male or female. Each mushroom is capable of producing hund