Building a Mycology Companion – a needed tool for home growers (AI contam checker, automation integration via connectable hardware(keeping it cheap as possible for everyone) a journal, etc). Looking for real feedback from cultivators”
Hey everyone,
I’ve been growing at home for a few years now (mostly gourmet/edibles like oysters, lion’s mane, and some others) and kept running into the same frustrations: juggling notes, forgetting schedules, second-guessing contams, and manually babysitting humidity and FAE. So I decided to build Mycology Companion — a mobile app designed as a practical sidekick for home mycologists.
It’s still in active development, but the core is coming together nicely. Here’s what’s currently in there:
• Dashboard – quick environmental overview
• Species Database + Growing Methods with species-specific guides
• Grow Journal for tracking batches over time
• Troubleshooting section with AI Photo Checker (upload a grow photo → identifies potential contamination risks and gives advice) + detailed Contam Library with descriptions and a quick decision tree
• AI Mycologist for personalized tips and questions
• Safety Hub, Inventory management, Project Planner, and Grow Calculator
• Community and Integrations tabs (this is where I’m putting extra focus)
I’m especially excited about the automation side — integrating with Home Assistant, ESP32 sensors, smart plugs, fans, humidifiers, etc. The goal is to let the app monitor conditions in real time, trigger reliable automations (humidity, temperature, FAE), send smart alerts, and help avoid common mistakes like over-humidification or CO2 buildup.
I’m almost the beta stage and genuinely want this to be useful for actual growers rather than just another forgotten app. The core experience will stay free.
I’d love your honest feedback. If you’re willing to check it out, I’ll send beta access when possible to the first bunch of people who give thoughtful input.
A few specific questions:
What features or tools would save you the most time or prevent the biggest headaches in your grows?
How valuable would deeper home automation integration be (live sensor readings in the app, one-tap controls or preset automations for tents, alerts when things go off-track, etc.)?
For the Troubleshooting / Contam tools — what’s missing that would make it more helpful? (Better photo analysis ideas, more decision support, specific species risks, etc.)
Grow Journal & Project Planner: what data points, templates, or tracking features do you wish you had?
Are there any services or premium features you’d actually consider paying for? (e.g. custom automation recipes, strain-specific plans, hardware recommendations, batch analytics, community grow-alongs, etc.)
General UX/UI thoughts — what feels useful, what feels unnecessary or clunky?
Drop a comment with your thoughts (even short ones or “this already exists and does X better” are helpful). If you want to try the beta once I’m ready to launch, just say so and I’ll DM you a link/invite. I’ll prioritize people who grow regularly and can give real-world feedback.
Appreciate you all — this community has taught me a ton over the years, and I want to give something back that actually makes home mycology easier and less stressful.
Happy growing 🍄