Lion's Mane Liquid Culture Syringe

Lion's Mane is a unique mushroom with long, hanging protrusions resembling the mane of a lion. Instead of a typical mushroom cap, it has these root-like threads. This mushroom is found in the forests of Europe and Asia and has long been popular in both cooking and traditional East Asian medicine. With the Lion's Mane Liquid Culture Syringe, you can easily and quickly grow Lion's Mane at home. They already contain ready mycelium, which ensures smoother and more stable growth than with spore solutions. After inoculating the chosen medium, you can expect mushrooms within six weeks. The contents of the syringe are for colonizing substrates only and not for direct consumption. 

Content

These items are further packed in a zip-lock bag to further protect against contamination.

• 1x 10ml liquid culture in a syringe
• 1x alcohol swab
• 1x sterile needle

Preparation

• Add 2-5ml to each litre or jar of sterilised grain.
• Shake the liquid culture well before use; the Lion's Mane mycelium may clump.
• Be patient after inoculation. Lion's Mane mycelium has slow and sometimes irregular growth. It may appear as if no growth is taking place, but the process has probably already started.

Next step

• Store it again in the fridge.
• Dry the needle thoroughly before replacing the protective cap to prevent rust.
• Optional: use a lighter to heat the needle and evaporate any remaining water. Then let it cool down before replacing the cap.
• Put the liquid culture in a ziplock bag for extra protection and place it back in the fridge.

These instructions will ensure that the liquid culture remains effective and usable for as long as possible.

What substrate do we grow on?

Large-scale cultivation of Lion's Mane requires a specific bulk substrate. You can use various hardwoods for this, such as poplar, oak, alder, aspen, maple, birch, ash, beech, willow and elm, mixed with bran. Another popular mix is the 'masters mix', which contains an equal ratio of hardwood sawdust and soybean hulls. Should you prefer a more natural approach, it is also possible to cultivate Lion's Mane outdoors directly on hardwood logs.

Growing conditions

• Phase 1: Mycelial growth
• Temperature: 21 - 27°C
• Humidity: 90 - 100%
• Duration: 10 - 14 days
• Light: n/a

Phase 2: Primordia formation/fertilisation

• Temperature: 10 - 15.6°C
• Humidity: 95 - 100%
• Duration: 3 - 5 days
• Light: 500 - 1,000 lux

Phase 3: Fruit formation and harvesting

• Temperature: 18 - 24°C
• Humidity: (85) 90 - 95%
• Duration: 4 - 5 days
• Light: 500 - 1,000 lux
• Crop cycle: 2 crops, 14 days apart

Storage advice

• Use the liquid culture within 2 months.
• Store it in the refrigerator or another cool, dark location.
• Avoid exposure to UV light.