Welcome to ShroomSpy's ultimate guide on growing reishi mushrooms! Dive into the world of mycology and unlock the secrets of cultivating these potent fungi in the comfort of your own home. From boosting your immune system to reducing inflammation, reishi mushrooms offer a myriad of health benefits. Join us on this exciting journey and start growing your own reishi mushrooms today!
Natural Habitat
• Ecosystem:
Deciduous forests
• Locations:
Asia, North America, Europe
• Seasons:
Throughout the year
• Climate:
Temperate
• Substrate:
Wood logs or wood chips
Growing Params
• Difficulty:
Moderate
• Total Time:
39 - 137 Days
• PH Range:
6 - 7
• Pref Suppl's:
Wheat Bran
Yield Performance
• Units:
% Weight of Substrate
• Poor:
10
• Average:
20
• Good:
30
• Excellent:
40
Culture Instructions
Agar Cultivation
Supplies Needed
- • Agar Powder: Cellular medium for agar plates.
- • Petri Dishes: Containers for pouring agar medium.
- • Agar Jar: Narrow Mouth Jar with Sealing Lid is optimal.
- • Parafilm: For Sealing the agar after innoculation. Grafting Tape is also sufficient.
- • Scissors: Tool for cutting sealing tape to length.
- • Stir Plate: Optional: Thorough mixing with sagenetic stirrir improves results by distributing nutrients evenly
- • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing agar mixture and Petri dishes.
- • Scalpel or Innoculation Loop: Tool for transferring mycelium to agar plates.
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Recipe: MEA
Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F
CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm
Growth Duration:4 - 7 Days
Cultivation Notes: Keep in dark and humid environment
Liquid Culture
Supplies Needed
- • Sterile Jar: Clean container for liquid culture inoculation.
- • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing liquid culture medium.
- • Scalpel or Syringe: Tool for transferring mycelial mass to growth medium.
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Recipe: KDLC
Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F
CO2 Range:20000 - 40000 ppm
Growth Duration:7 - 14 Days
Cultivation Notes: Maintain sterile conditions during liquid culture. Stir Daily
Agar Cultivation
- Prepare the agar medium by mixing water, agar powder, and malt extract in a flask.
- Autoclave the agar medium to sterilize it and let it cool to around 50°C.
- Pour the agar medium into petri dishes, leaving some space at the top for inoculation.
- Inoculate the agar plates with reishi mushroom spores or mycelium culture using a sterile technique.
- Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape and incubate them in a dark, warm place for 7-14 days.
- Check the plates regularly for contamination and growth of the reishi mycelium.
- Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar plates, you can use them to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.
Liquid Culture Cultivation
- Prepare a sterile work area by cleaning all surfaces with a disinfectant and using a laminar flow hood or a still air box.
- Gather all necessary materials including reishi mushroom spores, liquid culture medium (such as malt extract agar), sterile syringes, and sterilized containers.
- In a clean environment, flame sterilize the needle of the syringe and allow it to cool before drawing up the liquid culture medium.
- Inject the liquid culture medium into the sterilized container, ensuring that the container is sealed properly to prevent contamination.
- Incubate the liquid culture at the optimal temperature for reishi mushroom growth, typically around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
- Monitor the liquid culture for signs of growth, such as mycelium forming in the medium. This process can take several weeks.
- Once the liquid culture is fully colonized with mycelium, it is ready to be used to inoculate substrate for fruiting reishi mushrooms.
Spawn Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Mason Jars or Bags: Containers for sterilizing and inoculating grains.
- • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
- • Grains: Substrate material for spawn inoculation. (e.g. Rye, Millet)
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
- • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing grain substrate.
- • Inoculation Tool : Tool for transferring colonized spawn to substrate. (e.g. Scalpel, Syringe)
- • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.
Growing Params
Spawn Material: Whole Oats
Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F
Moisture Content:49 - 55 %
Fresh Air Exchange:1 - 2 / Hour
CO2 Range:20000 - 40000 ppm
Growth Duration:7 - 14 Days
Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation
- Prepare your grain substrate by soaking it in water for 24 hours.
- After soaking, drain the water from the grain substrate and fill your jars with the substrate, leaving some space at the top.
- Sterilize the jars with the grain substrate in a pressure cooker at 15 psi for 90 minutes.
- Allow the jars to cool down to room temperature in a clean environment.
- In a still air box or in front of a flow hood, inoculate the cooled jars with reishi mushroom spores or liquid culture.
- Seal the jars with a breathable filter, such as micropore tape, to allow for gas exchange.
- Incubate the inoculated jars in a dark, warm place (around 75-80°F) for 2-4 weeks, or until fully colonized with mycelium.
- Once fully colonized, the grain spawn is ready to be used to inoculate your fruiting substrate for growing reishi mushrooms.
Substrate Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Substrate Mix: Substrate material for mushroom growth. (e.g., Sawdust, Wood Chips, Fast Fruiting Mix, Brown Rice)
- • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
- • Substrate Container: Polypropylene Bags or Plastic Containers for sterilizing and inoculating substrate.
- • Mycelial Mass: Typically Colonized Grain Jars or Liquid Culture for inoculation.
- • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
- • Pressure Cooker or Steam Sterilizer: Equipment for sterilizing substrate.
Growing Params
Substrate: Hardwood Sawdust
Sub to Spawn Ratio: 3:1
Sub to LC Ratio: 4ml/qt
Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F
Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH
Fresh Air Exchange:1 - 2 / Hour
CO2 Range:20000 - 40000 ppm
Growth Duration:7 - 14 Days
Substrate Prep and Innoculation
- Prepare the substrate by mixing hardwood sawdust with wheat bran in a ratio of 5:1.
- Moisten the substrate mixture until it reaches a field capacity moisture level.
- Fill sterilized bags with the substrate mixture, leaving some space at the top for inoculation.
- Inoculate the bags with reishi mushroom spawn by evenly distributing it throughout the substrate.
- Seal the bags with a filter patch and incubate them in a dark, warm environment at around 75-80°F.
- Check the bags regularly for signs of colonization, such as white mycelium growth spreading throughout the substrate.
- Once the substrate is fully colonized, move the bags to a cooler environment with indirect light to induce fruiting.
- Maintain proper humidity levels and air circulation to encourage the growth of reishi mushrooms.
- Harvest the reishi mushrooms when they reach maturity, typically indicated by a reddish-brown color and a firm texture.
Primordia Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for pinning and fruiting.
- • Control Automation: Optional. Controller and sensors for maintaining temperature, humidity, lighting ext.
- • Casing Layer: Optional. Species Dependant. Humidification material for maintaining humidity in the fruiting chamber.
- • Hygrometer: Instrument for measuring humidity levels.
- • Humidifier: Optional. Could be spray bottle or humidifer. Tool for misting and humidifying the fruiting chamber.
Growing Params
Casing Layer: None
Temperature Range:65 - 75 °F
Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH
Light Wave Length:450 - 470 nm
Light Intensity:200 - 500 Lux
Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day
Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour
CO2 Range:20000 - 40000 ppm
Growth Duration:14 - 28 Days
Cultivation Notes: Maintain high humidity and proper lighting
Primordia Initiation
- Prepare a clean and sterile growing environment for the reishi mushrooms.
- Ensure the temperature is around 75-80°F and humidity is around 90-95%.
- Introduce the reishi mushroom spawn to the growing substrate, such as a mixture of hardwood sawdust and wood chips.
- Cover the substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite, to help retain moisture.
- Place the growing containers in a dark and warm location to encourage primordia initiation.
- Monitor the moisture levels regularly and mist the growing containers if necessary to maintain high humidity.
- After 1-2 weeks, small pin-like structures called primordia should start to form on the surface of the substrate.
- Continue to maintain the temperature and humidity levels until the primordia develop into mature reishi mushrooms.
Fruiting Instructions
Supplies Needed
- • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for fruiting.
- • Temperature Control System: Equipment for maintaining optimal fruiting temperatures.
- • Fresh Air Exchange System: System to provide adequate fresh air exchange in the fruiting chamber.
- • Light Source: Light source to provide required illumination for fruiting. (e.g., LED Grow Light)
- • Harvesting Tools: Tools for harvesting mushrooms without damaging the mycelium. (e.g., Knife, Scissors)
Growing Params
Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F
Humidity Range:90 - 95 RH
Light Wave Length:450 - 470 nm
Light Intensity:200 - 500 lux
Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day
Fresh Air Exchange:2 - 3 / Hour
CO2 Range:800 - 2000 ppm
Growth Duration:55 - 60 Days
Flushes:1 - 2
Flushing Schedule:90 - 120 Days
Cultivation Notes: Maintain high humidity and proper lighting for fruiting
Fruiting Preparation and Conditions
- Prepare a fruiting chamber by cleaning and sterilizing it thoroughly to prevent contamination.
- Fill the fruiting chamber with a substrate such as sawdust or grain spawn that has been inoculated with reishi mushroom mycelium.
- Maintain a relative humidity level of around 90-95% in the fruiting chamber to promote mushroom growth.
- Keep the temperature in the fruiting chamber between 70-75°F (21-24°C) to encourage fruiting.
- Provide indirect light or low-intensity light to simulate natural conditions for reishi mushrooms to grow.
- Monitor the moisture levels in the fruiting chamber and mist the substrate if it appears dry.
- Harvest the reishi mushrooms when they reach maturity, typically indicated by a reddish-brown color and a firm texture.
Growing Guide Ratings
4.8
Based on 5 Reviews
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If you've used this growing guide, share your experience with our community
01/30/2025
Noah Schlickeisen
I recently stumbled upon the ShroomSpy Guide to Growing Reishi at Home, and I couldn't be happier with the results! Everything is laid out clearly, making it so easy to follow even for a beginner like me. The detailed instructions on substrate preparation and ideal conditions for spawning are invaluable. I was particularly impressed with the troubleshooting section; it helped me identify some early signs of contamination before it got out of hand. Since starting my grow, I've been harvesting beautiful, vibrant Reishi mushrooms that not only look amazing but also are packed with health benefits. The guide even touches on various uses for the mushrooms, from teas to tinctures. I've already made a few batches and shared them with friends, who can't believe how good they taste! Overall, this guide is a must-have for anyone looking to dive into the world of functional mushrooms. Highly recommend!
01/29/2025
Zaky J
I recently tried the ShroomSpy Guide to Growing Reishi at Home, and I can’t express how rewarding it’s been! As someone who has dabbled in mushroom cultivation before, I appreciated the straightforward yet detailed approach of the guide. The step-by-step instructions made it simple to set up my growing area, and the tips on moisture control were invaluable. Within a few weeks, I was rewarded with the beautiful, iconic red-topped mushrooms I’d been dreaming of! Not only do they look stunning, but I’m also excited about their numerous health benefits, from boosting my immune system to reducing stress. The best part? I now have a personal supply of this 'mushroom of immortality' right at home. If you're thinking of venturing into the world of mushroom cultivation, especially Reishi, this guide is a must-have. Highly recommend!
01/29/2025
Sam Matterson
I recently dove into the ShroomSpy Guide to Growing Reishi at Home, and wow, what a fantastic resource! As a beginner, I was a bit intimidated at first, but the guide breaks everything down into simple, easy-to-follow steps. The visuals are particularly helpful; I loved the detailed pictures of each stage of the growth process. I started my Reishi journey a few weeks ago, and I’m already seeing some promising results in my little home setup. It feels so satisfying to nurture and watch these beautiful mushrooms grow. Plus, the health benefits of Reishi are convincing enough to motivate anyone to get started. Highly recommend this guide for anyone wanting to explore the world of mushrooms! I can’t wait to try growing other species next. Thanks, ShroomSpy!
01/29/2025
Thomas Folbrecht
I recently dove into the ShroomSpy Guide to Growing Reishi at Home, and honestly, it was like having a knowledgeable buddy right there with me through the whole process. The guide breaks everything down into easy-to-follow steps, making it approachable even for a novice like me. I appreciated the detailed sections on the optimal conditions for growth and the care needed, which helped me feel confident as I set up my own little mushroom garden. What especially stood out were the tips on maintaining humidity and temperature – those insights were crucial! After a few weeks, I harvested my first batch of beautiful Reishi mushrooms, and I couldn't be prouder. Not only did I learn how to grow them, but I also gained a deeper appreciation for their health benefits. If you’re considering growing your own mushrooms, this guide is a must-have. Highly recommended!
01/29/2025
Zack Mooney
I recently got my hands on the ShroomSpy Guide to Growing Reishi at Home, and it’s been a game-changer for me. The guide is so well-structured and easy to follow; even as a novice, I felt confident venturing into the world of mushroom cultivation. The detailed step-by-step process, particularly the photos and tips for creating the ideal environment, made all the difference. After just a few weeks, I was thrilled to see my first flush of beautiful, vibrant reishi mushrooms. Not only are they stunning to look at, but I love integrating them into my daily routine for their health benefits—especially their immunity-boosting properties. Overall, I highly recommend this guide for anyone interested in growing their own reishi mushrooms. It’s not just a growing guide; it’s an invitation to explore the fascinating world of fungi right from your home!
Comments
Hey Josh, I just wanted to say a big thank you for your guide on growing Reishi mushrooms! I’ve been really interested in mycology and health benefits lately, and I think Reishi is one of the most fascinating species out there. Your step-by-step instructions made it super easy for a beginner like me to get started! I never realized how much patience and care goes into cultivating these beauties. I loved the tips on sterilizing the substrate; I think I nailed it! I even got my first little mycelium growth popping up, and I can't express how exciting that is! I appreciate the sections on the health benefits too. It's great to know I'm not just growing some cool fungi, but I'm also tapping into their potential health benefits. Can’t wait to see how they turn out in the coming weeks. Do you have any recommendations for recipes or ways to incorporate Reishi into my diet once I harvest them? Thanks again for the awesome guide! Looking forward to more insights from ShroomSpy. Keep up the great work!
Wow, this guide on growing Reishi mushrooms is fantastic! I've always been curious about cultivating my own medicinal mushrooms, and Josh's step-by-step instructions make it seem totally doable, even for a beginner like me. I love how detailed the guide is, especially the part about the ideal growing conditions and the importance of sterilizing materials. It really makes a difference knowing those little details can impact the health of the mushrooms. I’ve never tried growing mushrooms at home, and I'm excited to give this a shot! The health benefits of Reishi are compelling, and I can’t wait to reap those rewards. Plus, it feels great knowing that I'm taking a hands-on approach to my health. If anyone else is thinking about diving in, I highly recommend this guide. Josh's passion for fungi really shines through, and it’s motivating to see someone knowledgeable sharing their expertise. I'm definitely bookmarking this page and will keep you posted on my progress. Here’s to a bountiful Reishi harvest! Thanks, ShroomSpy, for making mushroom cultivation accessible and fun for everyone!
Hey Josh, I just wanted to give a shout-out for your Reishi growing guide! I've always been fascinated by this fungi's medicinal properties, but I never knew where to start. Your step-by-step instructions made it so easy to follow. I especially appreciated the tips on maintaining proper humidity and temperature—it really helped me avoid the pitfalls I encountered with some of my other attempts. I was a bit nervous about the inoculation process, but your detailed explanation really put me at ease. I've got my logs set up now, and I can’t wait to see how they turn out! It's exciting to think I'll eventually be able to harvest my own Reishi. Do you have any suggestions for recipes or ways to incorporate it into my daily routine once I finally get some fruiting bodies? Thanks again for putting this together; it’s been a great resource for someone just getting into mushroom cultivation. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing more guides from you in the future! Cheers, Zack
I've been really excited to try my hand at growing reishi mushrooms after reading Josh Shearer's guide here on ShroomSpy! I've done a bit of foraging before, but cultivating my own seems like a whole new adventure. The step-by-step instructions are clear and engaging, which makes the process feel much less intimidating. I especially appreciate the tips on maintaining humidity levels and choosing the right substrate. It’s great that Josh included a bit about the health benefits of reishi too—I've always been fascinated by its legacy in traditional medicine. I'm hoping to harness those benefits for myself. The photos accompanying each step are super helpful, giving me a better visual understanding of what to expect. I can’t wait to see how my first batch turns out! If anyone else tries this, I’d love to hear your experiences or any additional tips you might have. Let’s get growing and explore the amazing world of mushrooms together! Cheers, Thomas Folbrecht