Cultivation Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Medicinal
Substrate: hardwood chips and sawdust, hardwood logs
Colonization/Fruiting Temperatures: 70-80F/65-75F
Available In: Culture Syringe, Culture Slant
Reishi has been used by the Chinese and Japanese for hundreds of years for increasing longevity and various other health stimulating effects. It has also been reported to induce a non-narcotic feeling of well-being. It is traditionally used fresh or dried in teas and soups. The dried "conks" have an attractive varnish-like appearance and can be used in dried flower and seedpod arrangements.
Fruiting formula by volume:
100 parts hard wood sawdust/small woodchips
10 parts bran
1 part gypsum (calcium sulfate)
Water until moist and well soaked through. Drain or squeeze out excess water. The substrate should be damp but not wet. Pack into autoclavable bags and sterilized from 1-4 hours at 15 psi depending on the volume of the substrate. Larger volumes need a longer sterilization time to heat the core enough for complete sterilization. Depending on the type of bag and method of inoculation, the bags can be sealed before or after sterilization. Colonization is slow and may take as long as 1-2 months.
Fruiting requires removing or puncturing the bag and providing a cool, well ventilated and humidified environment with indirect light. Hand misting daily and covering the bagless sawdust block loosely with a light plastic grocery bag or humidity tent (to maintain humidity) gives acceptable results on the kitchen counter.
For ready to grow, no hassle Reishi mushroom cultivation check out our Reishi Mushroom Grow Kits.
