Hen of the Woods Liquid Culture Syringe

• Use malt extract agar (MEA) or potato dextrose agar (PDA) for initial culturing of the mycelium.
• Incubate Petri dishes at 22-25°C (72-77°F) in a dark environment until fully colonized.

• Grain spawn (oats, rye, millet, or sorghum) is recommended for inoculating the bulk substrate.
• Sterilize the grains and inoculate with the colonized agar from the Petri dishes.
• Incubate the grain spawn at 22-25°C (72-77°F) until fully colonized.

• Maitake can be grown on hardwood sawdust, supplemented with bran or soybean hulls to provide additional nutrients.
• Alternatively, it can be cultivated on hardwood logs (such as oak), which should be freshly cut and inoculated shortly after cutting.

• Optimal temperature for mycelium growth: 22-25°C (72-77°F)
• Optimal temperature for fruiting: 10-18°C (50-64°F)

• Maintain high humidity levels of 85-95% during both mycelium growth and fruiting stages.
• Mist the substrate regularly to maintain adequate moisture levels.

• Maitake requires indirect light for fruiting. Low to moderate light conditions are sufficient.
• Exposure to natural or artificial light for a few hours a day is beneficial for the development of fruiting bodies.

• Good air circulation is essential to prevent the buildup of CO2 and to provide fresh air, which is critical during the fruiting stage.
• Ensure proper ventilation to maintain fresh air exchange.

• Colonization of the substrate typically takes 4-8 weeks, depending on environmental conditions.
• Fruiting can be expected within 2-3 weeks after the substrate is fully colonized and conditions are adjusted for fruiting.
• Total growing time from inoculation to harvest is approximately 8-12 weeks.

For cultivating Grifola frondosa, the ideal pH range of the substrate is typically between 5.5 and 6.5. Maintaining this pH range helps optimize the conditions for the mycelium to thrive and produce fruiting bodies efficiently. Adjusting the pH of your substrate according to these guidelines can significantly impact the success of your Maitake cultivation.