Maitake Liquid Culture Syringe or liquid mycelium is prepared from pure mushroom culture. Cultures are made using finest quality malt and yeast extracts. Liquid mycelium made with pure mushroom cultures is much more effective than liquid cultures made with spores. The advantage of liquid culture is that it spreads much more evenly through a pot of grain, and you will see faster colonisation of the grain. The contents of syringe are for colonising substrates only and not for direct consumption. The Maitake mushroom has figured prominently in cultural and traditional practices over the centuries, especially in Asian communities. The excitement and appreciation people felt on discovering this mushroom, witness its nickname, are indicative of its special status in society.The popularity of the Maitake mushroom is undiminished, whether consumed for culinary purposes, as a supplement or for its supposed therapeutic properties.
Contents
These items are further packaged in a zip-lock bag to further protect against contamination.
- 1x 20 ml liquid culture in a syringe
- 1x alcohol swab
- 1x sterile needle
Use
- Add 1-2ml per 1L jar of sterilised grain.
- Shake the liquid culture well before use
- Be patient after inoculation. Maitake mycelium has slow and sometimes irregular growth. It may appear as if no growth is taking place, but the process has probably already started.
After use
- Store it again in the fridge.
- Dry the needle thoroughly with a new alcohol wipe 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 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 Maitake requires a specific bulk substrate. You can use various hardwoods for this, such as hardwoods (poplar, oak, alder, maple, birch, ash, beech, elm) mixed with bran. Another popular mix is the ‘master’s 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 Maitake outdoors directly on hardwood logs.
Phase 1: Growing conditions
- Phase 1: Mycelial growth
- Temperature: 21 – 24°C
- Humidity: 95 – 100%
- Duration: 14 – 30 days, then rest for 30 days
- Light: n/a
Phase 2: Primordia formation phase -1
- Temperature: 10 – 15.6°C
- Humidity: 95 %
- Duration: 5 – 10 days
- Light: 100 – 500 lux
Phase 3: Primordia stage -2
- Temperature: 10 – 15.6 °C
- Humidity: 90 – 95%
- Duration: 10 – 14 days
- Light: 100 – 500 lux
Phase 4: fruiting and harvesting
- Temperature: 13 – 16 (18)°C
- Humidity: 75 -85%
- Duration: 14 – 21 days
- Light: 500 – 1,000 lux
- Cropping cycle: 2 flushes, every 3-4 weeks
Storage advice
- Use the liquid culture within 2 months.
- Store it in the refrigerator or another cool, dark location.
- Avoid exposure to UV light.