:IMAGE :INFO What Is Lion's Mane and Why Grow It at Home Lion's mane is a culinary and medicinal mushroom prized for its tender texture and potential cognitive benefits. Growing it at home costs a fraction of retail prices and delivers fresh flushes within two to three weeks of inoculation. :COUNTER.half 12 Days to First Flush :COUNTER.half 85% Humidity Target :INFO Substrate: Hardwood Sawdust and Wheat Bran Lion's mane grows best on a mix of hardwood sawdust and wheat bran, typically at an 80 to 20 ratio by dry weight. The bran adds nitrogen and accelerates mycelium growth. Pasteurise or sterilise the mix before inoculation to eliminate competing moulds. :CHECKLIST Beginner Equipment [ ] Polypropylene grow bags [ ] Pressure cooker (23 litre minimum) [ ] Lion's mane grain spawn [ ] Hardwood sawdust [ ] Wheat bran [ ] Isopropyl alcohol (70%) [ ] Spray bottle for misting [ ] Thermometer and hygrometer [ ] Humidity tent or Martha shelf :INFO Fruiting Conditions to Dial In Once fully colonised, move the block to fruiting conditions: 18 to 24 degrees Celsius, indirect light for 12 hours a day, fresh air exchanges four to six times daily, and relative humidity between 80 and 90 percent. Mist the surface without soaking it. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Harvest the moment the teeth form. One day too late and the bitterness is already there. :PATH Inoculation Introducing mushroom spawn into the prepared substrate so the mycelium can begin growing. :PATH Colonisation (10–14 days) The mycelium spreads throughout the substrate, establishing a strong network. :PATH Fruiting Initiation Environmental conditions trigger the mycelium to begin forming mushroom pins. :PATH First Flush Harvest The first batch of mature mushrooms is ready and harvested. :PATH Second Flush Recovery The substrate recovers and produces another round of mushrooms. :NOTE Contamination is the most common failure point for new growers. Green, black, or pink patches on the block indicate Trichoderma or Penicillium mould. Remove the block from your grow space immediately and seal it before disposal. Do not open the bag near other blocks. Keep your inoculation area clean and work fast.