How to Grow Lion&

Getting Started with Lion's Mane Mushroom Cultivation

The lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) remains relatively unknown to the average consumer but holds tremendous therapeutic potential. Science continues uncovering unique health and wellness benefits linked to consuming this woolly textured fungus.

As interest in lion's mane grows, more people want to try their hand at cultivating it at home. Thankfully, you need not live near forests housing wild lion's mane to enjoy harvests. Beginner-friendly grow kits allow nearly anyone to succeed with indoor mushroom farming.

Understanding the Lion's Mane Mushroom

Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, the lion's mane mushroom flourishes on the wounds of living hardwood trees and decaying logs. It earns its name from the long, flowing tendrils resembling a male lion's mane.

Both the fruiting body and white mycelium contain bioactive compounds like hericenones, erinacines, amyloban, and beta-glucan polysaccharides. Research indicates these elements provide neuroprotective, immuno-boosting, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in humans.

Why Grow Your Own Lions Mane

While dietary supplements featuring lion's mane mushroom extracts abound, many people prefer consuming the whole food source. The trouble is finding fresh lion's mane to purchase proves challenging outside certain Asian markets.

Growing it yourself guarantees access to the purest, freshest lion's mane possible. You control growing conditions to avoid contamination and can harvest portions at optimal potency. Plus, witnessing the alien-like fruiting bodies emerge through hands-on cultivation offers immense rewards all its own!

Choosing a Lion's Mane Grow Kit

First-time mushroom farmers quickly discover not all kits live up to the promise of easy growth for beginners. When sourcing a lion's mane production kit, vet companies thoroughly and beware incredibly cheap options.

See what other growers say in reviews. Ensure the kit comes with sterilized sawdust/wood chip substrate "spawn" infused with lion's mane mycelium, without you needing to handle spores. Choose US-based suppliers when possible for faster, more reliable shipping.

Trusted Lion's Mane Grow Kit Brands

These leading manufacturers ship high-performing lion's mane kits perfect for hobby mushroom farmers:

• North Spore
• GroCycle
• Mushroom Mojo
• Mycohaus

Whether you want an all-in-one mushroom growing kit or customizable components priced separately, they offer various bundle options to suit unique needs and budgets.

Grow Kit Elements

Typical lion's mane kits come with:

• Substrate - Nutrient-rich sawdust, wood chips, or plugs colonized with mycelium
• Container - Breathable bag, box, or jar housing the substrate
• Growing Medium - Material like coconut coir to mix substrate with
• Decontamination Tools - Alcohol wipes, gloves, mask, etc. to maintain cleanliness

Advanced kits may further include hygrometers for gauging humidity, gear for pasteurizing your own substrate, and more. Evaluate what makes sense for your growing space and skill level.

Growing Lions Mane in 5 Steps

With a reputable lion's mane grow kit in hand, you're ready to spawn mushroom magic using this simple 5-step process:

1. Sanitize & Inoculate

Thoroughly clean your growing area and hands. Use the provided alcohol wipes to sanitize the kit's container surface and any tools. Open carefully under sterile conditions per the manufacturers guide.

Mix the root-like mycelium substrate with the growing medium evenly to offer nutrition. Transfer to the container without packing too tightly. Close the inoculated container without contaminating the insides.

2. Incubate

Place the filled container in a warm (60-75F), dark, stable environment like a closet. Resist opening the box prematurely over the next 4-6 weeks. Be patient through this colonization phase as the mycelium breaks down the growth medium and spreads.

Once thick, white mycelium coats the majority of the substrate, full colonization complete! Time to birth your crop into fruiting conditions.

3. Birth the Mycelium

Birth simply involves exposing the colonized blocks, bag, or jar to light, oxygen and room temps between 55-75F. How you accomplish this differs slightly for various kit formats.

For grow bags, remove the seals and unroll partially. Slit boxes along perforated openings. Transfer jar contents to a damp casing layer like coir in a grow tent or chamber. Mist lightly to provide humidity.

4. Induce Fruiting Conditions

The shock of fresh air, light and lower CO2 levels signals to the mycelium its time to pin those alien-like lions mane mushrooms! Maintaining the ideal microclimate now encourages prolifically pinning and fruiting.

Aim for 95-100% humidity by misting a few times daily as needed. Give 12 hours light each day. Maintain steady airflow and zap any contaminants with hydrogen peroxide immediately.

5. Harvest Your Bounty

Within another week or two, anticipate dozens of cascading lions mane mushrooms! Pick individual pieces with a twisting motion when the tendrils first sprout or wait for full maturity.

The fungus will keep producing 1-2 flushes over another month. Give the final flush away to regenerate the cycle. Then simply compost spent substrate and containers before starting anew!

Preparing Your Harvest for Consumption

From stir fries to tinctures and beyond, lions mane offers versatility in the kitchen and medicine cabinet alike. Consider these preparation tips before consuming your homegrown bounty:

Storing for Later Use

Fresh lion's mane stores longest by slicing pieces and freezing. Or dry pieces whole with a food dehydrator or low oven until cracker crisp, then stash in airtight bags. Both prep methods retain medicinal potency for months.

Cooking This Unique Mushroom

Uncooked lion's mane makes for unpleasant chewing! Brief simmering or sauting maintains the mushroom's nutritional value while softening texture.

Popular cooking methods include soups, broths, pasta sauce, frying as a crispy "crab cake" substitute, etc. Replace less healthy foods by disguising finely chopped or blended lions mane in burgers, loaves, or sauces.

Making a Double Extract

For the strongest concentration of bioactive compounds from lions mane, Mycologist Jeff Chilton developed the double extract technique. It calls for hot water extraction followed by an alcohol tincture with the already extracted material.

His complete, step-by-step double extraction tutorial allows you to make this medicinal oil yourself at home with basic equipment and your harvest bounty!

Troubleshooting Common Lions Mane Grow Kit Issues

While reputable kits certainly increase first-timer success rates, contamination and other environmental factors occasionally thwart even veteran mushroom farmers. Diagnose what underlying problem may be sabotaging your lions mane cultivation efforts here:

Mycelium Failing to Colonize Substrate

If weeks pass without thick, white mycelium pervading the growing medium, try relocating the container to maintain ideal 60-75F temps. Or the sterilization protocol failed, admitting competitor mold spores - discard and start fresh.

Fruiting Body Formation Stalls

Assuming full colonization confirmed before exposing substrate to fruiting conditions, lack of mushroom pinning likely links to environmental misalignment.

Review troubleshooting guidance from the kit manufacturer. Adjust lighting, humidity, airflow or temps in the growing chamber incrementally towards ideal levels until pins emerge.

Contamination Visible in Container

Gray, black, blue, green or other colorful molds sneak past even seasoned growers! Catch issues early and either toss out the container to protect other grows or attempt selective removal of contamination.

If the latter, thoroughly sterilize a spoon and dig out the entirety of the infested zone plus a buffer zone around it. Flood the gap with hydrogen peroxide, allowing overflow to puddle. Resume ideal fruiting conditions and hope mycelium rebounds!

With diligent environmental controls and contamination vigilance, trust your lions mane kit to reward months of nutritious, medicinal harvests from this one unique block or bag!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.