Lion's Mane mycelium is pure white, which makes it hard to read on ordinary amber agar. We grow this culture on black agar instead, so every strand stands out and contamination shows up right away. It's a first-generation isolate from our master culture, ready to move to grain, liquid culture or fresh plates.
- H. erinaceusSpecies
- Black agarMedium
- 10–14 daysTo cover a plate
- 60–70°FFruiting temp
- 5–10Plates from one
Why start with our Lion's Mane plate
Easy to read
White growth against black makes healthy mycelium, weak spots and contaminants obvious at a glance.
Made for records
The contrast photographs cleanly, which helps if you document your lines or share progress.
Inert carbon
The color comes from food-grade activated carbon added to our malt extract recipe. It doesn't change how the culture grows.
Where one plate can take you
1Grain jars or bags
Cut a wedge about the size of a pencil eraser for each quart jar or bag of sterilized grain. Expect full colonization in about 14–21 days.
2Liquid culture
Drop a small wedge into sterilized broth to grow a liquid culture you can draw syringes from.
3More plates
Slice the culture and transfer the pieces to fresh agar. One plate typically yields 5–10 new plates for a backup library.
4Pick the best
Choose the fastest, cleanest-looking growth and carry only that section forward to keep the line strong.
Lion's Mane plate specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Hericium erinaceus |
| Genetics | First-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Medium | Black agar: our malt extract agar with food-grade activated carbon, about 18 mL |
| Dish | 90mm clear polystyrene, sealed with Parafilm |
| Mycelium appearance | White, cottony, coral-like strands |
| Time to cover agar | 10–14 days at 70–75°F |
| Time to colonize grain | 14–21 days |
| Fruiting temperature | 60–70°F |
| Fruiting substrates | Hardwood sawdust with bran, supplemented hardwood pellets |
| Storage (sealed) | 60–90 days at 55–70°F in the dark; 6–9 months refrigerated at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Within 1 business day by USPS Priority Mail |
Common questions
Does black agar affect how Lion's Mane grows?
No. The activated carbon is inert. It only darkens the medium so the white mycelium is easier to see.
Why is this plate polystyrene when your others are polypropylene?
Clear polystyrene gives the best view of the black-agar contrast. Our other plates use flexible polypropylene.
How long until it colonizes grain?
Plan on roughly 14–21 days for a grain jar or bag kept at 70–75°F.
How long can I keep the plate before using it?
Left sealed and stored somewhere dark at 55–70°F, it stays viable for 60–90 days. In the fridge at 35–40°F it holds for 6–9 months.
What if my plate arrives contaminated?
Every plate is inspected before it ships. If you see green or black fuzz, a pink or orange sheen, wet spreading patches or a sour smell, email us a photo within 5 days of delivery and we'll replace it free.
Made in our lab, shipped fast
We pour each plate with about 18 mL of agar, inoculate it in front of HEPA-filtered laminar flow, seal it with Parafilm and grow it out in a dedicated clean room. It's 90mm, using a clear polystyrene dish for the best view of the black agar. Every plate gets a visual check before packing, and anything questionable is discarded instead of shipped. Most plates show 90–100% coverage when they ship.
Because we keep colonized plates in stock instead of starting them when you order, yours usually leaves the lab within one business day. Plates travel by USPS Priority Mail, typically 2–4 days, in insulated, padded packaging, with a free cold pack from May through September and for hot-climate addresses. Orders with several items can take an extra 1–2 business days.
Lion's Mane on black agar
White mycelium, easy to inspect
When it arrives: Look it over within 24 hours. A little condensation on the lid is normal. Keep it sealed, cool and dark at 55–70°F until you're ready to work.