This is true Ganoderma lucidum, not one of the look-alike species often sold under the Reishi name, such as G. sessile, G. resinaceum or G. tsugae. It produces the classic lacquered red-to-mahogany conk with a white growing edge, and it likes warmth.
- G. lucidumSpecies
- 14–21 daysTo cover a plate
- 75–85°FFruiting temp
- IntermediateSkill level
- 5–8Plates from one
Why start with our Red Reishi plate
The real species
Our master culture is G. lucidum, so you know exactly what you're expanding.
Shape on demand
Keep CO₂ high and it grows branching antlers. Give it plenty of fresh air and it forms flat conks.
Dense, sturdy mycelium
A thick, felt-like mat that also holds up well under refrigeration.
Amber droplets are fine: Reishi often beads up yellow-orange liquid on the mycelium as it matures. It's a normal part of growth.
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 21–28 days at 75–80°F.
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 5–8 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.
Red Reishi plate specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Ganoderma lucidum |
| Strain / source | Confirmed G. lucidum (not G. sessile, G. resinaceum or G. tsugae) |
| Genetics | First-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Medium | Malt extract agar (MEA), about 18 mL |
| Dish | 90mm polypropylene, sealed with Parafilm |
| Mycelium appearance | Bright white, very dense and felt-like |
| Time to cover agar | 14–21 days at 75–80°F |
| Time to colonize grain | 21–28 days at 75–80°F |
| Fruiting temperature | 75–85°F |
| Fruiting substrates | Supplemented hardwood sawdust, hardwood pellets, oak, maple or beech logs |
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| 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
When is Reishi ready to harvest?
When the white band at the edge of the cap closes and matches the color of the rest of the conk.
Is Reishi eaten like other mushrooms?
No. It's woody and bitter, so it's dried and used for tea, tincture or extract.
How warm does Reishi need to be?
Colonize at 75–80°F and fruit at 75–85°F. Blocks usually take 30–60 days to colonize before fruiting.
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. Reishi tolerates refrigeration well, so it keeps nicely as a long-term backup.
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 polypropylene dish that flexes instead of cracking, so a bump in transit won't split the plate and break the seal. 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.
Red Reishi on MEA
From plate to conk
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.
Sold as a live mycological culture for cultivation and research. Red Reishi is the subject of ongoing scientific study, but nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.