Anyone been successful,,,,,,,,

[1shotwade]

growing lion manes? I went back and all I found was unsuccessful. My son wants to raise some with me but it doesn't look like it's as easy as people make it out to be. Any help?

Wade

[Evan]

I always keep my mushrooms on paper towels in the fridge. Once I use the mushrooms, I always put the paper towels somewhere that I hope they will fruit someday. So far, nothing. I have found morels where I dumped rinse water, but I think it was just a coincidence.

[brianf]

If you're doing it on logs, it's going to take a long time before they fruit. I don't know this from experience, just second hand information. People have had much success growing it on decomposing cellulose, but you won't see prolonged fruiting or very large numbers. Saw dust blocks will work too, but again small numbers and short life span. I think a little indirect sunlight might help this mushroom along. If you intend to grow them on cellulose such as straw I suggest adding a large quantity of sterilized grain, get the grain at a local feed/farm supply store and sterilize it yourself. You'll save a ton of money this way versus buying the rather expensive sterilized grain online.

I colonized dowels from the h.coralloides I found last fall. I haven't seen any mushrooms almost a year on but there is certainly some sort of mycelium growing under the bark and around the inoculation sites. I'll hold onto them for 2 or 3 more years and if I see nothing probably toss them in the woods. Hericium is something that you can grow directly in the forest as it will only effect well rotten wood. The path of least resistance and all. I also recommend starting colonies on a hardwood pet bedding/shavings and grain mix. Then use that to colonize the dowels.