The Complete Guide to Growing Lion's Mane Mushrooms

Are you interested in growing your own gourmet and medicinal mushrooms? Lion's mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are one of the most fascinating fungi you can cultivate at home. With their distinctive shaggy appearance resembling a lion's mane and impressive health benefits, these mushrooms have gained popularity among home growers and health enthusiasts alike.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about growing lion's mane mushrooms, whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced mushroom cultivator looking to expand your repertoire.

What Are Lion's Mane Mushrooms?

Lion's mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are distinctive white, pom-pom-like fungi that truly live up to their name. With their cascading spines or "teeth" that resemble a lion's mane, these fungi are as beautiful as they are beneficial.

Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, lion's mane mushrooms grow naturally on hardwood trees and logs. In the wild, individual specimens can grow quite large, sometimes weighing up to half a kilogram. The mushroom's texture is spongy and sometimes semi-hollow, with spines that start short but become longer as the mushroom matures.

Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushrooms

Lion's mane mushrooms aren't just unique in appearance—they also offer an impressive array of potential health benefits:

• Cognitive support: Research suggests they may help protect against dementia and cognitive decline
  
  
• Digestive health: They may provide protection against stomach ulcers
  
  
• Cardiovascular support: Studies indicate a potential reduced risk of heart disease
  
  
• Blood sugar management: They may help with diabetes symptom management
  
  
• Immune system support: Like many medicinal mushrooms, lion's mane may enhance immune function

Despite these benefits, fresh lion's mane mushrooms are rarely found in supermarkets, especially in the UK. This rarity makes growing your own especially appealing for those who want to experience their unique flavor and health properties.

Is Growing Lion's Mane Mushrooms Difficult?

If you're wondering about the difficulty level of growing lion's mane mushrooms, you should know that while they're reasonably simple to cultivate, they do present some unique challenges, especially for beginners.

The primary challenge with lion's mane cultivation is that the mycelium (the vegetative part of the fungus) takes longer to develop compared to other commonly grown mushrooms like oysters. This extended development period creates a greater window for potential contamination.

Additionally, first-time growers often struggle to determine when the lion's mane has fully colonized the substrate and is ready to produce fruit bodies.

Recommendation for beginners: If you're new to mushroom cultivation, consider starting with easier varieties like oyster mushrooms to build your skills. Alternatively, using a Lion's Mane Mushroom Growing Kit provides an excellent introduction to growing this species without the complexities of starting from scratch.

Growing Methods: Bags vs. Logs

There are two primary methods for growing lion's mane mushrooms: in bags (indoors) or on logs (outdoors). Each method has distinct advantages and considerations.

Your choice between these methods should depend on your experience level, how quickly you want to harvest mushrooms, and the resources available to you.

How to Grow Lion's Mane Mushrooms Indoors (Bag Method)

Growing lion's mane mushrooms indoors using bags is the faster approach and gives you more control over growing conditions. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Preparing Your Supplies & Growing Space

Before beginning the cultivation process, ensure your work environment is clean and sterile. Contamination is the most common cause of failure in mushroom cultivation.

Required supplies:

• A pressure cooker
• Kitchen scales
• Measuring cups
• Lion's mane grain spawn
• Mushroom growing bags
• Hardwood pellets
• Soy hulls
• Isopropyl alcohol or other cleaning solution

Preparation tips:

• Wipe down all surfaces with isopropyl alcohol
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling any materials
• Keep the area free from drafts during the inoculation process
  
  

Step 2: Preparing the Substrate

Lion's mane mushrooms grow best on a hardwood substrate, with one of the most effective being "Master's Mix"—a combination of hardwood pellets and soy hulls.

Making Master's Mix:

1. Combine equal parts hardwood fuel pellets and soy hulls
2. For a 2.3kg substrate, use:
   • 450g hardwood pellets
   • 450g soy hulls
   • 1.4L clean water
3. Mix the dry ingredients together in your growing bag
4. Add water and allow 5-10 minutes for the pellets to rehydrate into a sawdust-like consistency

Sterilizing Your Substrate:

1. Seal your growing bag
2. Place the bag in a pressure cooker
3. Sterilize at 15 PSI for at least 2 hours
4. Carefully remove and allow to cool completely in a sanitary environment
   
   

Step 3: Inoculating the Substrate

Once your substrate has cooled completely, it's time to introduce the lion's mane spawn.

1. Clean hands thoroughly with soap and water
2. For a 2.3kg substrate, use approximately 200g of grain spawn
3. Break apart the spawn and mix throughout the substrate, ensuring even distribution
4. Seal the growing bag immediately after adding spawn

Pro tip: For best results, perform this step in front of a flow hood or in a DIY clean chamber to minimize exposure to contaminants. Alternatively, open the bag briefly to add spawn and then close and mix through the sealed bag.

Step 4: Incubation Period

During incubation, the lion's mane mycelium will colonize the substrate.

Optimal incubation conditions:

• Place in a dark location away from direct sunlight
• Maintain room temperature between 18-25°C (23°C is ideal)
• Allow 14-21 days for colonization (may take longer depending on conditions)

How to tell if lion's mane is fully colonized:

• The substrate should be evenly coated with white mycelium
• The substrate will feel firmer to the touch
• Lion's mane mycelium is finer than other mushroom species, which can make colonization harder to visually assess
  
  

Step 5: Fruiting Your Lion's Mane Mushrooms

Once fully colonized, your substrate is ready to fruit. Here's how to encourage mushroom development:

1. Cut a small 5cm hole on the side of your bag (not the top)
2. Increase humidity by:
   • Misting the substrate several times daily with water
   • Placing the bag inside a plastic liner and spraying the inside to create humidity
   • Alternatively, place wet tissue paper inside the outer lining to maintain humidity
3. Keep in a shaded area with good air circulation
4. Fold down any extra bag material at the top and tape it in place

Important tips:

• Use only one hole for every 750g of substrate
• Cutting the top of the bag will cause the substrate to dry out faster
• Opening the entire top typically results in many smaller mushrooms rather than a few large ones

How to Grow Lion's Mane Mushrooms on Logs (Outdoor Method)

Growing lion's mane mushrooms on logs takes more time but provides a long-term, low-maintenance supply. This method mimics the mushroom's natural growing conditions.

Required Supplies for Log Cultivation

• Lion's mane mushroom plug spawn (dowels inoculated with mycelium)
• Food-grade wax (soy, cheese, or beeswax)
• Wax applicator
• Hardwood logs (preferably oak or beech) that are 2-6 weeks old
• Hammer
• Drill with 8mm bit
• Heat source for melting wax
• Pot for heating wax
  
  

Step 1: Preparing the Logs

Proper log selection and preparation are crucial for successful cultivation:

1. Select appropriate logs:
   • Use only hardwood logs, preferably oak or beech
   • Choose logs from healthy trees without signs of disease
   • Use logs that are 2-6 weeks old (never older)
   • Logs should be approximately 4-8 inches in diameter
     
     
2. Drill patterns:
   • Drill holes 15cm deep along the length of the log
   • Space holes about 6cm apart
   • Create rows in a staggered pattern (diamond or checkerboard)
   • This pattern maximizes colonization while providing structural integrity
     
     

Step 2: Inoculating the Logs

1. Gently hammer the spawn dowels into the drilled holes
2. Ensure dowels are flush with the log surface or just below the bark
3. Melt your chosen wax (soy wax is most common)
4. Apply melted wax over each hole using an applicator
5. The wax seal protects the mycelium from contamination and helps retain moisture
   
   

Step 3: Incubation

The incubation period for logs is significantly longer than for bag cultivation:

1. Place logs in a shaded area with good air circulation
2. Maintain high humidity levels
3. Water logs once or twice weekly for 10 minutes during dry periods
4. Expect to wait 1-2 years before the first fruiting
   
   

Ideal log storage methods:

• Stack in a crib pattern under tree cover
• Lean against a north-facing wall
• Partially bury horizontally in soil
  
  

Step 4: Encouraging Fruiting

After at least one year of incubation, you can "shock" your logs to stimulate fruiting:

1. Soak logs in cold water for 12-24 hours
2. This mimics heavy rainfall and temperature changes that trigger fruiting in nature
3. Return logs to their growing location after soaking
4. Watch for fruiting bodies to emerge within a few weeks

This shocking process can accelerate fruiting, providing mushrooms earlier than the natural 2-3 year timeline.

Harvesting and Storing Lion's Mane Mushrooms

When to Harvest

Knowing when to harvest your lion's mane mushrooms is crucial for optimal flavor and texture:

1. A mature lion's mane mushroom has stopped expanding in diameter
2. The spines (or "teeth") have lengthened and thickened
3. Harvest before the mushroom turns pink or brown for best flavor
4. Younger mushrooms are firmer than mature ones

To harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the mushroom close to its base, being careful not to damage the substrate or log. Gentle handling prevents bruising and extends shelf life.

Storage Methods

For fresh storage:

• Store in the refrigerator in a paper bag (not plastic)
• Allow mushrooms to breathe and avoid direct moisture
• Fresh lion's mane will keep for approximately one week
• Discard if dark spots appear or if the texture becomes slimy
  
  

For long-term storage:

1. Clean mushrooms thoroughly
2. Slice thinly
3. Dehydrate for 6-8 hours until completely dry and crisp
4. Store in sealed jars
5. Dried lion's mane can be stored for up to a year

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

Growing lion's mane mushrooms can present some challenges. Here are solutions to common problems:

Contamination issues:

• Green or black mold indicates contamination
• Discard contaminated substrates completely
• Review sterilization procedures for future attempts
• Consider using a flow hood or clean box for inoculation
  
  

Slow or no colonization:

• Ensure temperature remains in the 18-25°C range
• Check that spawn was viable when used
• Allow more time, as lion's mane colonizes more slowly than other species
  
  

Poor fruiting:

• Increase humidity for indoor cultivation
• Ensure substrate moisture is adequate
• Check for proper air exchange
• Consider shocking logs that haven't fruited after 1-2 years
  
  

Unusual growth patterns:

• Lion's mane sometimes produces "coral-like" growth instead of the typical pom-pom shape
• This is usually due to insufficient humidity or excessive CO2 levels
• Increase humidity and improve air circulation