The “mushroom of immortality” or Reishi as most people call it, has been praised for years, especially in traditional medicines hundreds to even thousands of years ago. In recent years it’s been gaining popularity for the extensive studies and research that has come out, supporting its rich vitamin profile and even the potential to help fight disease and support overall well being. Cultivating Reishi mushroom is a unique process that takes extensive knowledge and patience. In today’s blog post we will dive into how the Reishi mushrooms grow.
Understanding Reishi’s Natural Habitat
Reishi mushrooms are typically found growing in the wild on hardwood trees in tropical and temperate regions, particularly in East Asia, North America, and parts of Europe. They thrive in warm, humid environments, often in forests where they can feed on decaying tree stumps, logs, or fallen branches. Reishi is a polypore mushroom, meaning it grows on wood and releases its spores through small pores on the underside of its cap.
In nature, Reishi mushrooms grow slowly, taking anywhere from several months to a few years to reach full maturity. The mushrooms require specific conditions to flourish, including high humidity, moderate temperatures, and adequate air circulation.
Reishi Mushroom Cultivation Process
1. Sourcing Spawn for Cultivation
The first step in commercial Reishi mushroom farming is sourcing high-quality Reishi spawn, which is a mycelium culture. This spawn is critical for establishing a healthy mushroom crop. Professional farms typically purchase spawn from reputable suppliers to ensure consistent results. The spawn is used to inoculate the substrate, which is the material that will nourish the mushrooms as they grow.
2. Selecting the Right Substrate
Reishi mushrooms thrive on hardwood substrates such as oak, beech, or maple. Commercial farms often use a combination of sawdust, wood chips, or other finely shredded hardwood materials. The substrate is the foundation for the mushrooms, as it provides the necessary nutrients for their growth. Before being inoculated with spawn, the substrate must be sterilized or pasteurized to kill off any unwanted microorganisms, ensuring that only the desired mycelium thrives.
3. Inoculation and Colonization
Once the substrate is prepared, it is inoculated with the Reishi spawn. In professional settings, this process is often done in a clean, controlled environment to prevent contamination. The spawn is carefully mixed into the substrate, ensuring an even distribution. After inoculation, the substrate is placed in a warm, humid environment for the mycelium to colonize. This process can take several weeks, during which the mycelium spreads throughout the substrate, transforming it into a white, dense network.
During this colonization period, the environment is carefully monitored, with temperature and humidity levels adjusted to provide optimal conditions for mycelium growth.
4. Creating Ideal Fruiting Conditions
After the mycelium has fully colonized the substrate, it’s time to initiate fruiting. The colonized substrate is moved to a fruiting chamber or another controlled space. This space is designed to provide the right conditions for the mushrooms to form. Reishi mushrooms need high humidity (around 80-90%) and temperatures between 75°F and 85°F (24°C to 29°C) to fruit successfully.
Air circulation is another critical factor in the fruiting process. Farms use fans and humidifiers to ensure consistent airflow and moisture levels. While Reishi mushrooms don’t require light to fruit, they benefit from a day/night light cycle that mimics natural growing conditions, helping to stimulate the formation of fruiting bodies.
5. Harvesting the Mushrooms
Reishi mushrooms grow relatively slowly, and it can take several months for them to mature. The mushrooms start as soft, small structures before gradually developing into their signature fan-shaped, glossy, reddish-brown caps. Farmers monitor the mushrooms closely, ensuring they are harvested at the right time. Reishi mushrooms are typically harvested once the cap has fully developed and hardened, and the pores on the underside become visible.
To harvest, farmers use sharp tools to carefully cut the mature mushrooms off at the base. This prevents damage to the mycelium, allowing it to continue producing more fruiting bodies for subsequent harvests. Given that Reishi mushrooms can be harvested multiple times from the same substrate, careful attention to timing is key to maximizing yields.
Challenges in Growing Reishi Mushrooms
Growing Reishi mushrooms requires patience and careful attention to detail. They have very specific growing conditions, and it can be challenging to maintain the right humidity and temperature levels. In addition, it can take months for the mushrooms to mature, making it a longer process compared to some other types of mushrooms.
Another challenge is contamination from mold or other fungi. Reishi mushrooms are susceptible to contamination if the environment is too moist or if sanitation practices aren’t followed. Sterilizing your growing substrate and keeping your growing area clean and free of contaminants is essential to success.
Final Thoughts
The growing process for Reishi is unique and requires extensive knowledge and expertise. From colonization to harvesting, it is a full-time job ensuring these mushrooms grow to their full potential. Lucky for you, we sell a variety of Reishi-derived products so you can skip the intensive labour involved in cultivating this species of functional mushroom.