How to Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms in Your Kitchen

Lion’s mane mushrooms take just 6 to 8 weeks to reach harvest size and are pretty easy to grow. A single growing setup can yield 3 to 4 flushes and provide a steady supply of this delicious mushroom. If you’re curious about how to grow the stunningly beautiful lion’s mane mushroom, you’ll be happy to know it isn’t difficult. Even for the most beginner mushroom growers, there are options that simplify the growth process and get you gorgeous flushes of this yummy edible mushroom.

Your kitchen is often the perfect growing space if you can maintain temperatures between 60°F and 85°F and humidity levels at 80-90%. This is done with humidity tents (often, just a plastic bag draped over the growing medium) and grow lights if needed.

Lion’s mane mushrooms are becoming more available at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and food co-ops. But, the quality at stores usually isn’t great and they are extremely expensive. Lion’s mane sold at farmer’s markets is usually much fresher, bigger, and better looking, but they also aren’t cheap. Depending on where you live, growing lion’s mane may be the only way to access this incredible culinary mushroom.

Lion’s mane mushrooms aren’t just visually striking – their seafood-like flavor makes them perfect for meat-free dishes. They might even boost your cognitive health and memory.

This guide covers several options for growing lion’s mane mushrooms indoors. These aren’t all the methods to grow lion’s mane — they can also be grown outdoors, although that process is much different from this one.

What Is Lion’s Mane Mushroom?

Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a unique and distinctive fungus known for its shaggy, cascading appearance that resembles a lion’s mane. Or white pom-poms. This edible mushroom typically grows in a single clump of dangling spines, which can reach 4 to 10 inches in length. The fruiting body is soft and white to cream-colored when fresh.

These mushrooms are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They grow on hardwood trees like American beech and oak. Lion’s mane mushrooms like cooler climates and usually appear in late summer and fall. In the wild, you can find them on living or dead trees, often high up on the trunk or branches. Lion’s mane mushrooms are popular because of their unique appearance and possible health benefits. People use them in cooking and for medicinal purposes.

Why Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?

Lion’s mane is a dense, meaty mushroom with a light seafood-mushroom taste. They are a great meat substitute and taste like lobster or chicken when cooked. Many people use them to make faux crab cakes that rival the original!

Lion’s mane mushrooms are medicinal fungi with amazing health benefits and are easy to grow. They have special compounds called hericenones and erinacines that boost brain health and cognitive function. They also have probiotics that help your immune system and promote healthy gut bacteria. Research shows these mushrooms help manage blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation in your body.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Growing Introduction

To grow lion’s mane mushrooms successfully, first, you need a basic understanding of their lifecycle. The process begins with mushroom spores that trigger the growth of thread-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae connect to create a network known as mycelium. The mycelium then spreads through the substrate (growing medium), usually wood.

When conditions are good, the mycelium forms small bumps called primordia. These bumps grow into the white, pom-pom-like mushrooms we recognize. The mature mushrooms then release spores, which completes the cycle. The whole process, from spore to mature mushroom, can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the growing conditions.

Words To Know:

Spores

Spores are the reproductive units of mushrooms, similar to seeds in plants. In mushroom cultivation, people collect spores to start new mushroom growth. They can do this by adding spores to a substrate or by making spore syringes for later use.

Mycelium

Mycelium is the main part of a fungus and consists of a network of fine white threads called hyphae. These threads grow through soil or other materials. In mushroom cultivation, mycelium is essential for mushroom growth and is often seen as the “roots” of the fungus.

Substrate

In mushroom growing, the substrate is the material that mycelium or mushrooms grow on. It provides both nutrients and a way for the mushroom mycelium to develop into fruiting bodies.

Spawn

In mushroom growing, “spawn” is a mixture of a base material, like grain or sawdust, that has mushroom mycelium added to it. In simple terms, spawn is a base that contains mycelium. It is used as the starting point for growing mushrooms and helps transfer the fungus to a larger area for growth.

The step-by-step process of mushroom cultivation

• Mushroom spores are collected (from the wild or traded or sold) and grown into mycelium
• Substrate is prepared (sterilized) for inoculation (this is usually grain)
• The substrate is inoculated with mycelium to create spawn
• Mycelium grows and spreads through the substrate in concentrated amounts – this is now spawn
• A different type of substrate is prepared (sterilized) for inoculation
• Spawn is distributed to prepared second substrate (this is usually sawdust or straw grow bags)
• Mushrooms grow from bags or another setup.

If you’re doing a DIY setup, you’ll be jumping into this process at step 4. With Grow Kits, all the previous steps were taken by the company from which you purchased the spawn. The reason for the two inoculations is that first, a concentrated version is made, and then it is separated out into grow bags for cultivation.

You can also begin to grow lion’s mane mushrooms starting at step 1 and prepare your own spawn. This takes a little bit more skill and resources. It can be less expensive in the long run, though, as you don’t have to purchase the spawn. It also might give you the ability to grow a wider range of varieties and species since you won’t be as reliant on suppliers for the prepared spawn.

How To Grow Lion’s Mane: The Basics

Lion’s mane mushrooms will grow well if you give them the right environment. They thrive in temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 24 degrees Celsius). You need to keep humidity levels between 85-95% to get the best results.

Hardwood substrates work best for these mushrooms. A mix of hardwood sawdust or pellets with added nutrients is the best-growing medium. Learn more about substrate choices and which ones are best for Lion’s Mane in our Guide to How To Choose And Prepare Mushroom Substrate. Lion’s mane doesn’t just need much light, but some indirect or low artificial lighting helps them grow better.

You’ll need these items to grow indoors:

• A clean, controlled environment for growth
• Hardwood-based substrate (preferably oak, beech, or maple)
• Proper ventilation system for fresh air exchange
• Temperature and humidity monitoring tools
• Sterilization equipment for substrate preparation

The colonization takes 14-21 days, and you’ll need to monitor it regularly. The humidity must be moderate during this time so your substrate stays moist but not wet.

Home-grown lion’s mane can give you multiple harvests, called flushes, from one setup. Each flush produces good yields, and some mushrooms can weigh over one pound. Good air circulation and steady environmental conditions throughout the growing cycle will give you the best results.

Cultivated lion’s mane often looks a bit different from wild lion’s mane. The clusters of cultivated mushrooms are usually much smaller and don’t have as distinctive spines. In fact, many cultivated versions barely have spines at all. The appearance will also change vastly if the mushroom doesn’t have the proper growing conditions. It might not grow in a clump at all or may struggle to develop spines. This is usually due to a lack of moisture or too low humidity.

Choosing Your Method To Grow Lion’s Mane

You can grow lion’s mane mushrooms using two main methods: growing kits or DIY setups. Each method has its advantages based on your skill level and what you want to achieve.

Growing Kits vs DIY Setup

Pre-made growing kits are the quickest way to start for beginners. These kits come with pre-inoculated substrate, so you won’t need any specialized lab equipment. The kits also usually deliver consistent results and have lower contamination risks.

DIY setups give you control over the entire growing process. This method combines grain spawn with your own mix of ingredients. By doing it yourself, you can customize the mix. This allows for more experimentation and potentially higher yields. Experienced growers often achieve better results by adjusting growing conditions and changing the ingredients in their mix.

Growing kits need minimal space – a small counter area is enough. The simple equipment you’ll need includes:

• Spray bottle for misting
• Humidity tent or plastic covering
• Simple monitoring tools for temperature

DIY setups need more space and equipment. You’ll need a pressure cooker, measuring tools, and specialized growing bags with filter patches. The setup works best in a clean, controlled environment for substrate preparation and colonization.

Growing kits are convenient but have a higher original cost. They work best for small-scale cultivation or learning the basics. Each kit usually gives 2-3 flushes of mushrooms.

A DIY approach is more economical for long-term cultivation. The original investment ranges from $100 to $2,500, depending on setup quality. Substrate materials like hardwood pellets and bran are cheap when bought in bulk.

Your choice between methods depends on your commitment and goals. Growing kits are perfect for those who want simplicity and quick results. DIY setups benefit growers who plan larger-scale production. Both methods can produce lion’s mane mushrooms well, but DIY setups offer better yield potential over time.

Setting Up Your Growing Space

The right growing conditions are the key to successful lion’s mane cultivation. A well-controlled environment will give you healthy mushrooms and the best possible harvest.

Temperature

Lion’s mane needs precise temperature control to thrive. The ideal temperature range changes based on your cultivation stage.

• Colonization: Keep temperatures between 70-75°F (21-24°C)
• Fruiting: The temperature should drop to 65-70°F (18-21°C

You should set up your growing area away from direct heat sources and cold drafts. Stay clear of radiators, air conditioning vents, and windows that open frequently. A digital thermometer will help you track temperature changes, especially when you need a 6-10°F temperature variation for growing points to form.

Humidity Management

Your lion’s mane’s development depends heavily on proper humidity control. These mushrooms need relative humidity levels between 85-95%. Here are some proven ways to manage humidity:

• Set up a humidity tent or mini-greenhouse to control the environment
• Add a small humidifier with a controller that regulates moisture automatically
• Mist the growing space’s inside walls twice daily

Never spray water directly on your developing mushrooms. Focus on keeping ambient humidity through indirect methods instead. A hygrometer will help you monitor humidity levels to create perfect growing conditions.

Lighting Requirements

Lion’s mane mushrooms don’t need much light compared to other species. They grow well in indirect light or low-intensity artificial light between 500-1000 lux. Natural indoor light usually works fine, but you can add LED or fluorescent lighting if needed.

Put your growing setup near a window with indirect sunlight, or use artificial lighting for 12 hours each day (this is only during the fruiting stage, never during colonization of the substrate). Too much direct light can dry out your substrate and slow growth. When using artificial lights, keep them at a good distance from the growing area to avoid heat buildup.

Good air circulation is also important. A small fan will ensure fresh air exchange since too much carbon dioxide can cause strange growth patterns. Position the fan to create a gentle breeze without blowing directly on the mushrooms.

Grow Lion’s Mane With A Grow Kit

Lion’s mane mushrooms are easy to grow from a kit when you set it up and maintain it right. A good growing kit has a substrate block that’s already full of mycelium, which saves you from many complex prep steps.

Kit Setup Steps

Your growing block needs to stay inside its protective bag on a flat surface.

1. Take the block or bag out of its cardboard box and stand it upright on a clean tray or plate.
2. Leave the plastic on – Do not unwrap the bag. If you do, the block will dry out, and you will get a smaller harvest.
3. Roll the bag’s top-down tight to push out extra air and tape it securely. Mushrooms might try to grow out of this space if this isn’t done.
4. Make an ‘X’ cut on the bag, starting an inch or two from the corner. Slice diagonally across the plastic. Cutting into the block is fine.
5. Place the block in a humid area and spray it with water 3 to 7 times a day. These mushrooms need a lot of water.
6. Lions Mane mushrooms need some light but should not be placed in direct sunlight. A kitchen counter or bathroom is a good spot for them.
7. Avoid getting them too wet (during the pinning and fruiting phases) and prevent excess humidity (during the fruiting phase) to avoid rot.

Grow Lion’s Mane With A DIY Setup

A DIY lion’s mane growing setup needs the right substrate preparation and sterilization techniques. It’s important to keep your work area clean and sterile when inoculating. After preparing your substrate, you don’t want to introduce harmful bacteria that could compete with your spawn.

Before starting, clean everything with isopropyl alcohol or another cleaning solution. Once your workspace is clean, gather all the necessary equipment and supplies. The growing technique is a matter of personal preference. Some growers grow their Lion’s Mane in bags, while others use jars or fruiting chambers. The main things to consider are making sure the substrate is properly inoculated and colonized and that the growing environment is adequately humid.

For the actual mushroom growing, you’ll need:

• Grow bags with filter patches (for airflow and to keep contaminants out) or jars or other container
• Mushroom spawn (colonized grain spawn, not sawdust spawn)
• Substrate

Grow bags are the easiest to use for beginners. They hold the lion’s mane substrate and are designed to protect it during growth. Grow bags come in different specs. The thickness ranges from 2.2mm to 4.0mm. Thicker bags last longer but cost more. Filter patches on these bags have pore sizes between 0.2mm and 5mm. They let air flow while keeping contaminants out.

These specialized bags cost between $0.70 and $1.00 each. The clear plastic design helps you see how the mycelium is growing and makes it easy to spot any contamination early.

The mushroom spawn is the starter material for growing lion’s mane mushrooms. Do some research and only buy from trustworthy vendors. We suggest North Spore, Mushroom Mountain, and Field and Forest.

Substrate Options

Hardwood fuel pellets are the top choice for growing lion’s mane mushrooms. They work best when mixed with nutrients to create ideal conditions for mycelium growth. A good recipe for the growing medium is to combine 5 cups of hardwood pellets with 1/2 cup of wheat bran for each grow bag.

Many experienced growers prefer Master’s Mix – a blend of hardwood pellets and soy hulls. This mix gives the mushrooms excellent protein and nitrogen sources that propel development through faster colonization and better yields.

For more information about substrate mixes, check out our DIY Mushroom Substrate Recipes article. It has suggestions for all types of mushrooms, including lion’s mane, and the recipe for Master’s Mix.

Sterilization Process

Sterilization is a vital step in substrate preparation. You need specific pressure and temperature levels to kill contaminants. Your pressure cooker should reach 121°C (250°F) at 15 PSI to work.

Follow our Guide on How To Choose And Prepare Mushroom Substrate, which includes detailed instructions on the sterilization process.

Adding Spawn

The spawn goes in once the substrate cools down completely. You’ll need a clean environment. A good spawn rate is 10% of your substrate’s weight. For example, a 5-pound substrate block needs half a pound of spawn for the best colonization.

Keep everything clean during this step. First, wash your hands well with soap and water. Then, sanitize all work surfaces using alcohol or bleach. Gently break up the spawn and spread it evenly throughout the substrate mix. Make sure there are no lumps, as these can block the mycelium from spreading.

1. Seal the bag and make sure the filter patch stays clear for airflow.
2. Put the blocks into a clean container. A lidded tote bin or plastic storage box works great. Incubate them at around 68-72°F and 90-95% humidity while the mycelium spreads off the grain spawn and grows throughout the substrate. You can also cover them with a humidity bag (a simple see-through bag tucked around the block is usually enough) instead of putting them in a tote bin. The inoculated bags or blocks should be in the dark at this time. Light will mess up the process at this point.
3. Leave them alone for 2-3 weeks, except for daily misting and air exchange. You’ll see light strands of mycelium after the first week, which indicates successful colonization.

Care Instructions For Growing Lion’s Mane

Once you have your substrate inoculated with spawn and set up comfortable in its grow space, you’ll do need to do some daily care to keep the mycelium healthy and happy. Happy mycelium produces bountiful harvests!

1. Take off the humidity bag (or tote bin cover) twice a day and spray the block’s walls well. Continue doing this until the bag is colonized with mycelium. This also lets fresh air in, keeps carbon dioxide from building up, and helps maintain moisture.
2. The mycelium can be fine and wispy. Look closely to see how well colonized the substrate is. Sometimes, it looks more like a change in the color of the sawdust rather than obvious mycelium.
3. Blocks should generally colonize in about 2-4 weeks. Allow an extra week to make sure if needed.
4. Cut a cross shape about 1.2 inches wide on both sides of the block. Some people suggest cutting the entire top off the plastic bag, and this is okay but can cause the substrate to dry out quicker which may lead to abnormal growth. Usually, this means lots of smaller mushroom growths instead of one large mushroom. This is fine, edible-wise, it just doesn’t look the same.
5. Move the mushroom block to somewhere it will receive indirect light – this will encourage fruiting.
6. Continue to maintain temperature and humidity levels. Just remember – don’t spray right into the cuts or on any mushrooms that are growing.
7. Within 5-14 days, you should start to see the first signs of pinning – the emergence of tiny mushroom buds, or “pins,” that will eventually develop into full-grown mushrooms. Keep a close eye on this stage, as it’s a critical phase in the mushroom’s life cycle. It may take longer, though, depending on environmental conditions, so don’t stress if you don’t see them during this time. As long as the mycelium looks healthy, it should be fine.
8. Additional mushrooms may start to grow under the plastic, not where you made slits. Let these die off so the mushroom forms into one large cluster. Your mushrooms will find their way through the holes you made – there’s no need to make new ones.
9. Watch how they grow. When fruiting starts, you’ll need to watch humidity levels closely and keep them between 80-90%. Good airflow is vital at this point – your mushrooms might grow strangely if they don’t get enough fresh air.
10. As your lion’s mane mushrooms mature, you’ll notice the development of delicate tendrils, or “teeth,” on the underside of the caps. This is the optimal time to harvest your mushrooms. Gently twist and pull the entire cluster from the base, ensuring you’ve removed all the mushroom stems from the growing medium.
11. Between harvests, soak the block in cool, clean water for about 8 hours. Make sure to drain all extra water before starting your regular care routine again. This helps your block keep producing through its growing cycle. With good conditions, your kit should give you 2-3 harvests.

When and How to Harvest Lion’s Mane

The best time to harvest lion’s mane is when the teeth (spines) measure between ¼ to ½ inch in length. The ready-to-harvest mushroom should feel soft yet firm – similar to squeezing a slightly damp sponge.

A healthy, mature mushroom has a bright white color. Sometimes, there is a subtle pink tinge. Yellowing or browning edges indicate the mushroom has started to overripen.

The mushroom matures fast. The process takes just 12 to 24 hours from the final growth stage to optimal harvest time. Look for these indicators that show harvest readiness:

• Teeth have fully formed but remain short and white
• Mushroom feels firm with slight sponginess
• Growth rate slows down noticeably
• Size matches an open hand approximately

Harvesting should be done gently so the mycelium is not damaged and inhibits future flushes. Start by holding the mushroom cluster’s base gently. Instead of cutting, carefully twist the mushroom while pulling it away from the substrate.

Avoid using knives or other cutting tools, as they can leave behind damaging pieces. Handle your harvest carefully to make it last longer in the refrigerator. After you finish harvesting, check the fruiting block and remove any leftover mushrooms to prevent contamination.

Store fresh mushrooms in paper bags. Plastic bags and containers trap moisture, causing the mushrooms to spoil quickly. Fresh lion’s mane mushrooms can stay good for up to one week in the refrigerator if stored properly.

How To Get Multiple Flushes

Growing blocks usually produce two to four flushes of mushrooms. However, Each new flush gives a smaller harvest than the one before. These steps between harvests will maximize multiple flushes.

Soak the growing block in cool water for 3-6 hours after your first harvest. This rehydration is vital to support new mushroom growth. The block needs more soaking time if it feels light.

A cold shock treatment can trigger the next flush. The rehydrated block should spend a night in the refrigerator to simulate natural temperature changes. New mushrooms often develop faster this way.

The time between flushes gets longer with each harvest. The first flush appears in 14-18 days, while later flushes might take four weeks to develop. Healthy growth needs steady humidity and temperature throughout this time.

Clean off any leftover mushroom material between flushes to get the best results. Keep up your regular misting schedule and let mushrooms fruit from existing openings instead of making new holes in the growing bag. Growing blocks can keep producing for 2-3 months with good care.

Common Questions About How To Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms