Grifola frondosa : Hen of the Woods, Maitake Mushroom Culture Syringe

Material provided in sterile aqueous solution using 10cc BD Luer-Lok syringes. One 1.5in 16ga needle will be provided for each syringe.

Cultivation Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Type: Edible/Medicinal
Substrate: Hardwood sawdust and chips supplemented with bran
Colonization/Fruiting Temperatures: 70-75F/50-65F

A large polypore with clusters of overlapping brownish-gray fan shaped caps attached to a common base with short tough stems. It is widely regarded as a choice edible and is described as having a wide range of medicinal properties. The flesh is fairly fibrous but becomes tender with long slow cooking. The undersides of the mushroom caps are white and composed of tiny pores instead of the plate-like gills seen in more typical mushrooms.

We have had good luck fruiting this strain at room temperature from fully colonized spawn bags of hardwood sawdust/bran mixture. Occasional spikes in temperature up to 72F didn't seem to harm the mushrooms. After gray lumps of primordia are visible on the top substrate block, the top of the plastic bag is cut away leaving a two inch rim of the plastic above the top surface of the block. This will help retain humidity. The rest of the plastic bag is left on the block during fruiting. Humidity should be around 80% especially near maturity. Typical of polypores, this species requires a lower relative humidity that most gilled mushrooms.

This species has been extensively studied for its medicinal properties in Japan, China and the U.S. It reportedly has antiviral and antitumor activity as well as other healthful benefits.