Learn the step-by-step process of creating your own liquid culture from scratch

Liquid culture is a highly efficient and mass-scalable way to propagate mushroom mycelium for cultivation. It allows growers to fully utilize the mycelial potential of their strains, significantly reducing the need for spores or agar dishes. In this guide, we will explain the steps and equipment needed to make your own liquid culture.

Before you begin, it’s important to sterilize all your equipment to prevent contamination. You will need a pressure cooker or autoclave to sterilize your jars, needles, and other equipment. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for sterilization times and temperatures.

Once your equipment is sterilized, you can begin mixing your liquid culture recipe. The most commonly used recipe is the Malt Extract Agar (MEA) recipe, which consists of malt extract, agar, and water. You can find these ingredients at organic sources or specialty mushroom cultivation stores. Here’s a basic recipe to get you started:

• 30 grams of malt extract
• 15 grams of agar
• 1 liter of water

Boil the water and add the malt extract and agar. Stir the mixture until the powders are fully dissolved. Then, pour the mixture into sterile jars and tighten the lids. Loosen the lids slightly to allow for gas exchange during the sterilization process.

Place the jars in your pressure cooker or autoclave and sterilize them at 15 psi for 15 minutes. After sterilization, allow the jars to cool down to room temperature in a dark and sterile environment like a fridge. This can take several hours, so be patient.

While your jars are cooling down, you can prepare the liquid culture inoculant. Take a small piece of mycelium from a fully colonized plate or agar dish and place it in a sterile container. Then, add 20 ml of sterile water and some H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) to prevent contamination.

Once your jars and inoculant are ready, it’s time to mix them together. Take a sterile needle and flame sterilize it until it’s red hot. Then, insert the needle through the loosened lid of the jar and inject the inoculant into the liquid culture. Repeat this process for each jar.

After mixing the contents, tighten the lids of the jars and shake them vigorously to distribute the mycelium evenly. Place the jars in a dark and cool spot, like a cupboard or a fridge. Within a few days, you should notice significant growth in the liquid culture.

It’s important to keep in mind that liquid culture is not a foolproof method and can still get contaminated. To prevent contamination, make sure to work in a clean and sterile environment, use quality ingredients, and follow proper sterilization techniques.

By following this guide, you can make your own liquid culture and grow your mushrooms faster and more efficiently. Liquid culture is a powerful tool for mushroom cultivation, giving growers the ability to propagate strains on a larger scale and increase their overall yield.

How to make agar plates and liquid culture at home

Growing mushrooms at home can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it can also be expensive if you’re constantly buying pre-made agar plates and liquid culture. Fortunately, you can easily make your own agar plates and liquid culture at home with simple ingredients and equipment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Agar Plates

Agar plates are a solid medium that provide a surface for mushroom mycelium to grow. They can be used to start new cultures or to clean up contaminated cultures. Here’s how to make agar plates:

1. Sterilize your equipment: Before you begin, it’s important to sterilize your equipment to prevent contamination. This includes sterilizing your metal canning jars or mason jars, pressure cooker or large pot, and any utensils you’ll be using.
2. Prepare the agar mixture: The agar mixture consists of agar, which is made from seaweed, and water. You can find agar at specialized mushroom cultivation stores or online. Mix 20 grams of agar with 1 liter of water. You can also add some additives like malt extract or sugars to help promote mushroom growth.
3. Boil the agar mixture: Boil the agar mixture for about 15 minutes to ensure that it is sterilized. This process also helps to dissolve the agar completely.
4. Cool and pour the agar: Once the agar mixture has cooled down to around 50°C, pour it into your sterilized dishes or plates. It’s important to pour the agar in a sterile environment to prevent contamination.
5. Let the agar cool and solidify: Place the agar plates in a clean and sterile spot and let them sit until the agar has completely cooled and solidified. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
6. Store the agar plates: Store the agar plates in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use them. They can be stored for up to a month if properly sealed.

Liquid Culture

Liquid culture is a great way to propagate mushroom mycelium quickly and efficiently. Here’s how to make liquid culture:

1. Sterilize your equipment: Just like with agar plates, it’s important to sterilize your equipment to prevent contamination. This includes sterilizing your mason jars, pressure cooker or large pot, and any utensils you’ll be using.
2. Prepare the liquid culture medium: The liquid culture medium is a nutrient-rich mixture that provides a food source for the mushroom mycelium. It’s typically made from organic sources like malt extract or sugars. Mix 20 grams of malt extract or sugar with 1 liter of water.
3. Boil the liquid culture medium: Boil the liquid culture medium for about 15 minutes to sterilize it. This process also helps to dissolve the sugars completely.
4. Cool and inoculate the liquid culture: Once the liquid culture medium has cooled down to around 25-30°C, inoculate it with a small piece of mycelium or a few spores. Stir the mixture well to distribute the mycelium or spores evenly.
5. Agitate the liquid culture: Agitate the liquid culture regularly by shaking or swirling the container gently. This helps to distribute oxygen and nutrients throughout the culture and prevents clumping of the mycelium.
6. Utilize the liquid culture: You can use the liquid culture to inoculate agar plates or directly inoculate other substrates like grain or sawdust for mushroom cultivation.
7. Store the liquid culture: Store the liquid culture in a cool, dark place and use it within a week. It’s important to regularly check the liquid culture for signs of contamination and use it before any contamination becomes significant.

By following these simple steps, you can easily make agar plates and liquid culture at home. This will not only save you money on expensive pre-made products but also give you the satisfaction of growing your own mushrooms from scratch. Happy growing!

How to Make Liquid Culture

Liquid culture is a popular method among mushroom growers for propagating mycelial cultures. It allows for faster and more efficient growth, making it a valuable technique in home mushroom cultivation. Here’s a simple recipe to help you make your own liquid culture.

You’ll need:

• 1 liter of distilled water or h2o2-diluted water
• 10-15 grams of malt extract or other nutritional medium
• A few sterilized jars
• A pressure cooker or large pot for sterilization
• A tablespoon for measuring

Step 1: Sterilize

First, sterilize your jars by boiling them in a pressure cooker or large pot for at least 30 minutes. This is important to ensure that no contaminants will interfere with your culture.

Step 2: Prepare the medium

Mix 10-15 grams of malt extract or other nutritional medium with 1 liter of distilled water or h2o2-diluted water. Boil the mixture for 15 minutes to sterilize it. Let it cool to room temperature.

Step 3: Inoculation

Using a sterile environment, transfer some mycelial tissue from your mushroom cultures or agar plates into the jars containing the cooled medium. Be careful not to introduce any contaminants.

Step 4: Shake and agitate

To help distribute the mycelium evenly, shake the jars or agitate the contents gently. This will encourage faster growth and colonization.

Step 5: Store and wait

Place the inoculated jars in a dark spot, like a cupboard or fridge, and wait for the mycelium to grow. This can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the species and conditions.

Step 6: Utilize or store

Once the jars are fully colonized with mycelium, they can be used for inoculating other mushroom cultures or stored in a fridge for future use. Make sure to label the jars with the date and mushroom species.

Some tips:

• Keep the jars loose to allow for gas exchange but prevent contamination.
• Agitate the jars periodically to help distribute nutrients and encourage faster growth.
• Scale the recipe up or down depending on how much liquid culture you need.
• Use sterile needles when transferring mycelial tissue or inoculating other cultures.
• It’s recommended to utilize the liquid culture within a week or two, as it may lose its potency over time.

Liquid culture is a significant advancement in mushroom cultivation, as it reduces the need for expensive agar plates and allows for the mass production of mycelium. With a simple recipe like the one mentioned above, you can easily make your own liquid culture at home and enjoy faster and more efficient growth of your mushrooms.

Here’s a simple liquid culture recipe for mushroom cultivation with no additives and no expensive equipment

If you’re a home mushroom grower looking to make your own liquid culture, this recipe uses basic ingredients and requires no specialized equipment. With just a few ingredients and some simple steps, you can create a nutritional mixture that will help your mushrooms grow faster and healthier.

What you’ll need:

• 500 grams of malt extract
• 50 grams of organic table sugar
• 1 liter of water
• A metal pot for boiling
• A plastic container, such as a mason jar, for culturing

Instructions:

1. Sterilize all your equipment by boiling or using a pressure cooker. This will help ensure that your liquid culture is free from contaminants.
2. Boil 1 liter of water in a metal pot and then allow it to cool. It’s important to let the water cool to room temperature so that it doesn’t kill the mushroom tissue when added.
3. In a separate pot, mix together 500 grams of malt extract and 50 grams of organic table sugar. Heat the mixture until the sugars are fully dissolved.
4. Once the sugar and malt mixture has cooled, add it to the sterilized plastic container.
5. Then, add 10 mlcc of mushroom tissue or spore solution to the mixture. This will be the inoculation point for your liquid culture.
6. Agitate the contents of the container gently. This helps distribute the mushroom tissue throughout the culture medium.
7. Secure the lid on the container and place it in a dark, warm place. The temperature should be around 75-80°F (23-27°C).
8. Within a week, you should start to see some growth in your liquid culture. The mycelium will begin to utilize the sugars and nutrients in the malt mixture.
9. Once the liquid culture has grown significantly, it can be used to inoculate agar plates or other dishes for further mushroom cultivation.

Important tips:

It’s worth noting that this liquid culture recipe does not produce a completely sterile culture. However, the boiling and sterilization steps help reduce the likelihood of contamination. It’s also recommended to work in a clean and well-sanitized environment to minimize any potential issues.

This simple liquid culture does not use any additives or expensive equipment, making it accessible to many mushroom growers. By following these steps and providing the right conditions, you can create a successful liquid culture for your mushroom cultivation.

Pros	Cons
Simple and cost-effective	Not completely sterile
No need for specialized equipment	Requires careful sanitation
Utilizes basic ingredients	May have slower growth compared to fully sterile cultures

Video:

How To Grow Unlimited Mushrooms With Liquid Culture!