What to avoid when growing Lion's Mane Mushrooms?

We all want to grow Lion's Mane that are bright white with fantastic cascading teeth / spines, it is what we think of when we picture Lion's Mane. When grown with the right conditions this is what will occur, but it is important to avoid certain pitfalls to ensure your Lions Mane Mushrooms are growing as they should.

The biggest issue / risk factor when growing Lion's Mane is humidity, too much humidity / direct water on the mushroom itself it will turn brown, but not enough ambient humidity and it will also brown off, so it is a fine balance!

Why are my lions mane mushrooms turning brown?

Lion's Mane when maturing will often discolour round the edges you may wonder why my lions mane is turning brown or yellow. The most common cause for this is low humidity, but it can also be draughts / air flow. if the mushrooms are growing in even low draughts, it will dry out the exterior of the mushrooms. The key is to provide ambient humidity, without spraying the mushrooms. 

The good news is, whilst the exterior of the mushroom may brown in places, the inside will still be perfect to consume and the bright white we know to expect.

Some degree of browning / yellowing is also a sign of maturity, especially towards the top of the mushroom as pictured. Another potentially issue can be of any water gets onto the mushrooms directly, which can dry out the crop when it evaporates off.

So how do I provide the correct humidity for mushrooms to grow? 

The key is to provide ambient humidity, without spraying the mushrooms themselves, whilst also protecting the mushrooms as they are growing. The mushrooms are delicate when forming, sensitive to the environment around them, dry air and draughts hitting the mushrooms will dry out the fruit bodies casing a degree of browning, it is also a sign of maturity, maturity is when the mushrooms are ready to pick, whilst it may be tempting to leave the mushrooms on in the hope they get bigger, more often than not you will just be allowing the mushroom to over mature and go further brown.

Here is an example of a Lion's Mane Mushroom Growing Kit that has been left to over mature, in the hope that it would grow larger.  In fact, all that has occurred is that the spines are cascading downwards as they dry off. The bright white spines are being replaced with flat darkened spines as the mushrooms begin to spore.  Sporation is another big indicator that the mushrooms are mature and ready to pick. You will notice a white "dust" below the kit and by the mushroom fruit bodies themselves, so it is important to pick these at the right time.

In order to provide the correct humidity we recommend using a humidity bag as seen in our Lions Mane Mushroom Growing Instructions. This provides protection from the elements, we instruct to place paper towel within the humidity bag, keeping it damp by twice daily spraying ensures that there is ambient humidity, providing the perfect environment for the mushrooms.

However it is important to remember that Lions Mane need FAE (fresh air exchange) so when placing the kit within the bag, ensure you do not seal the bag shut in anyway, or use it as a tent, as this will results in coral like growth which is starved of air.

Perfect set up, protection from the elements, damp paper towel providing humidity and the kit has access to fresh air.

Incorrect setup, the mushrooms are growing, however they are growing coral like as they are being starved of air.

Still edible, but not the desired result. The simple tweak of putting the bag the right way would be all this needs to produce the "teeth"

We hope this guide will help you avoid some of the common issues with Lions Mane Mushroom Growing Kits, whilst our kits are very simple to use, it is important to set out what to avoid to ensure a successful mushroom growing experience.

Conclusion 

1. Contamination: Ensure that your growing environment is clean to prevent mould and bacteria from affecting the growth of the mushrooms, the spray bottle you use, ensure is clean and using fresh water.

2. Excess Moisture: Lion's mane does not like water directly touching the mushrooms as they are growing, this can cause a bacterial issue. If you are seeing any black guttation or the mushrooms are smelling, this is likely a bacterial issue. While lion's mane requires humidity, too much moisture can lead to rot and other fungal issues. Maintain a balanced  but indirect humidity level by spraying the paper towels rather than the mushrooms themselves.

3. Improper Temperature: Lion's mane thrives in specific temperature ranges. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures and or fluctuations, Our Lion's Mane Strain enjoys 10-20'c

4. Poor Airflow: Stagnant air can lead to coral like growth and "leggy" mushroom growth. Ensure there is adequate ventilation (FAE) in order to grow healthy crops.

5. Pick at the right time: Do not let your mushrooms grow for too long, the mushrooms will not improve in this time and if your mushrooms are dropping spores or the spines / teeth are beginning to flatten, your mushroom is not getting any better or bigger and should be picked. Pick at a time when the spines are formed and the mushroom is firm and has just begun to spore.

By being mindful of these factors, you can ensure you will be growing lion's mane mushrooms with ease, the best way to grow Lion's Mane, is with a grow your own Lion's Mane Kit.

FAQ's

How long does lion's mane take to grow - Typically 7-10 days from starting the growing kit, these can be grown indoors if using a mushroom growing kit, if using a log kit, this will need to be grown outdoors.

My Lion's mane is growing orange / pink - When Lions mane starts growing, if the conditions are perfect you will find this mushroom as it begins to form as a pinkish / orange hue, this will fade as it matures.

How to tell if my lion's mane mushroom is bad - Typically the biggest giveaway for this would be smell, as covered above, even if its yellow / dry on the exterior the internal will be bright white and perfect to eat. The only thing to be mindful is would be a rotten smell, so it is always good to use the smell test.