- Hericenones and erinacines in Lion’s Mane may boost Nerve Growth Factor linked to cognitive health.
- Indoor bag cultivation produces mushrooms in just 2–6 weeks under controlled conditions.
- Outdoor log cultivation yields seasonal harvests for up to 3 years after 6–12 months of incubation.
- Fruiting requires humidity levels of 85–95% and proper airflow to avoid CO2 buildup.
- Sterile technique and clean environments are crucial to prevent mold and contamination.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are not just visually appealing, but also valued for their cognitive benefits, culinary uses, and ease of home cultivation. Whether you’re looking to support your brain health, go further into mycology, or simply want a fresh source of a great-tasting mushroom, this lion’s mane cultivation guide will show you step-by-step how to grow Lion’s Mane mushrooms indoors or outdoors easily.
What Are Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
With their cascading white spines and shaggy look, Lion’s Mane mushrooms are one of the most unique and interesting fungi out there. Scientifically known as Hericium erinaceus, these mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries and are now becoming recognized by science for potential cognitive advantages.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are rich in two important groups of bioactive compounds: hericenones (found in the fruiting body) and erinacines (found in the mycelium). These compounds are known to stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein that helps with neuron growth, maintenance, and survival (Zhang et al., 2016). This makes Lion’s Mane a functional food with potential uses for brain health conditions, memory problems, and overall cognitive well-being.
From a cooking point of view, Lion’s Mane has a meaty texture and mild, seafood-like flavor, often compared to crab or lobster. It’s great for gourmet dishes, vegan meat options, and health-conscious diets.
Why Grow Lion’s Mane at Home?
Choosing to grow Lion's Mane mushrooms at home provides many benefits
- Freshness and Strength: Mushrooms from stores can lose strength over time. Growing your own ensures highest nutrient content.
- Control Over Chemicals: Homegrown mushrooms are free of pesticides and fungicides, as you control the process.
- Saving Money: One kit or batch can produce multiple harvests, which reduces the need to buy Lion's Mane continuously.
- Learning Opportunity: Growing Lion's Mane combines biology, chemistry, and botany into a rewarding hobby.
- Unique Feature: These mushrooms' marine-like appearance makes them a memorable addition to an indoor garden.
Home cultivation lets you access nutritional benefits and learn about mushroom science directly.
Is Growing Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Difficult?
Mushrooms can appear mysterious, but Lion’s Mane is surprisingly easy for beginners, especially if you use a good mushroom growing guide. Compared to other types like Shiitake or Reishi, Lion's Mane needs less light, is less likely to get contaminated if kept clean, and grows well with current grow kits.
The main challenges are humidity and airflow. Lion's Mane prefers moist conditions and needs air movement when fruiting. Not having enough of either can cause issues. Luckily, these are easy to manage indoors, even with tools like small humidifiers or fruiting chambers.
Whether it's your first time or you are adding to your mushroom growing skills, this mushroom is a good project with low risk and high reward.
Choosing the Right Method: Bag vs. Log Cultivation
To start growing Lion's Mane, you first need to decide between growing indoors in bags or outdoors on logs.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Bag Cultivation (Indoors) | Faster harvests (as little as 2 weeks), possible year-round, compact setup | Needs controlled humidity/airflow, possible risk of contamination |
| Log Cultivation (Outdoors) | Long-term harvests for 2–3 years, natural resistance to contamination | Takes 6–12 months for first harvest, only seasonal harvests |
Bag Cultivation is best if
- You live in an apartment or have little outdoor space.
- You want a predictable mushroom harvest time.
- You like indoor gardening or want to try using growing chambers.
Log Cultivation works best if
- You have a shaded outdoor area with sufficient moisture.
- You are interested in traditional or permaculture gardening methods.
- You are patient and desire mushrooms seasonally for many years.
Many experienced growers use both methods for a constant supply!
How to Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Indoors (Bag Cultivation)
Bag growing is the quickest and cleanest way to grow Lion's Mane, ideal for beginners and those with limited space.
Materials You’ll Need
- A sterilized block of substrate (often hardwood sawdust and bran)
- Lion’s Mane mushroom spawn (grain or plug)
- Growing bag with a filter patch or a mushroom kit
- Spray bottle or automatic mister
- Humidity tent or plastic container
- Scalpel, gloves, and 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol
Step-by-Step Growing Process
- Inoculation
-
- Mix mushroom spawn into your bagged substrate in a sterile environment.
- For those new to this, using pre-inoculated grow blocks makes it easier.
-
Incubation (Colonization Phase)
- Put the sealed bag in a warm, dark place, ideally between 65–75°F.
- Wait 2–3 weeks for the white mycelium to grow through the substrate.
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Starting Fruiting
- After the substrate is fully white (colonized), make 1–2 X-shaped cuts in the bag.
- These cuts tell the mushroom to start producing fruit.
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Humidity, Airflow, and Lighting
- Use a humidity tent or plastic bin to keep humidity at 85–95%.
- Mist at least twice a day or use a humidifier to automate it.
- Provide soft light or indirect sunlight, avoid direct, hot sunlight.
- Make sure there's good air flow to prevent CO2 from building up, which can cause deformed mushrooms.
-
Watch Them Grow
- Fruiting starts in 4–7 days after starting.
- Lion's Mane mushrooms grow quickly, sometimes doubling in size overnight.
-
Harvest
- When spines are 0.5–1 inch long and fluffy, carefully cut the mushrooms at the base.
Outdoor Growing: Lion’s Mane Log Cultivation
Log growing is similar to Lion's Mane's natural setting, allowing good growth in shaded forest areas.
Tools & Supplies
- Fresh hardwood logs: oak, beech, maple (cut within the last month)
- Plug spawn or sawdust spawn
- Drill with 5/16" drill bit for plug spawn
- Cheese wax or beeswax and dauber
- Hammer or tool for inoculation
- Shade cloth or logs stacked under trees
Log Cultivation Process
- Preparing Logs
-
- Select logs that are 3–6 inches wide and 2–4 feet long.
- Do not use logs with mold, rot, or bugs.
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Drilling & Inoculation
- Drill holes about 1.25 inches deep, spaced 4–6 inches apart in a diamond shape.
- Put spawn in the holes and seal them with wax right away.
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Incubation & Moisture Maintenance
- Stack logs in a shady spot that gets some indirect moisture.
- Cover with burlap or loose plastic when it's dry to keep in moisture.
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Waiting Period
- Logs may take 6–12 months to become colonized and start producing mushrooms.
- Once they start, logs will produce mushrooms seasonally for up to 3 years.
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Forcing Fruiting
- Soak logs that are fully colonized in icy water for 24 hours to encourage fruiting.
Growing on logs is slower but very sustainable and produces bigger mushrooms.
When to Harvest Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Harvest mushrooms when spines are long and fluffy, but before they turn yellow or dry.
Harvest When
- Spines (teeth) are 0.5 to 1 inch long
- Caps look dense, white, and full
- No brown or too much yellow on tips
- No signs of drying or cracking
Use a clean, sharp knife to cut them close to the substrate or log. Handle with care, they bruise easily and spoil quicker if damaged.
How to Store Fresh Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
To get the most from your fresh harvest, use proper storage methods
| Method | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigeration | 7–10 days | Use paper bags to soak up moisture, not plastic |
| Freezing | 3–6 months | Quickly blanch (3 min), then seal in freezer bags |
| Dehydration | Up to 1 year | Use low heat (under 110°F) and store in airtight jars |
| Powdering | 6–12 months | Add to coffee, tea, or mix into food |
Preserved Lion's Mane is good for cooking, supplements, and smoothies for brain health.
Troubleshooting Common Growing Issues
Even experienced growers have problems. Here’s how to fix them
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No fruiting | Low humidity, too much CO2 | Mist more, improve air flow |
| Contamination (green mold) | Not sterilized well | Throw away bag, clean tools and workspace |
| Mushroom cracks or dries out | Not enough humidity | Protect from air flow and mist often |
| Slow or no colonization | Old substrate or spawn | Use new supplies |
| Small, deformed mushrooms | CO2 trapped | Increase fresh air exchange (FAE) |
Being clean and watching closely makes a big difference.
Start Fast With Zombie Mushrooms Grow Kits
Don't want to deal with substrates, sterilization, and spawn? Zombie Mushrooms provides complete grow kits designed for Lion's Mane.
Each kit contains
- Colonized substrate block ready for fruiting
- Humidity tent
- Spray bottle
- Detailed growing instructions
Easy for beginners and reliable, these kits bring Lion's Mane mushrooms right to your kitchen counter. Find out more at zombiemushrooms.com.
FAQs About Lion’s Mane Cultivation
How long does Lion’s Mane take to grow?
Bags: 2–4 weeks after inoculation. Logs: 6–12 months, but produce mushrooms for years.
Can I use substrate or logs again?
Yes! Bags give 2–4 harvests, and logs last 2–3 years.
Do they need sunlight like plants?
Not direct sun, just soft, indirect light when fruiting.
Can I grow other mushrooms in the same area?
Yes, but if possible, keep fruiting areas separate to avoid cross-contamination.
Culinary Tips: Cooking Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion's Mane is a useful and healthy addition to your cooking.
Flavor Profile
- Mild, slightly sweet
- Meaty, like seafood (often called “crab of the woods”)
Cooking Ideas
- Slice and pan-sear with olive oil and garlic
- Shred and pan-fry for vegan crab cakes
- Add to miso soup, risotto, or creamy pasta dishes
- Roast whole with herbs for a filling main course
Don't overcook, like seafood, it gets tough if cooked too long.
Safety, Hygiene, and Growing Clean
Contamination is the biggest problem in mushroom growing. Follow these safety steps
- Clean all tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Wear gloves and don't touch sterile items
- Keep pets and drafts away from open bags
- Throw away anything that smells bad, is green, black, or slimy—better safe than sorry
From Hobby to Obsession: What’s Next?
After learning how to grow Lion's Mane, you might want to discover more in the mushroom world!
Next steps
- Try Oyster mushrooms (pink, blue, pearl): they grow fast and are easy to grow
- Clone your Lion's Mane from store-bought mushrooms using agar methods
- Use agar plates, petri dishes, grain spawn, and grow tents
- Join online mushroom forums like Reddit’s r/mycology
- Try growing other medicinal mushrooms like Cordyceps, Reishi, and Turkey Tail
Found you love mushrooms? Embrace it. Growing mushrooms is a skill for life, a hobby, and a way to get healthy and connect with nature.
Ready to Grow? Zombie Mushrooms
Zombie Mushrooms offers all you need to succeed, from kits for beginners to supplies for advanced labs. Whether you are starting with Lion's Mane or building a whole indoor mushroom farm, their tools and help can guide you.
See their full range of mushroom growing tools or get your Lion’s Mane starter kit today.
References
- Mori, K., Obara, Y., Moriya, T., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2009). Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25–35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical Research, 30(4), 231–237.
- Zhang, Z., Lv, G., Pan, H., Pandey, A., He, W., & Fan, L. (2016). Extraction, Purification, and Identification of Two Novel Antioxidative Peptides from Hericium erinaceus Protein Hydrolysates. Journal of Functional Foods, 21, 413–422.
- Kawagishi, H., Zhuang, C., & Shimizu, K. (2008). Compounds for dementia from Hericium erinaceum. Drugs of the Future, 33(2), 149.
Stamets, P. (2000). Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms. Ten Speed Press.
