Fomitopsis officinalis - JCMAG025 (Agarikon Mushroom) Liquid Culture

10ml of Fomitopsis officinalis liquid culture, complete with a 16g prick & IPA wipe.

Described as "the Elixir of Long Life" Agarikon helps support the function of our immune response and immunomodulation.

Inoculated wood can takes decades to colonise and produce a fruiting body, so while it's likely going to be tricky to fruit Agarikon any time soon in the UK if at all, the benefits of the mycelium alone make the prospect of submerged cultivation a very appealing one. The mycelial extract of F. officinalis has been found to have a unique set of antiviral properties 

Don’t forget to add a bag of Sterile Grain to get your grow underway!

Our cultures are the perfect choice, to expand your own liquid mycelium or produce your own mushroom grain spawn, fruiting blocks and to ultimately, grow your own medicinal mushrooms! The 10ml syringe contains a premium culture, nurtured by us at Jurassic Coast Mushrooms, suspended in a broth rich in nutrients, to jump-start the growth of your mushrooms.   

What you'll receive -

• 1 x 10ml liquid culture syringe
• 1 x IPA wipe
• 1 x 16g sterile prick
  

Our range of hardwood mushroom liquid cultures is carefully produced in-house using sterile laboratory practices to ensure clean, vigorous and healthy mycelial growth. This category includes a variety of wood-decomposing gourmet and native fungi including Shiitake, Pioppino, Speckled Chestnut, Dryad’s Saddle and other hardwood-associated species prized for their flavour, productivity and fascinating growth habits.

These species naturally thrive on fallen timber and decaying woodland material, making them ideally suited to cultivation on hardwood-based substrates. Many hardwood fungi are highly valued by growers for their dense fruiting bodies, rich umami characteristics and ability to produce repeated flushes under suitable conditions.

Each syringe contains live mycelium suspended in a nutrient solution and can be used to inoculate sterilised grain, agar or liquid media for further expansion. Once grain spawn is fully colonised, it can be transferred onto hardwood sawdust substrates, supplemented blocks, outdoor beds or log cultivation projects depending on the species being grown.

Growth & Colonisation

Hardwood-loving fungi generally establish best when introduced to sterile grain in clean conditions using proper aseptic technique. Common grain choices include rye, millet, sorghum and wheat.

Recommended incubation temperatures:

• 20–25°C

Average grain colonisation times:

• 2–4 weeks

Bulk substrate colonisation can vary considerably between species but is commonly achieved within:

• 3–8 weeks

Some hardwood species are naturally slower growing than aggressive Oyster or Hericium varieties, however they often reward patience with dense fruiting, improved shelf life and exceptional texture. During colonisation, mycelium may appear thick and rhizomorphic or soft and tomentose depending on the species and genetics involved.

Most species in this category perform exceptionally well on hardwood sawdust enriched with bran supplementation, though many can also be cultivated successfully on logs, wood-chip beds and outdoor woodland-style environments.

Fruiting Requirements

While individual species may have slightly different preferences, most hardwood mushrooms benefit from:

• High humidity levels (85–95% RH)
• Regular fresh air exchange
• Stable fruiting temperatures
• Low to moderate indirect light

Typical fruiting temperatures range from:

• 12–22°C

Certain varieties, particularly Shiitake, may respond well to resting periods or cold shocking before fruiting initiation. Others, such as Pioppino or Speckled Chestnut, often fruit readily once humidity and airflow conditions become favourable.

Maintaining balanced environmental conditions is important for healthy cap formation, strong stem development and overall yield quality. Proper airflow is especially important to reduce excessive carbon dioxide build-up during fruiting.

Recommended Substrates

Hardwood species are commonly cultivated on:

• Hardwood sawdust
• Hardwood fuel pellet mixes
• Supplemented sawdust blocks
• Hardwood logs
• Outdoor wood-chip beds

For indoor cultivation, supplemented hardwood blocks are often preferred for faster colonisation and higher yields, while outdoor log cultivation can provide seasonal harvests over extended periods.

Storage & Handling

Shake thoroughly before use to distribute the live mycelium evenly throughout the syringe. Always use sterile equipment and clean inoculation practices to minimise the risk of contamination.

Storage guidelines:

• Refrigerate at 2–8°C
• Avoid freezing
• Allow cultures to reach room temperature before use

For best performance and viability, liquid cultures are ideally used within a few months of purchase.

Research & Cultivation Use

Our hardwood mushroom liquid cultures are intended for mycological study, microscopy and cultivation purposes. Growth speed, morphology and fruiting characteristics can differ significantly depending on species, isolate and environmental conditions.

From gourmet cultivation to native woodland projects and advanced spawn production, hardwood fungi remain some of the most rewarding and diverse species available to mushroom cultivators.