Mushroom Cultures on Agar (Petri Dish)
What you get
About our strain codes: Labels like 1.0, 2.0, and FF are internal strain identifiers for selections of the same species (for example Blue Oyster 1.0 vs Blue Oyster 2.0). They are not package sizes. Choose the variety name you want; contact us if you need help picking a strain.
Processing time: Made to order. Please allow about 1-3 weeks before shipment.
Trusted Mushroom Varieties
Our cultures ship as Petri dishes (agar plates). Prefer liquid culture? Order our Liquid Culture.
At Fungi Farm, we offer American-made mushroom cultures, each one carefully selected and maintained in our Alabama laboratory. Our strains are proven growers, including many varieties we have personally selected from around the world. We know these varieties well and are happy to help you choose one for your setup. Every culture is inspected and tested to ensure there is no contamination prior to shipping. We also offer a variety of nutrient media and guarantee that every culture will be fresh and clean.
Questions about which strain fits your setup? Email or call us. We grow these strains ourselves, so we can tell you how they behave.
FAQ
What are mushroom cultures?
Mushroom cultures are living collections of mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus. Mycelium is composed of long, branching cells that produce mushrooms. A culture can be grown on its own or used to inoculate substrate, which is then used to grow mushrooms.
What are the benefits of using cultures instead of spawn?
A culture plate is a clean strain you can expand. From one plate you can inoculate sterilized grain or liquid and make your own spawn. Spawn is mycelium already grown through grain or sawdust, ready to inoculate substrate. Choose a culture to keep and expand a strain. Choose spawn when you want to inoculate substrate without starting from a plate.
Do you sell medicinal mushroom cultures?
Yes. Branched reishi and lion's mane are in the variety list above.
What is the difference between a culture and a strain?
A strain is one selection of a species, such as Blue Oyster 1.0 or Blue Oyster 2.0. A culture is living mycelium of that strain, growing on agar. The labels 1.0, 2.0, and FF name the strain. They are not package sizes.
What is the difference between a spore print and a culture?
A spore print is spores dropped by a mushroom. Those spores are not a pure strain. A culture is growing mycelium of one strain on agar. We do not sell spore prints or spores.
How long do mushroom cultures last?
A Petri dish does not keep for years. Refrigerate it and use it while the mycelium is still healthy. To keep a strain longer, transfer a small piece to fresh media before the plate dries out or slows down.
How should I store my mushroom cultures?
Refrigerate the plate in a cool, dark place. Do not freeze it. Freezing damages mycelium on agar.
How do I use a culture plate?
Work in a clean space. Transfer a small piece of healthy mycelium to sterilized grain, liquid, or fresh agar. Do not open the plate in a drafty or dusty room.
Do you sell mushroom spores?
No, we do not sell mushroom spores.
How do I know if my culture is contaminated?
Mold or bacterial growth that is not the mushroom mycelium means the plate is contaminated. If it arrives that way, contact us and we will make it right. Growth that shows up after the plate has been opened is not an automatic replacement.
Can I use wild mushrooms to create a culture?
You can start a culture from clean inner tissue of a wild mushroom, but it takes sterile technique, and the result is not one of our tested strains. These plates are strains we maintain in our Alabama lab.
Related: Liquid Culture · Pre-Poured Petri Dishes · Grain Spawn · Ready-to-Fruit Blocks
If you are still deciding where to begin, see Where to start.
Become a mushroom farmer!
Ready to take your growing further? Our guide walks you through the next steps.
Prefer hands-on training? Cultivation workshops.
Grow guides and tools
