Lion's Mane Colonized Black Agar Plate
Lion's Mane Colonized Black Agar Plate is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Description
Description
A fully colonized Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) agar plate, grown on our specialty black agar in a 90mm polystyrene Petri dish. Made from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated genetics — the same strain we use in our Lion's Mane liquid culture syringes and grow kits.
Each plate is produced at our Illinois lab, fully colonized before it ships, and ready to use the moment it arrives. Plates are held in inventory rather than made to order, so they ship within 1 business day.
- 90mmPetri dish
- ~18mLBlack agar
- 90–100%Coverage at ship
- 1st-genIsolated genetics
- 1 dayShips within
Why growers pick black agar for Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane mycelium is notoriously difficult to photograph and evaluate on standard amber-colored MEA — the white, cottony growth blends into the medium and makes it hard to spot contamination or assess vigor. Our black agar is our standard MEA recipe with food-grade activated carbon added, and the pitch-black background makes the white mycelium stand out so you can:
- Spot contamination – it shows up immediately against black
- Judge vigor – evaluate growth and rhizomorphic patterns at a glance
- Document cultures – photograph plates clearly for records or sharing
- Pick the strongest sectors – identify and isolate them when expanding to new plates
What's included
- One 90mm polystyrene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed for sterility during transit
- ~18mL black agar — our MEA formulation with food-grade activated carbon
- Fully colonized with white Lion's Mane mycelium (typically 90–100% coverage at ship time)
- 1st-generation isolated genetics from our master culture
- Lab-inspected for contamination before it ships
When your plate arrives
- Inspect it within 24 hours. Minor condensation on the lid is normal and harmless.
- Store it cool and dark. Keep the sealed plate at 55–70°F until you're ready to use it.
- Work clean. Open the plate only under a still-air box or laminar flow hood.
- Make your transfer. Cut a small wedge, about the size of a pencil eraser, and move it to grain, liquid media, or fresh agar.
Shipping and storage: plates ship in insulated, padded packaging, with a cold pack included at no additional cost in summer months (May–September) or to hot-climate destinations. An unopened, sealed plate stays viable for 60–90 days at room temperature, or 6–9 months refrigerated at 35–40°F.
What you can do with one plate
- Transfer to grain – place a wedge of colonized agar onto sterilized grain (rye, our 5-grain blend, etc.) to make grain spawn
- Make liquid culture – drop agar wedges into sterile liquid media to produce your own LC
- Expand to more plates – divide one plate into 5–10 fresh plates to build a genetic library
- Isolate strong sectors – move the most vigorous growth to a fresh plate to refine your genetics over generations
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) |
| Genetics | 1st-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Plate size | 90mm Petri dish |
| Plate material | Polystyrene (clear, for maximum contrast against black agar) |
| Agar type | Black agar — MEA + food-grade activated carbon |
| Agar volume | ~18mL |
| Seal | Parafilm M, lab-grade |
| Sterility | Poured and inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow |
| Mycelium appearance | White, cottony, coral-like rhizomorphic growth |
| Colonization speed on agar | Moderate — typically 10–14 days at 70–75°F |
| Preferred grain | Rye, our 5-grain blend, or hardwood-supplemented grain |
| Fruiting substrate | Hardwood sawdust + bran, supplemented hardwood pellets |
| Fruiting temperature | 60–70°F |
| Shelf life (sealed) | 60–90 days at 55–70°F; 6–9 months at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Within 1 business day |
Sterility and quality
Every plate is poured, inoculated, and inspected at Myco Labs under HEPA-filtered laminar flow. Plates are sealed with parafilm immediately after inoculation and incubated in a dedicated clean room until fully colonized. Each plate is visually inspected against the black background — where contamination is unmistakable — before being approved for shipment. If it doesn't look right, it doesn't ship.
Same genetics, other formatsWant the strain ready to inject? The Lion's Mane liquid culture syringe carries the same genetics, and the Lion's Mane grow kit lets you fruit the same strain without any lab work.
FAQ
What is black agar and why do you use it for Lion's Mane?
Black agar is our standard malt extract agar (MEA) recipe with food-grade activated carbon added, which gives it a deep black color. Lion's Mane's white, cottony mycelium is very difficult to see and evaluate on standard amber-colored MEA. Against a black background it stands out clearly, making it much easier to spot contamination, assess vigor, and isolate strong sectors. The activated carbon is inert and doesn't affect mycelium health.
How fast do these ship compared to other agar plate sellers?
Within 1 business day. Most agar plate sellers make plates to order, which can mean waiting 2–4 weeks for a plate to be poured, inoculated, and colonized. Ours are produced on a rolling schedule and held in inventory fully colonized.
Are these the same genetics as your liquid culture syringes and grow kits?
Yes. Every Lion's Mane plate is grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated Lion's Mane strain — the same genetics in our Lion's Mane LC syringes and grow kits.
Why 90mm plates instead of 100mm?
90mm is the global standard for mycology agar work and provides the same working surface and yield as 100mm for all practical cultivation purposes. It also ships more efficiently and is the format used by most professional labs.
How long will the plate stay viable?
An unopened, parafilm-sealed plate stored at 55–70°F in a dark place stays viable for 60–90 days. Refrigerated at 35–40°F, it stays viable for 6–9 months.
Can I use this plate to make grain spawn directly?
Yes — that's one of the most common uses. Under a still-air box or laminar flow hood, cut a small wedge (about the size of a pencil eraser) from the colonized plate and drop it into a sterilized grain spawn bag or jar. Colonization typically completes in 14–21 days.
What if my plate arrives contaminated or damaged?
We guarantee every plate ships in clean, fully colonized condition. If you receive a contaminated or damaged plate, contact us within 5 days of delivery with a photo and we'll replace it free of charge.
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