Cordyceps Militaris Hades 4212-A Colonized Agar Plate
Cordyceps Militaris Hades 4212-A Colonized Agar Plate is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Description
Description
A fully colonized Cordyceps militaris strain Hades 4212-A agar plate, grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated genetics — the same strain we use to produce the Cordyceps militaris in our Myco Labs Cognitive Trifecta™ supplement.
Each plate is produced at our Illinois lab on standard malt extract agar (MEA), fully colonized before it ships, and held in inventory rather than made to order, so it ships within 1 business day. Multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 business days so we can pack everything together.
- 90mmPolypropylene dish
- ~18mLMEA agar
- 10–14 daysColonizes agar
- 65–68°FFruiting temp
- 1 dayShips within
Why growers pick Cordyceps militaris
Cordyceps militaris is one of the most studied functional mushrooms in the world. Unlike its wild cousin Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which grows only on insect larvae in Himalayan grasslands and can't be commercially cultivated, C. militaris grows on plant-based substrates and produces the same key compound, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine). That's why nearly all Cordyceps supplements on the market today are C. militaris, and why strain selection and cultivation conditions decide the quality.
About strain Hades 4212-A
- Vigorous orange fruit bodies – dense clusters of bright orange, club-shaped stromata under proper conditions
- Consistent fruiting behavior – predictable yields across well-managed jars or trays, which matters for serial production
- The strain behind our supplement – Hades 4212-A is the strain we use for the Cordyceps militaris in our Cognitive Trifecta™, where a consistent profile from batch to batch is essential
How Cordyceps cultivation differs
Cordyceps militaris is cultivated very differently from every other species in our agar plate lineup. It does not fruit on hardwood, sawdust blocks, or in monotubs. Instead:
- Jars or trays – typically wide-mouth quart or pint jars, or shallow trays
- Grain-based substrate – usually white or brown rice supplemented with a nutrient solution; some growers use millet, barley, or rye
- Light during fruiting – moderate ambient or indirect light (a 12-hour cycle is common) produces the signature orange color
- A temperature drop – colonize at 70–75°F, then drop to 65–68°F to initiate fruiting
- Fresh air exchange – sealed containers produce only mycelium without fruit bodies
- A longer cycle – about 60–90 days from plate to harvest
What's included
- One 90mm polypropylene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed for sterility during transit
- ~18mL malt extract agar (MEA)
- Fully colonized with Cordyceps militaris Hades 4212-A 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 small wedges and move them to sterilized, nutrient-supplemented rice substrate, liquid media, or fresh agar.
Shipping and storage: plates ship in insulated, padded packaging via USPS Priority Mail (typically 2–4 days in transit), with a cold pack included at no additional cost in summer months (May–September) or to hot-climate destinations. A sealed plate stays viable for 60–90 days at 55–70°F, or 6–9 months refrigerated at 35–40°F.
What you can do with one plate
- Inoculate fruiting jars or trays directly – the most common path; colonization takes 14–21 days, with fruiting complete 4–8 weeks later
- Make liquid culture for serial production – the standard method for inoculating multiple jars at once
- Expand to more plates – divide one plate into 5–8 fresh plates to preserve the strain over time
- Isolate strong sectors – move the most orange, vigorous growth to a fresh plate, since strain drift can weaken Cordyceps over many generations
Grain spawn is generally not used for Cordyceps — direct inoculation from agar or LC to the final fruiting substrate is standard practice.
Shatterproof polypropylene plates
Every Cordyceps plate ships in a 90mm polypropylene Petri dish rather than the standard polystyrene. Polypropylene flexes under impact instead of cracking — and a cracked plate isn't just damaged, it's a contamination risk, since the crack breaks the parafilm seal. Our Lion's Mane plate is the one exception: it uses clear polystyrene for contrast against black agar.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | Cordyceps militaris, strain Hades 4212-A |
| Genetics | 1st-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Plate | 90mm polypropylene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed |
| Agar | ~18mL standard malt extract agar (MEA) |
| Sterility | Poured and inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow |
| Mycelium appearance | White when young; develops orange/yellow pigmentation as it matures (normal) |
| Colonization speed on agar | Moderate — typically 10–14 days at 70–75°F |
| Fruiting substrate | Nutrient-supplemented white or brown rice; some growers use millet or barley |
| Fruiting container | Wide-mouth quart jars, pint jars, or shallow trays — not monotubs or sawdust blocks |
| Colonization temperature | 70–75°F |
| Fruiting temperature | 65–68°F (a slight cool-down triggers fruit body initiation) |
| Light | Moderate ambient or indirect light during fruiting (12-hour cycle common) |
| Full cycle | 60–90 days from plate to harvest |
| Fruit body | Dense clusters of bright orange, upright club-shaped stromata, typically 2–4 inches tall |
| Difficulty | Intermediate — a different technique from other mushrooms, but well documented |
| 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, sealed with parafilm immediately after inoculation, and incubated in a dedicated clean room until fully colonized. Each plate is visually inspected for contamination before it's approved for shipment — if it doesn't look right, it doesn't ship.
From plate to supplementHades 4212-A is the Cordyceps strain in our Cognitive Trifecta™ capsules. Want to skip the lab work? The Cordyceps militaris grow kit is ready to fruit.
FAQ
What is strain Hades 4212-A and why does it matter?
Hades 4212-A is a production strain of Cordyceps militaris selected for vigorous orange fruit body production and consistent fruiting. Strain selection has a big impact on Cordyceps results — different strains can produce very different yields and fruit bodies. It's the strain we use for the Cordyceps militaris in our Myco Labs Cognitive Trifecta™ supplement.
What's the difference between Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis?
They're different species. Cordyceps sinensis (now Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is the wild Cordyceps that grows only on caterpillar larvae in Tibetan plateau grasslands, can't be commercially cultivated, and is ecologically unsustainable to collect. Cordyceps militaris can be cultivated on plant-based substrates and produces the same key compound, cordycepin. Virtually all Cordyceps supplements on the market today are C. militaris.
Why does Cordyceps cultivation require different equipment than other mushrooms?
Cordyceps militaris doesn't fruit on hardwood, sawdust, or in monotubs. It fruits in glass jars or shallow trays on nutrient-supplemented rice, with moderate ambient light and good fresh air exchange. It also needs a temperature drop from colonization (70–75°F) to fruiting (65–68°F). The equipment is simple — jars, rice, and a basic light source — but the setup is different.
My Cordyceps plate has orange or yellow pigmentation — is that contamination?
No — this is healthy mycelium. Cordyceps militaris produces orange and yellow pigments as part of its normal metabolism, even on agar, and strong orange color is a good sign of vigor. Contamination looks different: green or black fuzzy mold, a wet, slimy bacterial sheen with a sour smell, or wet patches that spread rapidly. If you're unsure, contact us with a photo.
Are these the same genetics as your Myco Labs supplements?
Yes. Every Cordyceps plate is grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated Hades 4212-A strain — the same genetics used to produce the Cordyceps militaris in our Myco Labs Cognitive Trifecta™ supplement, alongside Lion's Mane and Turkey Tail.
Do I need grain spawn to grow Cordyceps?
Generally no. The standard workflow is agar plate to liquid culture for serial production, or straight from the agar plate to fruiting jars or trays of nutrient-supplemented rice. Grain spawn is the usual intermediate step for wood-fruiting species, but Cordyceps already fruits on a grain-based substrate.
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. Multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 business days so we can pack everything together.
Why do you use polypropylene plates instead of polystyrene?
Polypropylene flexes under impact instead of cracking. A cracked plate isn't just damaged — it's a contamination risk, since the crack breaks the parafilm seal and exposes the culture. Our Lion's Mane plates are the one exception: they use clear polystyrene for maximum contrast against black agar.
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. Cordyceps strains are prone to strain drift over many generations of transfer, so periodically isolate strong orange sectors and discard less vigorous lineages.
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.
