Maitake (Hen of the Woods) Liquid Culture Syringe (10cc)
Maitake (Hen of the Woods) Liquid Culture Syringe (10cc) is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Description
Description
Maitake (Hen of the Woods) Liquid Culture Syringe (10cc) — Grifola frondosa, an isolated indoor strain from Myco Labs. Maitake grows as a rosette of overlapping grey-brown fronds rather than a single cap, which is where the "hen of the woods" name comes from. It is one of the most sought-after gourmet mushrooms in the world and one of the harder ones to produce indoors.
- SpeciesG. frondosa
- Volume10cc
- GeneticsIsolated Indoor
- DifficultyAdvanced
- Colonization~18 Days
Why Growers Choose Maitake
Maitake commands a higher price at market than almost any cultivated mushroom, and it is a genuinely difficult species to produce, which is exactly why serious growers take it on. In the wild it forms at the base of old oaks in autumn, returning to the same tree year after year, and finding one is considered a real score among foragers.
Indoors it needs a nutritionally enriched substrate — Master's Mix or heavily supplemented hardwood sawdust — rather than the plain sawdust that suits oyster species. Colonization is slow at around eighteen days, and it wants a period of consolidation before it will initiate. Rushing it produces nothing.
The reward is a dense, layered cluster with an earthy, deeply savory flavor and a firm texture that holds up to roasting and searing. Unlike Reishi or Turkey Tail, this one is grown to eat.
What's In the Package
- One 10cc liquid culture syringe, sealed and lab-tested
- 16-gauge 1.5" luer lock needle
- Sterile alcohol prep pad
Maitake Growing Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Grifola frondosa |
| Also Known As | Hen of the Woods, maitake, sheepshead |
| Recommended Substrates | Master's Mix, heavily supplemented hardwood sawdust, oak |
| Incubation Temperature | 68–80°F |
| Incubation Humidity | 85–90% |
| Colonization Time | ~18 days |
| Fruiting Temperature | 67–76°F |
| Fruiting Humidity | 90–93% |
| Time to Harvest | 20–30 days after fruiting conditions begin |
| Fruit Body Form | Overlapping grey-brown fronds in a rosette cluster |
| Syringe Volume | 10cc |
| Storage | Refrigerate at 35–45°F; do not freeze |
How to Use Your Liquid Culture Syringe
- Let the syringe come to room temperature, then shake gently to redistribute the mycelium evenly through the broth.
- Flame-sterilize the needle until it glows orange and let it cool for a few seconds.
- Wipe the injection port on your grain spawn bag or jar with the alcohol prep pad.
- Inject 2–3cc per quart jar, or 3–5cc per 3–5 lb spawn bag. One 10cc syringe inoculates roughly 2–4 containers.
- Incubate at 68–80°F in the dark for around eighteen days until fully colonized.
- Spawn to Master's Mix or supplemented hardwood, let the block consolidate and firm up, then introduce fruiting conditions. Do not rush this stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Maitake called Hen of the Woods?
Because the cluster of overlapping grey-brown fronds resembles the ruffled feathers of a sitting hen. It grows as a rosette of many small, fan-shaped caps sharing a branched base rather than as a single cap and stem. It is sometimes also called sheepshead. Do not confuse it with Chicken of the Woods, which is a completely different species — bright orange, shelf-like, and grown on wood.
What substrate does Maitake need?
Master's Mix or heavily supplemented hardwood sawdust. Maitake needs considerably more nutrition than oyster species and will not perform on plain sawdust or straw. In the wild it associates with the roots and stumps of old oaks, so oak-based substrate suits it well.
Is Maitake difficult to grow?
Yes, by the standards of this catalog. It is slow to colonize, requires an enriched substrate, and needs a consolidation period on the bulk block before it will initiate fruiting. Growers who force conditions early usually get nothing. If this is your first wood-loving species, Shiitake or Lion's Mane is a gentler starting point.
Can I grow Maitake outdoors?
Outdoor cultivation is possible by burying colonized hardwood — oak especially — but it is slow and unpredictable, often taking a full season or more before anything appears. Wild Maitake fruits at the base of mature oaks in autumn and returns to the same tree annually. Indoors on Master's Mix is the faster and more controllable route.
How much liquid culture do I use per bag or jar?
Use 2–3cc per quart grain jar and 3–5cc per 3–5 lb spawn bag. A single 10cc Maitake syringe will inoculate roughly two to four containers. Adding more than the recommended dose does not speed colonization meaningfully and simply uses up the syringe faster.
Do I need a flow hood or still air box to use liquid culture?
A still air box is strongly recommended and a laminar flow hood is better still. Liquid culture syringes ship sealed and lab-tested, but the moment you pierce an injection port you are exposing your grain to whatever is in the room air. Slow-colonizing species like Maitake give contaminants more time to take hold, so sterile technique matters here.
How should I store the syringe before use?
Keep it refrigerated between 35 and 45°F and never freeze it — freezing ruptures the cell walls and kills the culture. Store it in the sealed bag it shipped in, away from strong odors. Bring it back to room temperature and shake gently before injecting.
Packed to Arrive Alive
A liquid culture syringe is living mycelium, and the trip from our Illinois lab to your door is the part of its life you have the least control over. That is why every Myco Labs liquid culture ships inside a foil-lined insulated mailer rather than a plain envelope. The insulation buffers the syringe against summer heat sitting in a delivery truck and against sub-freezing temperatures in winter, so your culture arrives viable in either extreme.
When it arrives: move the syringe to the refrigerator at 35–45°F until you are ready to inoculate. Never freeze it. Bring it back to room temperature and shake gently before use.
Sold as a mycological culture for cultivation purposes. Nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Let customers speak for us
I've been using these jars for years now with a very high success rate. But I've also had good success with their substrates and pretty much everything I've gotten from this store. Thank you Midwest Grow Kits
I buy most of my supplies here when needed and they never disappoint. If I have an issue they are quick to respond and its typically my fault hahaha.
When I saw my first pin, my universe opened up. mind blowing hobby!
Love it. Easy to put together. Holds a lot of jars, trays, bags, totes, ect. I'm going to get another one for fruiting.
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Mycelium shot through the casing layer in 2 days. GtPlat. 2/1
Outstanding materials at the lowest cost I could find. Would not pass up this offer if you're serious about growing
This definitely does the job and it’s an excellent product for the price. It took be about 2 hours to set it up and make all the necessary modifications. The FAN solution that comes with it is at best temporary but it will due the job until you can save up for a better fan.
I plan to make tinctures for the messed up nerves in my arms, and other chronic pain bs. Don't want to support too many opportunistic companies, so I just chose the source and be patient. Holistic care and responsibility is a game of patience and understanding. I appreciate your services! Be well, do good! Try to waste less. Oh, the small black gloves are useless unless you have the hands of a small child.😅
Just stirred it, don't worry🫠 no stir bars or magnets have ever been needed here.
Awesome growth 10 days after inoculation. Very happy! Would recommend this priduct and this company!
Working good. Lights my closet just enough for the environment I need! Thanks!
It's started good. Let's hope it continues to grow so I can break a shake it!
Bought the 3-Pack Premium Quick-Colonizing 5-grain Jar (32oz) and inoculated 9 days ago. Love it! Colonization quick and clean. Highly recommend!
So when i got this i was worried because of past experiences. Leave it up to midwest to be nice a patient with me. The team at bonsai gives great support . This flow hood is meant to run a little higher than normal clean room standards because most people need this working from home . This thing is nice and laminar. Very inform . With a speed contoller i average about .45 m/s across the face. It passed everyone one of my agar grid tests . Which blows my mind becuase i ran it through three diffrent 30 mins agar grid tests . Ive used a few flow hoods and this one is my favorite . Perfect for any home or small buisness.
"Upgraded to the MycoClimate 44Q and the difference in consistency is night and day. The dual-chamber water-bath heating keeps temperatures rock-solid without drying out the substrate like standard heating mats do, and the automated HEPA air pump takes all the stress out of fresh air exchange—even tucked away inside a closet.
