Pink Oyster Colonized Agar Plate
Pink Oyster Colonized Agar Plate is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Description
Description
A fully colonized Pink Oyster (Pleurotus djamor) agar plate, grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated genetics — the same fast-growing strain we use in our Pink Oyster liquid culture syringes and grow kits.
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
- 5–7 daysColonizes agar
- 65–80°FFruiting temp
- 1 dayShips within
Why growers pick Pink Oyster on agar
Pink Oyster is one of the most exciting species to work with on agar and one of the most visually rewarding to grow. The mycelium is extraordinarily fast, colonizing agar in as little as 5–7 days at warm temperatures, which makes it ideal for:
- Warm-climate growing – one of the few gourmet species that thrives in summer heat, fruiting at 65–80°F when most oysters won't
- Learning agar transfers – the fast growth dramatically outpaces most contamination
- Rapid grain spawn turnaround – a good fit for high-turnover cultivation
- Quick plate-to-plate expansion – build a genetic library fast
Mature fruit bodies are an unmistakable salmon-to-coral pink, with a slightly bacon-like flavor when crisped in a pan.
What's included
- One 90mm polypropylene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed for sterility during transit
- ~18mL malt extract agar (MEA), our standard formulation for gourmet species
- Fully colonized with white-to-pinkish Pink Oyster 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 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. Pink Oyster is more cold-sensitive than most species, so for long-term storage keep plates at the warmer end (40°F) and refresh them every 4–6 months.
What you can do with one plate
- Transfer to grain – place a wedge onto sterilized grain (rye, our 5-grain blend, etc.); Pink Oyster colonizes grain in 7–12 days under warm conditions
- Make liquid culture – drop agar wedges into sterile liquid media to produce your own LC
- Expand to more plates – divide one plate into 8–10 fresh plates for a long-term genetic library
- Isolate strong sectors – move the most vigorous growth to a fresh plate to refine your genetics over generations
Shatterproof polypropylene plates
Every Pink Oyster 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 | Pleurotus djamor (Pink Oyster) |
| 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-to-pinkish, very aggressive, fluffy with rhizomorphic edges |
| Colonization speed on agar | Very fast — typically 5–7 days at 75–80°F |
| Preferred grain | Rye, our 5-grain blend, or supplemented hardwood |
| Fruiting substrate | Straw, hardwood sawdust, supplemented hardwood pellets, masters mix, even coffee grounds |
| Fruiting temperature | 65–80°F (warm-weather fruiter — rare among oysters) |
| Cap color | Bright salmon-to-coral pink, fading to tan as fruit matures |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly — among the easiest gourmet species to fruit |
| Shelf life (sealed) | 60–90 days at 55–70°F; 6–9 months at 35–40°F (refresh every 4–6 months for long-term storage) |
| 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.
Same genetics, other formatsWant the strain ready to inject? The Pink Oyster liquid culture syringe carries the same genetics, and the Pink Oyster grow kit lets you fruit the same strain without any lab work.
FAQ
Why is Pink Oyster a good species for summer cultivation?
Pink Oyster is one of the few gourmet species that fruits well in warm temperatures (65–80°F). Most oysters and other gourmets prefer cooler conditions, which makes summer cultivation difficult without temperature control. Pink Oyster thrives in summer heat, so it's the species we most often recommend for warm-climate growers or anyone growing through the summer months.
Why do my Pink Oysters lose their pink color when I cook them?
Pink Oyster's salmon-pink color is heat-sensitive and fades to tan-brown when cooked. This is normal and doesn't affect flavor or quality. Harvest at peak color, before the caps fully flatten, and use quick high-heat preparations like a sear, which keeps more color than slow simmering.
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. Pink Oyster typically colonizes grain in 7–12 days at room temperature — one of the fastest gourmet species.
Are these the same genetics as your liquid culture syringes and grow kits?
Yes. Every Pink Oyster plate is grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated Pink Oyster strain — the same genetics in our Pink Oyster LC syringes and grow kits.
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. Pink Oyster is more sensitive to cold than most species, so for long-term storage keep plates at the warmer end (40°F) and refresh them every 4–6 months.
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.
Our Growing Experts Recommend
Products our growers commonly use with this item
