Lion's Mane Grow Kit Instructions

Lion's Mane Grow Kit Instructions

Hericium Mushroom Grow Kit Instructions
(Lion’s Mane • Coral Tooth • Bear’s Head Tooth)

A complete guide for growing Lion’s Mane, Coral Tooth, and Bear’s Head Tooth mushrooms at home.

1) Welcome to Your Grow Kit

Thank you for purchasing our Hericium Mushroom Grow Kit — whether for yourself or as a gift.

Hericium mushrooms are some of the most unique and delicious gourmet mushrooms you can grow at home. With a bit of care, your kit will produce beautiful clusters resembling pom-poms, coral branches, or cascading spines.

2) Find the Inoculation Date

The inoculation date is written on the filter patch.

Your grow kit needs 10–14 days from this date to fully colonize.

Do not cut the bag open until the block is:

  • Fully white
  • Firm
  • Evenly colonized with no brown substrate showing

If it isn’t fully white yet, leave it at room temperature until it is.

3) Is Your Block Ready? (Colonization Check)

A fully colonized Hericium block will look:

  • Bright white
  • Dense and solid
  • Covered completely in mycelium

If any areas still look uncolonized, give the kit more time. A fully colonized block produces the best first flush.

4) Prepare a Clean Cutting Area

Before opening the bag:

  • Clean the surface where you’ll make the cut
  • Sterilize your knife or scissors
  • Wash and dry your hands

This ensures a healthy grow and minimizes contamination.

5) CUT IT — Make the Opening

CUT IT • FOLD IT • FLIP IT • SPRAY IT

You can use:

Option A — Front Cut

Make a large /-shaped cut (8–10 cm) on the front of the block. Just a diagonal line. This gives the mushroom enough space to form long spines or branching coral structures.

Option B — Side Cut

Cut the long, flat side if you prefer not to flip the block later. Both methods work well.

6) FOLD IT — Folding the Bag Properly

If you made a front cut:

  1. Fold the top of the bag tightly, pushing all air out.
  2. Fold it down like the top of a paper airplane.
  3. Tighten the fold.

If you made a side cut:

Simply fold the top over once. The weight of the substrate keeps it in place.

7) FLIP IT — Positioning Your Block

For a front cut, flipping is essential:

  • The bag should rest on the fold
  • The cut should now be on the top-front side
  • This positioning encourages outward growth

If you made a side cut, skip the flip — just ensure the cut faces upward.

8) SPRAY IT — Setting Up the Humidity Tent

Hericium species require high humidity to develop long spines and proper branching.

  1. Open the humidity tent and fold the bottom edge twice.
  2. Place the kit on a tray or plate.
  3. Set the tent over the block.
  4. Mist the inside walls of the tent — not the block.

Daily Humidity Care

  • Mist the tent walls 2–3 times per day
  • Keep the environment humid but not dripping
  • If the tent looks dry, spray it
  • Ensure gentle airflow

Lighting & Temperature

  • Bright, indirect daylight
  • Avoid direct sun
  • Ideal temperature: 18–23°C (64–73°F)

9) Daily Growth Timeline (What to Expect)

Days 1–3:

No visible change — normal.

Days 3–7:

Small white bumps form. These develop into:

  • Pom-poms (Lion’s Mane)
  • Coral-like branches (Coral Tooth)
  • Shaggy spines (Bear’s Head)

After pinning:

Growth accelerates. Spines elongate and clusters fill out quickly.

10) Harvesting Your Hericium Mushrooms

Lion’s Mane

  • Harvest when spines are several millimetres long
  • Colour should remain bright white

Coral Tooth

  • Harvest when branches elongate and take on a full, coral-like shape

Bear’s Head Tooth

  • Harvest when long shaggy spines develop

General Harvest Method

  • Twist the cluster at the base or cut cleanly
  • Remove leftover bits before the next flush

Store in a paper bag in the fridge for 5–7 days. Always cook before eating.

11) Post-Harvest Care & Second Flush Instructions

Your kit can produce 2–3 flushes.

  1. Remove leftover stems.
  2. Let the block rest inside the tent for 2–3 days.
  3. Resume misting 2–3 times per day.

When to expect new mushrooms:

  • Pins usually appear within 5–10 days
  • Cooler homes may take longer

Rehydration Boost (Optional)

  1. Submerge the entire block (in its bag) in cold water for 2–4 hours.
  2. Weigh it down with a plate if needed.
  3. Drain fully.
  4. Return it to the tent and resume misting.

12) Troubleshooting & Common Questions

Spines won’t grow long — Increase humidity.

Yellowing tips — Harvest immediately.

Block drying out — Mist more; consider rehydration.

No pins — Check colonization, humidity, light, and temperature.

Strange shapes — Completely normal for Hericium species.

Contamination (green or black mold) — Discard the block.

13) Composting the Block

When the block stops producing, remove it from the bag and compost it. Hericium-colonized substrate enriches soil beautifully.

14) Thank You & Contact Information

Thank you for growing with Cap Canopy Mushrooms!

  • Instagram: @capcanopymushrooms
  • Email: christian@capcanopy.ca
  • Website: capcanopy.ca

We love seeing your homegrown Hericium mushrooms — tag us anytime!

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