Mushroom liquid cultures are nutrient-rich liquid mixtures which carry mycelium that can then be used to inoculate grain spawn to then grow your mushrooms. Inoculating grain spawn means you are introducing mycelium to a growing medium such as straw, coffee grounds, logs, cardboard, and more.
There are two main methods to begin growing mushrooms: liquid cultures and spore syringes. Liquid cultures have several benefits over spore (kind of like the seeds of a mushroom) syringes. For one, liquid cultures provide faster colonization. The mycelium (basically the roots of the mushroom which absorb water and nutrients) in a liquid culture is already beginning to grow in a nutrient-rich medium so that gives you a head start. Spore syringes do not contain mycelium. They need to germinate before growing so that is just another step.
Not only that, but you may also see higher yields than you would use spore syringes. Efficiency is the name of the game. The sterile and nutrient-rich environment of the liquid culture means that the mycelium can colonize a substrate more efficiently. This can mean higher yields.
Using liquid cultures is also a very controlled and sterile technique which means you will achieve more consistent results. This will save you time, energy, and money in the long run. Speaking of money, liquid cultures can also be more cost-effective due to their consistency when compared to spore syringes. You run a higher risk of contamination when using spore syringes which could cost you more over time if your batch gets contaminated.
Liquid cultures are also quite easy to both store and transport. When stored in the refrigerator, liquid cultures can last up to a year. Spore syringes have a much shorter shelf life. Spore syringes are also more prone to contamination when being stored.
If you are growing mushrooms at home, do yourself a favor and learn how to use liquid culture. You will see faster colonization, higher yields, more consistent results, cost-effectiveness, and ease of storage.
Successfully using your mushroom liquid culture to inoculate your grain spawn is as easy as creating a clean and sterile environment, injecting the liquid culture, and being patient! There are a few materials you will need. These include: liquid culture, needle for the syringe, flame from a torch, a still air box, gloves, alcohol wipes, and your jar or bag filled with grain spawn. The alcohol wipes and flame are used for sterilization. The still air box is used so that any contaminants in the air do not interfere with inoculation.
Contamination is an unfortunate, yet not uncommon, occurrence when growing mushrooms. If you know the signs to look out for, you can save yourself a lot of time by not waiting for a doomed grow. Contaminated liquid culture will appear cloudy. Contaminated grain spawn may appear to have a green slime and could have an unpleasant smell. If either of these happen, it is best to start again from the beginning.
