How to Grow Cordyceps
How to Grow Cordyceps
Growing cordyceps involves inoculating a grain based or rice based mushroom substrate with Cordyceps militaris mycelium and providing the specific lighting, humidity, and temperature conditions required to trigger orange fruiting body production.
Cordyceps militaris is the primary cultivated cordyceps species and is notable for being one of the few functional mushroom species grown on grain or rice based mushroom substrate rather than hardwood. Colonization is typically complete within 14 to 21 days, after which exposure to light and a reduction in CO2 triggers the development of the distinctive orange finger like fruiting bodies Cordyceps militaris is known for. Lighting is a critical and often overlooked variable in cordyceps cultivation — without adequate light exposure the mycelium will colonize fully but fruiting bodies will not develop.
Several Cordyceps militaris strains are available to home growers, producing fruiting bodies in different colors including the standard orange, albino white, and peach. Use the links below to find step by step guides for growing cordyceps by strain.