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Lion's Mane Mushroom Grow Guide

Follow these steps to successfully fruit your Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) Grow Block. This kit is perfect for beginners – soft, fluffy "pom-pom" clusters with a sweet, seafood-like flavour. Most DuraFungi blocks arrive ready to fruit, so your first harvest is just days away.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Sterilised scissors or knife: For making a small "X" cut in the grow bag.
Fine mister bottle (around 50 mL): To mist the substrate surface – not the mushroom itself.
Clean tray or plate: A food-safe surface to catch drips and keep things tidy.
Gloves (optional but recommended): For handling the block and making cuts.
Optional extras: A small wedge or book to tilt the block at 45°, and a kettle plus small fan to quickly boost humidity if your home is very dry.

What Makes Lion's Mane Special?

Lion's Mane is a white, cascading mushroom that forms soft, rounded "pom-pom" clusters instead of caps and stems.

It's popular because:

Taste: Mild, sweet and often compared to crab or lobster when cooked.
Texture: Firm and meaty – it shreds like seafood and crisps beautifully in a pan.
Interest: Widely used in cooking and often discussed for its potential brain and nerve-supporting compounds (such as hericenones and erinacines).

Tip: Lion's Mane loves steady humidity and gentle fresh air. If you keep the substrate slightly moist (never soggy) and avoid blasting it with direct airflow, it will reward you with big, fluffy clusters.

Our Laminated Jute Bag Packaging

We pack many of our Lion's Mane kits in laminated jute bags – a more eco-friendly option than plastic alone. The jute outer helps protect the block and stabilise humidity, while the inner liner keeps the substrate clean and hydrated.

The bag also doubles as part of the fruiting setup: you'll use it to support humidity while still allowing gentle fresh air exchange.

Complete Grow Guide

Full Process: From Block to Fluffy Clusters

This video walks through the full Lion's Mane growing process – from the first cut in the bag to harvest. It's a great visual companion to these written instructions, especially for spotting healthy growth versus "over-wet" or "too dry" conditions.

Video credit: Original creator on YouTube. Shared here for educational, non-commercial instructional use.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Most customers: Your Lion's Mane block will arrive ready to fruit (or already pinning) inside the jute bag and inner plastic. These steps help you get a full, fluffy first flush and set the block up for a strong second flush.

Choose a Good Location

Place the block somewhere:
- Indoors, out of direct sun – a laundry, bathroom or shaded shelf works well.
- Away from strong air-conditioning, heaters or very cold drafts.
- With indirect light for 8–12 hours a day (it doesn't need direct sun).
- Free from air fresheners, perfumes, incense or strong cleaning fumes.
Prepare the Block & Make the "X" Cut

Keep the substrate block inside the inner plastic liner and jute bag.

Using your sterilised scissors or knife, cut a small "X" about 3–4 cm across on the face of the block where you want the mushroom to grow.

You can gently pull the flaps of plastic slightly open to give the mushroom space to push through, but leave most of the plastic intact so it keeps humidity around the block.
Misting & Fresh Air – The Two Big Keys

Mist the substrate surface just inside the "X" cut using a fine mister bottle 2–4 times a day, with 4–5 light sprays each time.

Aim the spray at the brown substrate, not directly at the white Lion's Mane tissue. Heavy droplets on the mushroom itself can cause yellowing, sliminess or a "matted" surface.

Each day, give the block a little fresh air by gently opening the bag or pulling the opening wider for 5–10 minutes, then rest it back in a loose, partially closed position.
Watching Growth & Harvesting at the Right Time

Over the first few days you'll see soft, white growth form at the cut. It then develops into rounded clusters with cascading "teeth" or icicle-like spines.

Ideal harvest window:
- Spines are visible but still relatively short (not super long and droopy).
- The surface looks full and fluffy, not yellowed or waterlogged.
- The cluster feels firm and bouncy when gently pressed.
To harvest, use your sterilised scissors or a sharp knife to cut the whole cluster off at the base. Beginners often find it easier to remove the cluster as one piece rather than trimming small chunks.
Short Rest Before the Second Flush

After the first harvest, allow the block to rest in the bag for several days. Keep the substrate slightly moist with light misting, but don't over-saturate it.

During this time the mycelium is "recharging" and preparing for the next flush.

After Harvest: Storing Your Lion's Mane

Once you've harvested your Lion's Mane:

Let the mushroom sit briefly at room temperature if it feels very damp on the outside.
Store in a paper bag or other breathable container in the fridge.
Use within 3–5 days for best texture and flavour.
Brush off any bits of substrate and give a quick rinse just before cooking, not before storing.

How to Get a Great Second Flush

Lion's Mane blocks often produce a second (and sometimes third) flush. The second flush can be just as good – or even better – than the first if you rehydrate the block correctly.

Step 1: Short Rest

After the first harvest, leave the block in its bag in a cool, shaded spot for 3–5 days. Keep up very light misting on the exposed substrate if it looks dry, but avoid soaking it.

This rest lets the mycelium recover before you ask it to fruit again.

Step 2: Soak & Rehydrate

With the block still wrapped in its inner plastic, submerge it in cold, clean water for 3–4 hours. Use a plate or bowl to keep it underwater.

After soaking, remove from the water, drain thoroughly and pat the outside of the plastic dry.

After soaking, reseal or loosely close the bag, place the block back in its jute bag or on a clean tray, and let it rest for another 5–7 days. Then make a fresh shallow "X" cut on a new face of the block, repeat your misting and fresh air routine, and watch for new clusters to appear over the following 7–14 days.

Troubleshooting & Easy Fixes

Looks "fuzzy" but not forming nice clusters? Increase fresh air a little each day and make sure you're misting the substrate, not the mushroom surface.
Yellowing or slimy patches? This is usually a sign of over-wetting. Stop misting for a day, gently fan the area, or use a hairdryer on a cool setting for 1–2 minutes to help it dry.
Very dry home (especially in winter or with heating)? Place a bowl of hot water nearby and run a small fan in the room (not pointing directly at the block) to circulate moist air.
Nothing happening? Double-check temperature (ideally cool–room temp), increase humidity with slightly more frequent misting, and allow a bit more light – Lion's Mane needs some light to know where to grow.
End of life: When your block is exhausted, crumble it around plants or in the garden – it makes a fantastic soil conditioner and worms love it.

Ready for More Fluffy Lion's Mane?

If you've enjoyed growing (and eating!) your Lion's Mane mushrooms, you can easily start another block or explore other gourmet varieties.

Buy Another Lion's Mane Grow Block Explore Other Grow Guides

Need help troubleshooting your block? Text or call 0477 008 037.

— The DuraFungi Team
Sustainably grown in South Australia
durafungi.com · @DuraFungi