The Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is the most revered mushroom in traditional Asian medicine.
Characteristics
- Color: Varnish-like red-brown
- Shape: Fan or antler (depending on cultivation)
- Texture: Woody, hard
- Size: 5-30 cm caps
Medicinal Properties
The "mushroom of immortality" contains more than 400 bioactive compounds: triterpenes, polysaccharides, and ganoderic acids with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic properties.
Optimal Conditions
Very long cycle. Cultivation in pierced bags yields "antlers", open bags yield fan-shaped caps.
Harvesting Tips
Harvest when the white growth edge disappears and the cap is uniformly colored. Spore drop (brown powder) indicates maturity.
Use
Not consumed directly (too hard and bitter). Prepared as decoction (boiled for 2 hours), tincture, or powder.
Growing Technical Data
| Ideal Substrate | Hardwood sawdust |
|---|---|
| Phase 1: Colonization | 21 - 30 days |
| Phase 2: Initiation | 14 - 28 days |
| Phase 3: Growth | 30 - 90 days |
| Total Cycle Duration | 65 - 148 days |
| Flushes & Spacing | 1 (Single harvest) |
| Colonization Temp | 24-28°C |
| Fruiting Temp | 22-28°C |
| Relative Humidity | 85-95% |
Manage your crops effectively: With MycoGest, automatically track each development phase and receive alerts at the right time to optimize your harvests.
Consult our comparison table of all varieties to compare growing cycles.