How To Clone Mushrooms

Cloning mushrooms is easy! Learn the process used to clone wild mushrooms in the lab, which can eventually be used for commercial cultivation.
In this video, I take a cultivated King Oyster Mushroom, remove a piece of tissue from inside the cap, and clone it on agar.
I'll also show you a few wild clones that I made using this very same process.
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[@thombaz]

Banana for scale, good old times.

[@101Skywatcher]

I understood that reverence

[@mintyfresh2620]

Remote control or coke can also works lol

[@nopeno2350]

Lol

[@andrewgoodbody2121]

One of us! One of us!

[@michaelhurlburt4502]

I always used a AA battery

[@microska2656]

This guy looks straight into your soul

[@Ankh_Hippy]

Swampert D. I was literally about to post this 😭😪

[@johnpilapil9250]

@@Ankh_Hippy dude same here!

[@imamoronand9199]

Or slightly above it

[@skippydeenice]

it's the mushrooms

[@Ankh_Hippy]

Chip Osgood he’s seeing the souls of millions and it’s working through the lens ...mushrooms are dope

[@woody9283]

Thanks for showing what contamination looks like. No one ever shows what to watch out for.

[@kaorumugen991]

Yeah, but it kind of makes sense that they don't. For every contaminant someone shows you, there's a thousand others they can't. A much better way is to simply learn what healthy mushroom mycelium looks like, then assume everything else is a contaminant.

[@LauraMartinez-rf3dm]

I'm so happy I found your videos. I'm a science teacher trying to get my students interested in outdoors and gardening. I think they would be fascinated with growing mushrooms. Also I want to learn myself :) I'm going to check out your website. Any suggestions for first time growing? Thank u!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Awesome! Glad you like them :) My suggestion would be to start with a "kit" to get an idea for the process- then it's down the rabbit hole- happy growing...

[@bananabreadyum9663]

I wish you were my teacher! Greatings from germany

[@Chris-dy5fy]

Invest in doing things right. If u invest in the right substrates, sterilization procedures, flowhoods or glove box, obtaining sterile cultures... It becomes very easy. It's difficult if u cut corners, and mistakes will cost u more down the road then investing in proper procedure.

[@TheMldytwkr85]

I wish I would've had you as a science teacher. My current Biology Professor down plays anything on mushrooms, in fact he gets annoyed whenever I bring up fungi or mycology. I kinda feel most of the science community has a superiority complex when it comes down to the mycology department?🤷‍♂️

[@filax4500]

The amount of eye contact in this video is proportionally equal to its awesomeness!

[@caseywillie443]

About time man you needed to have done this video long ago. I have been wondering how to do this, Thanks!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Your right, I've been slacking!

[@tomfoolery8100]

​@@FreshCapMushrooms how much higher is contamination rate if i do it in a plastic box that i cut 2 holes in for handling.

[@donutkillmehh]

Flow discipline that you were mentioning is something that never occurred to me. That's really smart keeping where you're going with your transfer/clone etc as close as you can to the hood.

[@overratedprogrammer]

You should make a video on maintaining/storing cultures, spawns, and mushrooms

[@robcroyle]

Best mushroom videos on KZbin! Every mushroom lover and grower should watch your vids! Video suggestion; how to make a spore print/spore seringe and how to properly store them.

[@abdullahzayadin4671]

Can you explain what is the next step in the process? And did you find any useful data answering your question?

[@robcroyle]

@@abdullahzayadin4671 I'm not sure I understand what your asking? As far as making spore prints my research has taught me, you take the mushroom cut off the stalk/stem with sterile scissors or a scalpel, making sure to cut it flush so the cap can rest on the paper, then put a drop of water on the top of the cap and place a glass over the whole thing overnight. To make spore syringes you take the spore prints and put them in the desired amount of water and allow the spores to leave the paper and become suspended in the water. Finally sucking the water up into the sterile syringe. As for storing them I'm still not sure, all I know is keep them out of light and high heat

[@dg5450]

For active mushrooms check out arvin fortyseven

[@daraa151]

jackson.wilmes Absolutely, this is the best and most useful videos on mushrooms I have ever came across! Thank you and keep the good work!

[@chrysovalantislamprianidis8893]

Hi and thanks for the videos. They are really instructional and easy to understand.Maybe you answered this one already. Where can we store, what temperature and for how long both the empty agar dishes and the ones containing mycelium.

[@davidmorrisii69]

Nice video brother, i really appreciate it!!

[@tarabonee8855]

Great video...would love to see a video explaining cleaning up a culture also. Oh! I just got the tshirt I ordered in, and duuuudde...I love it! Super quality

[@tarabonee8855]

I just saw the transfer video, lol. I must have missed it before.

[@DDawg1144]

You’ve got a great channel, already made grains thanks to your vid, soon will graduate to agar.

[@klean8198]

What type of conditions do you leave the agar plates to grow? Like temp, lighting, etc.

[@matthewkbikes6845]

Temp is about 21 - 27 degrees C, not sure what it is in Fahrenheit

[@nuflix320]

Hi. I've never tried growing mushrooms before. I don't have access to most of the scientific stuff in my country such as petri dishes. Is it possible to clone a store bought mushroom just by using stuff like jars, pressure cooker and homemade still air box. I just want to start growing on a small scale to enjoy the process at home. I also saw some guy grow store bought mushroom on coffee grains in a Jar, idk what was the process called exactly but something like that would be great. I think it would also be a great idea to make a video about it for kids and people with same problem I have.

[@chucky2959]

That oyster looks so yummy ~

[@emmanuelsebastiao3176]

Thanks for Sharing Tony ... You are a genius. And i Love how you've done your operations so carefully. you are a Champion

[@Filekv5]

I love the content you put out. Keep doi g the great job!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks so much!!

[@Al_i8]

thanks Tony

[@mycoalliance1909]

Awesome! I shared this with students from my recent class. Very helpful info. Keep it up =)

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks!! I will definitely keep it up 😀

[@chanteuhtlicuauhtlatoa6115]

Thak you so much for making these videos!! I have some queations; after you put the mushroom pieces on the agar in Petri dishes, how much days are one going to expect them to be ready, and how is it preferable to store the petri deshis, like in a dark fresh place, with no iight coming in? Then, after we have the spores blooming, can we make them into a liquid cultive?

[@williamkreth]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge dude appreciate it

[@chenjiachen5547]

Where do you store the Petri dishes for further culture? An incubator ? After the mycelium fully takes over, how to store them for long-term use?

[@psychologicallyspeaking]

Oh SNAP! What is that monster mushie! Wow!

[@guardianofthesacredflame1649]

Is it best to take the tissue from the cap or the stem?

[@dzdzful]

Thank you so much, Now I have to find out how to grow mushroom using this culture on petri dish...

[@H3dgi3]

i love the music

[@celtickitc]

Really enjoyed your video. Thanks

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks for watching!!

[@datnguyen-ul9vm]

I love your videos but it would be nice if you making a video processing of the mushrooms grown

[@RACHELPARKER1103]

SO COOL :D, feel like I'm a scientist!!!

[@brokejuanjo]

Hi

[@jcjensenllc]

You didnt explain the bag holding Petri dish. Does your culture need to be at a specific temp or humidity?

[@fishmut]

Simply Human .id say doing it at room temperature when the agar has set in the Petri dish then add the culture is my guess from watching the video , Research your mushroom type your would be doing. Some like cool temps and others warm to hot ,you will have to work it out do some homework.

[@steeveedeee]

Awesome!! Thanks brother

[@johanneshalberstadt3663]

Couldn't you also directly take pieces of mycelium to put on the agar?

[@calisav223]

Wondering what temperature the agar plates are to be kept at for growth? Interesting stuff

[@aleksgregorcic3868]

For growing i would say 25-30℃, for storing i would say 2-5℃

[@and7barton]

Information is very good - Music is not good. I've been growing mushroom for a year or so. I'm going to try the cloning process.

[@ShotgunLlama]

What do you do with the agar dish once they have a culture? Do you just put the agar directly into a sterilized substrate and let it grow from there?

[@hgrunenwald]

I am wondering the same thing-where do you go with the culture once you get to that point? I noticed your question is from a year ago; curious as to whether you found this out. I will do a little more digging online...

[@ShotgunLlama]

@@hgrunenwald never really did. Sorry. Got a couple oysters to grow once in some cardboard but nothing big

[@user-jn7nf6xu8l]

after complete colonization of the mycelium on the entire surface of the agar, where and at what temperature and how long can the mycelium be stored?

[@frederickscutts9780]

Wheres the best place to store the dishes in order to encourage the mycelium to grow?

[@aleksgregorcic3868]

Dark warm place (around 23-27℃)

[@GameTesterBootCamp]

I realize this is likely the "best" way to do something like this but is it possible to just mince up a mushroom and put it in some mulch/wood chips and get some more mushrooms that way? Is it even possible to clone that way?

[@algonzalez6853]

waiting for that answer

[@haangloose]

Great video! Where Do i have to store the Agar plates with the tissue inside?

[@alexsutton9985]

Funky beats brother

[@ye11oman]

I like the banana scale

[@marulucido2367]

Begun, the Button Mushroom war has.

[@marlonmoore5000]

Cool it in the dish? Is there water in it? You never stated.

[@yangchen7982]

Love your videos man!!

[@seraj.]

How can you store it and how long does it last?, great video btw

[@dorfriedman9115]

Is it possible to skip the Petri dish phase and just put a piece of sterile steam into the ready grain?

[@suzannesutton5636]

can u show more transfers

[@iweirjkdkfmk]

Doesn't putting three things in your agar plate multiple your contam chances?

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

if you grow them in deep multch and keep adding to in with they ever stop growing?

[@lukedepina]

Love your vids! You're the man

[@niranjankanamaluru101]

Excellent work...cheers..

[@shenyanbin]

Is there a difference between a mother culture created from cloning a mushroom and a mother culture made with spores? Would there be difference in term of yield and quality of the final product? Thanks

[@rustyvessel5086]

Damn good question. I've been asking that on other channels as well. I'm betting I'll do research and get back to u on it

[@peregrind9048]

Thanks for sharing, very informative

[@aLexiSZer0522]

How to prepare the agar dish?

[@JYRound]

Alex He already has a video on his channel for that...

[@braddishner8597]

I was trying to clone one of my gt and just kept getting stringy cuts. Couldnt seem to get a solid chunk from it. Still took to agar tho🤷‍♂️

[@quickchop1098]

Are you able to do the same Process but instead of an agar dish, can it be straight into a Liquid?

[@Axelrun1994]

Can you clone by just putting a scrape of mushroom right into a jar full of sterile substrate to make a cake/spawn or does it have to be mycelium? I know you want agar so that you reduce the amount of possible waste from a contamination but hypothetically speaking...?

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

That is definitely possible in theory- but might not work so well in practice. It can be done though, people do it to make "cardboard spawn" by simply taking pieces of the mushroom stem but and placing in wet cardboard. The above method is much more likely to succeed though.

[@hashtastic3537]

I know it's possible, I've seen pics from other guys who've used a chunk of mushroom to clone. I thing your best bet would be to take a chunk out of the inner flesh of a mushroom while in front of a hood or inside a glove box then place on your sterile agar. Of course your looking at an uphill battle, the guy I'm thinking of likes to show off his skill. I've seen him grow on a layer of $20 bills in a foil tray.

[@Axelrun1994]

@@FreshCapMushrooms thank you very much for your reply, I haven't gotten a notification. I appreciate the advice

[@latinkaellis152]

@@FreshCapMushrooms Thank you so much for all the videos you have made to help,they are very informative,brilliant! :)

[@allandehn]

@@hashtastic3537 Do you happen to have a link to this gentleman's channel?

[@tasteslikepennies2549]

Great video! Cloned!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks!

[@tasteslikepennies2549]

@@FreshCapMushrooms I just watched it for a second time and wanted to point out one thing. Your workspace has a flow Hood. A laminar flow hood is built differently. Just to be super anal and Technical about it. But still super amazing video. Totally filled in some blanks for me in-between the reading and the actual practice of taking tissue samples. Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Your right, technically this is a "flow cabinet" or similar, not a hood. But I have always called it a flow hood, so old habits I guess. Thanks for watching the video and glad you could take something from it!

[@woodville8873]

Great video!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks!

[@Mellow.Sol999]

What is the purpose for the agar mixture?

[@msudhara123]

Can we do the same process with button mushrooms?

[@lizziebee315]

Hi. Please advise as to the food substrate that you added to the agar.

[@aleksgregorcic3868]

He posted recipe. Or if you are looking for cheap homemade recipe here it is: 2g salt 1-1.5g yeast extract (or vegemite or anything like that) 6.5g gelatin powder (basic one, without sugar or flavors)

[@dibdej317]

Thank for sharing. Great video

[@Mind69420]

Since you're not taking the transfer from the outside of the mushroom why bother killing it with alcohol? I've never seen this before in tons of cloning videos.

[@pauldolton9118]

How long will these last in the culture pots and where do you store them?

[@aleksgregorcic3868]

They are stored in a fridge

[@Wilmar-f6m]

Kind of a stupid question, but can canned or storebought mushrooms be used for this? My cheap ass wants to try this.

[@mirzarashidbaig]

Love your videos. Just curious to know that how many days does it take to fully colonise.

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Thanks! Depends on the species, anywhere from 1 -2 weeks is typical.

[@tatanleanduck]

Is it true that cloning from fruits that aren't fully mature (still growing) will provide you more aggressive mycelium on agar? I read that somewhere, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to me. The aggressiveness of the mycelium should be based on the genetics of the fruit, not its life stage, right?

[@peterv161]

You would be much easier to hear without music which does not anything to your excellent presentation. Peter V.

[@Aethelvlad]

how much agar powder/water do you use in a dish this size?

[@shadow.banned]

Has anyone uploaded videos of original mushrooms versus their clones to compare?

[@axsanchez1193]

If I clone a mushroom and have a good mycelium, fast and powerful. Then I pick the bigger or the faster specimen and repeat the process, the strain will be even more powerful? Can I call it Cloning Second Generation? Even a Third Generation is is possible or the beneficts of cloning are just for one time? Good vibes from México!

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

You could definitely start to select traits from genetic variations, and clone fruits to continue developing a strain, but that would be a little more complex than what we are doing here. Basically, this is just making a genetic copy of the mycelium that created the fruit body. Super valuable for creating wild clones, probably less important when cloning fruits from commercial strains, like this one.

[@lucadavidson3936]

I'm just getting started in mushroom culture, but as I understand this particular technique and A-level biology, what you're thinking is not the case. The cloned strain would not be stronger or more powerful, because it's just a meiotic clone, so there would be no genetic variation created by the process. You're replicating exactly the traits from the parent to the child. It's a lot like fruit tree culture I think.

[@SouthtownHound]

Look into Stamets P-value. It may help you keep track of your generations.

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Yes, this is a good way to do it! Still can be hard to keep track though lol

[@annat1765]

how are the disks prepared?

[@diegomartinez4451]

Hi, whats the composition of the agar? tried this exact method but i think i got some contamination from the mushrooms themselves, idk if its because my agar is very rich or what. The control is good so no contamination from that side.

[@emeteriogomez3748]

youre dope man, thanks

[@dariuszwesierski1928]

Can i clone mycelium from fruit body straight to sterilized grain? Like You on agar plate, take 3 pcs and throw them to jar

[@tayyabinatat2089]

one of the best of your videos but the lithe was lagging while taking tissues from king oyster the tissue taking part was dark it may be good for experts like your respected persons but for the new comments like me couldn't pinpointed the exact portion to take tissues.

[@markdebartolo3404]

Sounds stupid but where would you buy that rack that you work on

[@raymondhunter2401]

Do you need a flow hood for this?

[@creatodayin4924]

Great helpful video but sir how I store the plates and how long I use a culture for Micilium growth? Lots of love from Asia

[@Coolestnogar-ot6mt]

Is this normal agar or agar with added nutriënts?

[@86Corvus]

Perhaps you should try to find better methods of securing sterile samples like uv lights with combination of alcochol and a sterile chamber? The ease of a task has a huge impact on productivity and saves a ton of labor which in turn makes you happier with more money and time for less work and worry.

[@paulprior5846]

Great work Tony! Can anyone tell me where I can buy the rack to place the plates on? I’ve looked everywhere!

[@Vodafone16v]

I was going to ask the same! Need one of those Stainless Steel racks!

[@salmansadeq1167]

@@Vodafone16v It's just from Home Depot or something.

[@mihailmihaylov4974]

Could tell me what would be the best way to preserve mycelium or spores long-term? Keeping grain spawn / liquid spores / agar dishes / print? My hypothesis would be a spore print taken in a sterile environment and kept in dry sealed jar.

[@chrismartin5010]

How many times is it possible to ”reclone” ? Meaning you manage to get the fruiting bodies an repeat the operation indefinitely?

[@hemaprasanthi1119]

How does it grow in agaricus plate ?

[@randymartosoewito7892]

Can you do this with dried mushroom also?

[@BigBodyBiggolo]

Try it, people been saying you cant do this and cant do that but theb 20 years later its a genuine tek. Dont know about dried mushroom myself but why not right?

[@bony3679]

Soak them?

[@58Kym]

This is interesting. Instead of wiping the mushroom, why not spray the alcohol? Wouldn’t that be better coverage? I know a lot of people use ethanol, 98% or similar. There was some studies that suggested 70% ethanol (diluted with water) was a better version that allowed the ethanol to sterilize organics better using the surface tension of the water. I prefer using Chlorine dioxide myself (not doing mushroom BTW). You could immerse them in the Chlorine dioxide and shake dry? Just a thought.

[@M21zen]

Excellent. Did you cut the strips of parafilm or buy them that way? I wish I would have thought of that a few years ago. lol

[@berger77]

I use to cut plastic wrap rolls to two inch lengths. This was before amazon and didn't work well as I had a lot of problems with contamination. I see amazon does have some parafilm but a science supply might be cheaper.

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Hey there! Yes, it comes in a big roll, 1 inch wide, I cut the strips with scissors and have them ready. A big roll lasts a long time

[@mikehunt4797]

Wouldnt more pieces per dish also increase the chances for contamination vs 1 piece?

[@AnonAnon-oj1rt]

Could you use just see through tape instead of parafilm?

[@aleksgregorcic3868]

You can use that paper ducktape that is used for protection when painting rooms

[@bcleeanderson]

So straight forward and concise! The best in the field!

[@intellectualiconoclasm3264]

You can use everclear, vodka, or another clear spirit over 100 proof. You'll preferably want to use something over 150 proof and to dilute down to about 75%. Then you aren't throwing out food. Let me start by saying, to my understanding; The least spore-contaminated section of the fruit would be in the stem. It's also more growth oriented than spore production oriented. The cap has the structures that produce spores, even above the gills. That makes you more likely to get a partial clone rather than a perfect one.

[@billyparadise7105]

Can any part of the mushroom be used to start mycellium growth?

[@dana102083]

I havent done it but id think the spores are in the cap?

[@Paul_Palma]

@@dana102083 spores are in the gills on the underside of the cap yes, but he wasn't trying to grow from spores, he was making clones just from tissue inside the mushroom. He went inside the mushroom just to be as far away from any possible contaminants that may still be on the surface. Peace and good travels :)

[@johnpilapil9250]

I Love You Beard man. please dont take mah soul :(

[@grounded7362]

What can you use in place of agar?

[@Redneck_Renaissance]

I'm intrigued in making and using agar plates to clone per your previous how to video........when a plate produces pure strain can you sterilize and reuse after or should you always throw them out? Or do you just throw out the contaminated plates because opening them would contaminate as you mentioned in this video?

[@FreshCapMushrooms]

Hey there! I use disposable plates, they come presterilized, just add the sterilized agar. I wouldn't bother to reuse them, just not worth the hassle, unless you have glass plates, but again, probably not worth it. And ya, when a plate is super contaminated I would rather just not even open it.

[@Redneck_Renaissance]

thanks for the advice.....I'm going to buy my supplies from you.

[@philso7872]

Do you just tie up the contaminated plates and other contaminated materials in a plastic bag and put it in the household trash or do you take some other precautions?

[@bony3679]

Do I had to store it in the fridge?

[@nullnull2945]

you may after you see growth. i'd recommend cleaning the dish up first

[@stevelittell572]

Could a high proof drinkable alcohol be used to sterilize? This may leave the mushroom safe to eat after the process.