The Secret to Preserving Mushroom Cultures for Years!

[@DrewMims2]

I have learned SO much watching your videos. Thank you very much for deciding to make these. They're literally exactly what I need.

[@SporenSprout]

@@DrewMims2 I appreciate you watching my videos! 🙏 🍄

[@thedrolaticdreamsofourselv6085]

Best micology Channel out there

[@SporenSprout]

@@thedrolaticdreamsofourselv6085 Thank you 🙏

[@Iife]

If only there was some way for pink oyster culture to hibernate; I learned the hard way after my djamor culture was severely compromised after refrigeration (yes it was a rookie mistake). The more experienced folk are telling me “just room temp it bro”

[@SporenSprout]

@@Iife Yeah I hear you. Tropical species don’t do very well in cold storage. You can still keep these tubes in room temp and the pink oyster will be ok.

[@edwardgrand]

Nice video. Thanks. People always ask me how long these will last. I never know the exact number to give them, but 3-5 years is probably a minimum. I am hoping more like 10 because I doubt I will get around to subculturing them soon :)

[@SporenSprout]

@@edwardgrand Yeah my best guess is 3-5 as well.

[@TheImpressionist235]

Thanks!!😻

[@SporenSprout]

@@TheImpressionist235 Thanks for watching!

[@Myco_N3rd]

Awesome video man! Thanks for sharing!

[@SporenSprout]

@@Myco_N3rd Thanks for watching! 🍄

[@UndertheTree-j6m]

I’ve read that mushroom cultures can be stored for up to 3 to 5 years in a tube. Have you personally used a culture that’s been stored for this long? I’m a beginner and still learning, but from what I’ve read in other sources, the maximum recommended storage time for mushroom cultures is around 1 year, with most recommending use within 6 months. They say that beyond this, the vitality and viability of the mycelium can decrease significantly.

[@SporenSprout]

Yeah I tested after 4 years and was still great quality

[@timetravel1014]

Fun and informative!

[@artcox2991]

Thanks! Need to get around to this before I lose cultures. Also, patiently waiting on that pheasant back liquid culture to show up on your Etsy page.

[@SporenSprout]

@@artcox2991 Thanks for watching! The pheasant back mycelium is almost ready! Should be within the next 2-3 weeks!

[@bamba2046]

Etsy gang! All of my medicinals are from you lol Brody mush love from NyC?

[@michelleboron5557]

Hi. Could you make a video on how to build the air filter you are working on? I am looking everywhere for a large filter insert and can't find it anywhere. Best regards

[@SporenSprout]

@@michelleboron5557 HEPA filter: amzn.to/47JxbQ2 Blower Motor: amzn.to/4eBYJbY

[@gwilcox123]

How do you store these? Are they refrigerated or room temp? In the dark?

[@SporenSprout]

@@gwilcox123 Refrigerated around 40 F

[@growermo940]

This Actually looks so easy 💯👌✌️

[@SporenSprout]

@@growermo940 It is !

[@cheslykobua1114]

This is cool. One question though, what is the storage condition/temperature?

[@SporenSprout]

@@cheslykobua1114 40-60 F. Refrigerator or cold room on a shelf. Darkness is preferable.

[@lynnandrews8424]

You could speed up the video when filling & putting the lids on the tubes.

[@SporenSprout]

@@lynnandrews8424 Yeah true, I made a short video that speeds it up. I’ll keep that in mind.

[@atomicgummygod9232]

This is fascinating! Out of curiosity, would your cultivation and preservation methods work for types of fungal mold? I was wondering about methods of long term cultivation of stuff like Koji, for making soy sauce and miso. (In addition, could we potentially get a cultivation video on Giant Puffballs? They seem sufficiently different enough to be worth examination)

[@SporenSprout]

@@atomicgummygod9232 Yes these methods work for other organisms too! I have not grown puff ball but I will try to at some point. I think they might require tree roots or plant roots.

[@ktharamseye2197]

Hey Spore n’ Sprout! Happy Holiday Season! Quick question~ do you think this method would work with a transfer of liquid culture samples (1-3 ml, maybe) to these culture tubes instead of agar plate samples? 🧐

[@przemysawduda6938]

What type of agar would be better for this? Nutritious one, low nutritious one or water agar?

[@SporenSprout]

@@przemysawduda6938 Water agar

[@texaspowerman]

Have you tried the smaller cryo tubes? I picked up 100 to do long term storage before seeing that most people are using the larger centrifuge tubes.

[@SporenSprout]

I use the larger containers so there is more water because the agar wedges I use have a bit of nutrients still in it. Diluting it helps prevent metabolism

[@BlueFox61]

Finally - STASIS

[@SporenSprout]

@@BlueFox61 🙌🏼

[@brianclark1352]

Why do much water? Would a smaller amount in smaller tubes still work as well?

[@SporenSprout]

@@brianclark1352 Yeah smaller tubes are good. I just use what I have. I use these tubes for agar slants too so I have a lot of them.

[@mitchellthomson1133]

Originally I thought that the whole liquid inside would be cultured, but after 4 years or whatever, is it the same small piece of agar that is cultured or does it spread to the water also? I am assuming the lack of nutrients means that is stays only with the agar

[@jasminepirtle606]

So when you’re ready to take the culture out of this long term storage method what do you transfer it to? another agar plate or can it go directly into grain for inoculation? or something else? In other words, What are the steps to revive it?

[@SporenSprout]

@@jasminepirtle606 To revive the culture I use a sterile tool to reach in and grab the wedge and transfer it to a nutrient agar plate.

[@jasminepirtle606]

@@SporenSprout Thanks for your reply!

[@SporenSprout]

@@jasminepirtle606 No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@Home-biotechnology]

Great method🙂👍, good information for thought. The only thing I don't like about this method is that I suspect they shouldn't be flipped. And for additional protection from dust, a large plastic box is needed to fit everything together with the stand. At the moment, I store cultures in 20 ml syringes, each in its own zip bag, and in a general container under room conditions for the third year. This works successfully, the culture is alive and clean. I think your option is also good, I’ve read about it in Radical mycology. Have you thought about improving it? For example, for people who don't have an air filter, you could drill a hole in the lid and use small inoculation plugs or silicone. Fill it halfway with water, after sterilization, tighten the lids, and perform inoculation with a syringe or directly conduct a needle biopsy. What do you think about this?

[@SporenSprout]

@@Home-biotechnology Yes that’s a good experiment I thought of as well adding an injection port.

[@AnetaSuns]

Are those special tubes that can be sterilized in pressure cooker or about any kind are good?

[@SporenSprout]

@@AnetaSuns Yeah they are special. Here they are: amzn.to/47K9lDM

[@edwardgrand]

They must be PP5 or glass. Make sure the rings and gaskets will take the heat too.

[@hoosierdaddy70]

newb question but when you are ready to use again, what do you do to extract and place for new growth? fish it out or pour water out then agar?

[@SporenSprout]

@@hoosierdaddy70 Use a long sterile tool like an inoculation loop to fish the piece out and transfer it to a fresh agar plate.

[@luisgabrielblancohernandez913]

What is the name of the tool you are using to remove the agar pieces? And approximately how many years are we talking about?

[@SporenSprout]

@@luisgabrielblancohernandez913 here is the tool: amzn.to/4dJpZ7R 3-5 years

[@diamonddao108]

can i use the digital pressure cooker instant pot which i usually use to cook the meat for this method or i need buy the new one like yours. thanks

[@chesneymigl4538]

Man, you wouldnt happen to be needing the free labor that is us poor grad students would you? Im so impressed with your videos!

[@SporenSprout]

Thank you! I do need a team lol where do you live?

[@Kyle3x]

After you take the wedges from the plates can you put the plates back with missing wedges and use it for a2g another time?

[@GlorifiedPizza]

yes

[@SporenSprout]

Yes

[@Kyle3x]

@@SporenSproutthanks. Just picked up 2 mac10s for 150 bucks also. 2x4s. Big mama jammas

[@bryanadz]

good technique but what should the mycelium live on, as long as there is no honey or other nutrients? does it grow in distilled water ? is it just a hibernation phase! thanks👍

[@SporenSprout]

@@bryanadz It’s hibernation phase, we don’t want it to grow.

[@fx2335]

What is that tool you use for transfers, so I can google it. Thank you!

[@SporenSprout]

@@fx2335 amzn.to/47BWnb7

[@artcox2991]

Micro spatula or metal spatula

[@jeffweiss2131]

Why don't you put more samples in each tube?

[@ScottWConvid19]

How do you revive the culture?

[@SporenSprout]

@@ScottWConvid19 Just pull the agar wedge out with an inoculation loop or some tool and put it on agar. You can also shake it and draw up the liquid with pieces of mycelium into a syringe.

[@adammatuszewski9822]

Hello. My name is Adam, I'm a farmer who would love to see you grow Trichoderma harzanium and Beauveria bassiana. These fungi have a beneficial effect on crops

[@ermagerd101]

I'm wanting to move country and take my entire mycelium collection. How in the world will I do this without refrigeration?? What do you think the best/safest method would be?

[@SporenSprout]

@@ermagerd101 This method is good without refrigeration too

[@SymPlayTon]

Refrigeration let's them last longer in a deeper stasis. If you can't refridgerate, maybe small amounts of indirect ice to keep temps lower but above freezing. Otherwise just try not to let them get too hot and reculture them on plates at your new location to ensure healthy cultures.

[@glennerd3125]

What would happen if i added carbon monoxiode to vial?

[@rumham8124]

Arcane fungus is what I want 😜

[@BilaspurMushroom]

I want your culture in india but how..??

[@SporenSprout]

@@BilaspurMushroom message me and we can work it out

[@BilaspurMushroom]

​@@SporenSprout Mail id pls.??

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

Good instructions, but maybe consider adding a few edits for repetitive tasks. This is really a 3 minute video stretched to 13 minutes.

[@SporenSprout]

@@CC3GROUNDZERO There’s a short form video for every long form I make. Here is the edit: kzbin.infoz9SS2IYUuww?feature=share

[@michaeljames5936]

Recently discovered your channel. Great, informative vids, but, and I mean this kindly, with a view to increasing your subscribers, please do not show the same process 25 times, three? Four? times in a short video. I would have much preferred you told us that in one fifth the time. Keep up the good work. Kind regards. M.

[@SporenSprout]

Thanks for the input, I have corresponding short videos for each long video if you don’t like sitting through it.

[@ColaOfKoala]

Is that a DMT tattoo?