Red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is an edible medicinal mushroom known as “Ling Zhi” in China and “Reishi" or "Manetake” in Japan. It produces beautiful, reddish-brown, shelf-like fruiting bodies that are highly prized for their wellness properties. When fresh, the flat cap is soft and cork-like. Because it releases spores via pores, it lacks gills on its underside. And, depending on the age of the mushroom, the pores may appear brown, cream, or white.

Because red reishi can be difficult to cultivate, it is recommended for advanced and enthusiast growers. However, it can be extremely rewarding for those who have had some success growing other mushrooms.

Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way. 

Red Reishi wood chart:

Ideal project size:

Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects. 

That's not mold, it's mycelium!

Your kit includes plug spawn colonized with mushroom mycelium. It may appear covered with a soft, white, mold-like substance - that's the mushroom mycelium! It is completely normal. The mycelium of some species is more prominent than others.