Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Plug Spawn

100 plugs
€17,95
Step 1 - Choose a Pack Size

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In Stock. Ships in 2-5 business days.

USDA Certified Organic

USDA Certified Organic

Trusted by 350K+ Growers

Trusted by 350K+ Growers

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Money Back Guarantee

Difficulty: Intermediate

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a nutritious medicinal mushroom that produces plump white clusters with icicle-like teeth. When cooked, it has a consistency and flavor similar to crab meat.

Properties: Lion's Mane is considered both an esteemed edible mushroom and a valuable medicinal and is currently being studied for its effects on neural health, Alzheimer's, and dementia. The mushroom contains a substance called erinacine, which has the ability to catalyze the production of nerve growth factor (NFG) and reduce the effects of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders (Yamada et al., 1997). A study in Japan, on men aged 50-80 years old with mild cognitive impairment, suggests that Lion's Mane is effective at improving cognition. Subjects were split into two groups and half were given dry powdered Lion's Mane three times a day and observed over 16 weeks. At weeks 8, 12, and 16, the group taking Lion's Mane scored significantly better on a cognitive test than the other half in the placebo group (Mori et al., 2008). You can read more about this study here.

Tools you'll need

To grow on logs using plug spawn, you will need:
• Drill Bit
• Sealing Wax
• Wax Daubers

To calculate how much spawn you will need, click here.

Inoculation

Works with Log or Stump Methods. Colonization is 12-24 months and fruits in the fall. It prefers maple but can grow on many hardwood species and on logs with large or small diameters.

Lion's Mane mushrooms, though slightly harder to get flushes, are still a great mushroom for confident beginners or intermediates. They colonize quickly and are relatively reliable producers. Lion's Mane grown indoors is great for commercial producers though log grown yields tend to be too low unless used successfully with the totem method.

Cultivation

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

Click here for full instructions

Storing

If you don't plan to use within 3 weeks, you may refrigerate the plug spawn for up to 6 months.

Cooking

Due to its consistency and flavor, it can be used as a seafood substitute in recipes. We like to slice it into rounds and pan-fry it in olive oil or butter, or try ripping it up and making 'Lion's Mane Cakes' by following a crab cake recipe!

Cautions & Considerations

• If you’re going to consume home-grown mushrooms, make sure to cook your fresh mushrooms thoroughly with heat. If it is your first time eating this species, it is best to start with a small amount to check for allergies, even if cooked.

• Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.

FAQs

Plug Spawn FAQ 

Log Cultivation FAQ

Related Articles

Get the Right Tools
Emboss-o-tag
Emboss-o-tag (+€14,95)

Keep track of your species

Log Inoculation Drill Bit
Log Inoculation Drill Bit (+€19,95)

The perfect size for our plugs

Angle Grinder Adapter
Angle Grinder Adapter (+€48,95)

Allows 4x faster drilling

Log Sealing Wax
Log Sealing Wax (+€3,95)

1/4 lb - enough for 100 plugs

Wax Daubers
Wax Daubers (+€2,95)

4-pack

Frequently Asked Questions

After inoculation, most logs take 6–12 months before producing their first flush of mushrooms. Colonization depends on temperature, moisture, and wood type. Once established, a log can fruit for 3–7 years.

Always use freshly cut, disease-free logs. Old or rotting wood may contain competing fungi or be too dry for successful colonization. Ideally, inoculate within 2–4 weeks of cutting.

Plug spawn (wooden dowels) is easier for beginners and ideal for smaller projects. Sawdust spawn is faster to colonize and more economical for larger batches or commercial growers.

Store logs in a shady, humid area close to the ground. In dry or hot weather, occasional watering or soaking can help maintain moisture. Avoid full sun or windy spots, which can cause bark cracking.

Cluster of brown-capped mushrooms with long, light-colored stems against a white background.

Your Trusted Source for Premium Mushroom Growing Supplies

Whether you’re growing mushrooms at home, in your garden, or at a commercial scale, we offer everything you need to cultivate success. We start with the highest-quality OMRI-listed ingredients, mix them in our state-of-the-art facility, and inoculate them in our custom-built lab, so you can rest easy knowing your product will yield the best results.

Reviews

  • 5 stars: 37 (97%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
Jason Keene
Love it

Stuff works great plug away

C
Casey Nichols
Crap inoculation

I ordered these plugs as soon as I’d gotten confirmation of ability to pick up maple logs fresh cut. I was anticipating good colonization from a company with this reputation, but what I received was a bag of plugs that looked like they’d spooned in some grain spawn right at shipping time, the bag was just a regular zip lock, so no guarantee of sterile inoculation. Extremely disappointing as I had wet down my logs ready to drill as soon as they showed up, I’d have to wait well beyond the recommended plug window if I wanted to let these inoculate more. If I wanted to inoculate myself, I would have ordered grain spawn and plugs and have been able to do 1000 plugs for the same price. Two stars only because there was live mycelium in the small chunk of grain spawn. There is zero ability to recoup these stars when this has caused me to push my plugging window much farther out.

Thank you for your feedback, Casey. We're sorry to hear that your order did not meet your expectations.

Our team is reaching out to you directly via email to assist you!

J
Jason Keene
Good stuff

These mushrooms are great easy to do. Try it out.

E
Edwin Russell
Great customer service

I had problem with storage due to an extended illness and they replaced my order. Amazing! Once I was able, I installed all the spores per the easy to follow direction. All that is left is my great Anticipation.

Thanks, Edwin! If you need help with anything, please reach out!

J
Jason Keene
Very nice

My logs are producing great love it

G
Gavin

Turned out great

M
Marc Tederick
Lions mane plug spawn

Excellent product, no contamination issues. 👍👍

Amazing to hear, Marc! We appreciate your feedback, thank you!

M
Max McMahan
Easy to use

Very easy to use, the guide was great for inoculating my logs

N
Nicholas

Wow this is a late review. . The plugs were great. The log didn't make it though. I'll try again one day.

A
Abraham

Love it

L
Laura

So excited for these this website is amazing!

Good luck with your grow, Laura! Thanks for your review.

Z
Zephren
Very robust strain

In short I took a risk, in the bottom of the bag of plugs was perhaps a teaspoon of grain spawn. I wiped down the bag, cut the bottom off with the spawn inside and transfered it to a grain jar that is now fully colonized. I can't believe it worked, only a very happy and robust strain, bagged in the best conditions could have done that. So clean and strong thanks!

Thanks so much for sharing, Zephren! Our team is here to help if you ever need anything.

W
William

Wow can't wait

M
Malia Korte
Quality Plugs

Quality plugs, prompt delivery, excellent customer service! As always.

Thanks for the great review, Malia! We really appreciate your support.

T
Tanya

Everything looks great and I can’t wait to get it going!

Thanks for sharing, Tanya! Our team is here if you need anything.

R
Roxanne

There’s nothing better than watching these guys grow. I’m amazed every time I do this. Harvest and eat!

Thanks for the great review, Roxanne! We're so glad you're enjoying the experience.

D
Doreen Monteleone
Looks Great!

Looking forward to harvesting Lion's Mane mushroms in the next year or so. Got these quickly as I had a nice piece of wood to plug. My mouth is watering already!

We're so happy you're enjoying the experience, Doreen! If you need help with anything, please reach out.

j
john reisinger

they are growing, first timer

Thanks, John! The team is here to help if you ever need anything.

J
Jerry

Amazing!!! 100% recommend and I cannot wait to start my Fun Guy Garden!! Skol

We're so glad you're enjoying the experience, Jerry! Our team is here if you need anything!

N
Nichole

Received fast, and exactly as advertised

C
Cyndi Johnson
Who knew it was this easy?? Not me.

Great plugs! Easy to follow instructions. If I can follow the instructions, anyone can.
Seriously, give it a try!

C
Christopher Ayers
Lions Mane Plug Spawn

Absolutely thrilled with the quality of the plug spawns! Tons of mycelial growth, indicating its vitality and health. It's clear that these are produced with great care and expertise. Thank you North Spore!

R
Robbe Baer
Lions mane plugs

I had a great experience with the team at North Spore. They helped me out in all aspects of my purchase and even replaced the plugs when there was a question of the expiration date of my first batch. They were so abliging on this matter that I felt they would be great if I purchased some Reishi plugs also. They have my business!

C
Cory

Exactly as I expected!

M
Mike
Great Mushroom Spawn

Tried pretty much all the plug spawn they got and they were all great. Really enjoy the instructions and packaging.

S
Samuel H Butz
Easy

The plugs looked great, the instructions were clear and easy!

M
Michael Burton
Amazing SPAWN!

This spawn was fresh and white as ever. It was easy to be successful growing mushrooms from the spawn I received. I have ordered other products too and I attribute my success to their amazing products!

D
Diane Walata
Can't Wait to Get Started

This will be my first time growing from plugs. I've grown one of the kits that you must daily and had success.
The plugs arrived, nicely packaged. I had several large limbs torn from a maple tree a couple months ago. They are now cut into 4 foot sections. I'll be inserting the plugs on Saturday and probably growing these in my basement.

I will try to update once they start producing.

E
Emmy wood
So excited!!

Last year we inoculated logs with oyster plugs and made a bed for wine cap mushrooms. We are hoping to start the harvest this year! We have too many elm trees on property, and decided to try our hand at Lion’s mane down this time. The logs will be ready to plug this weekend!! We are very pleased with north spore. The spawn has always arrived looking healthy and ready to grow! They send alerts to let customers know when the package will arrive so it can be safe from the weather. We’ll keep you posted on our growing mushroom farm!

D
Don S.
Happy to try

Happy to try out the new drill bit I bought from North Spore previously on my new batch of lions mane. Inoculated aspen logs with plugs and will eagerly await the tree to grow a beard. My first attempt at logs and information from North Spore is first rate.

R
R.T.
first product ordered...won't be the last

My order for lion's mane came in the mail right on time. The spawn looks to be in great shape and I now have my first logs inoculated. I went with oak as we have a lot here...hope to tryout some recipes out next fall!
Thanks