Making Liquid Culture at Home - A Simple Beginners Guide

Creating a liquid culture at home involves cultivating fungi or bacteria in a nutrient-rich liquid medium. Here's a simple guide to making a basic liquid culture for mushroom cultivation:

1. Ingredients:
   • Malt extract or liquid malt extract (available at brewing stores)
   • Water
   • Agar powder (optional, for added nutrients)
2. Equipment:
   • Pressure cooker or pot for sterilization
   • Glass jars with lids
   • Stirring utensil (e.g., spoon)
   • Aluminum foil or breathable lid
   • Rubber gloves
   • Syringe or inoculation loop

1. Prepare the Liquid Medium:
   • Measure the desired amount of water (typically 500ml to 1 liter) and bring it to a boil.
   • Add malt extract (around 20-30 grams per liter) and agar powder if you're using it. Stir until dissolved.
   • Boil the mixture for 10-15 minutes to ensure it's sterile.
   • Let the liquid cool to room temperature.
2. Sterilize Equipment:
   • Place glass jars and lids in a pressure cooker or pot with enough water to cover them.
   • Sterilize the jars and lids at 15 PSI for 15-20 minutes. Allow them to cool before handling.
3. Inoculate with Spores or Mycelium:
   • Work in a clean and sterile environment. Consider using a still air box or glovebox.
   • Put on rubber gloves to avoid contamination.
   • Inoculate the cooled liquid medium with spores or a small piece of mycelium from a mushroom culture using a syringe or inoculation loop.
   • Inject the spores or mycelium into the liquid medium, ensuring the needle is submerged.
4. Incubate:
   • Seal the jars with either aluminum foil or a breathable lid to allow for gas exchange.
   • Place the jars in a warm, dark place for the mycelium to grow. Incubation temperatures depend on the specific mushroom species but generally range between 75-80°F (24-27°C).
5. Monitor Growth:
   • Check the jars regularly for signs of growth, such as mycelium strands forming.
   • Shake the jars gently to distribute the mycelium and promote even growth.
6. Harvest and Use:
   • Once the liquid culture is fully colonized, it can be used to inoculate other substrates or spawn bags for further mushroom cultivation.
   • Use a sterile syringe to transfer the liquid culture.