What are the latest cultivation conditions for snow fungus? Learn it all in one article

Snow fungus is also known as white wood ear, snow ear, silver ear fungus, etc. Wild snow fungus is scarce in quantity and was regarded as a precious tonic in ancient times. Today it is mostly a cultivated product. It can be cultivated not only on log segments, but also indoors in bottles and bags using agricultural and sideline products such as sawdust, sugarcane bagasse and cottonseed hulls as the main raw materials. Now let us take a look at the cultivation conditions for snow fungus!

Temperature conditions

Temperature is an important factor in the growth and development of snow fungus. Snow fungus is a mesophilic fungus. The mycelium can grow at 16-30°C, grows normally at 20-28°C, and grows best at 23-25°C. Below 20°C or above 28°C, the mycelium becomes thin and weak. The temperature for fruiting body differentiation is between 16-28°C. Below 16°C growth is slow, and above 28°C differentiation is poor. The most ideal temperature should be 22-25°C.

Humidity conditions

Snow fungus mycelium can only colonize and grow vigorously under suitable moisture conditions. The mycelium is thick and short, forming bundles, and the fruiting body differentiates normally. In an overly wet environment, the mycelium grows weak, thin and sparse, and the fruiting body differentiates poorly or gelatinizes into a mass. Therefore, appropriate moisture should be provided according to the different humidity requirements of snow fungus at each growth stage. Under overly wet conditions, snow fungus does not readily germinate into mycelium, but instead appears in the form of budding.

Light conditions

Strong direct light is unfavorable for the germination of snow fungus mycelium and the differentiation of the fruiting body, while scattered light can promote spore germination and fruiting body differentiation. Different lighting has a clear relationship with the color of the snow fungus fruiting body. Under dark light the fruiting body is yellow and differentiation is slow; with appropriate scattered light, snow fungus is white and also of superior quality.

Acid-base conditions

Snow fungus is a weakly acidophilic fungus. The pH value during cultivation should be between 5.2-5.8. Too much acid or too much alkali will have a certain effect on snow fungus.