Hardwood pellets

Ourbeech pellets are made from 100% hardwood sawdust. They make it easy to prepare a wood-based substrate for growing wood-decaying fungi such as oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, reishi, and other species suited to wood.

These pellets are suitable for use in organic farming and are guaranteed to be free of additives, adhesives, and added binders. The sawdust is compressed into pellets using the lignin naturally present in the wood, under the effect of pressure and heat.

Why use beech pellets?

• Standardized substrate: The pellets make it easy to prepare consistent, reproducible recipes.
• Space-saving: It takes up about one-fourth the space of loose sawdust.
• Long shelf life: The dry pellets are easy to store and can be used as needed.
• Quick rehydration: simply rehydrate the pellets with hot water.
• Versatile base fertilizer: can be used undiluted or diluted, depending on the crops you’re growing and your level of experience.

Composition

• Ingredient: 100% hardwood sawdust (beech).
• Additives: no additives, no glue, no added binders.
• Use: preparation of substrates for mushroom cultivation.
• Certification: Suitable for use in organic farming.

Use in mushroom cultivation

Hardwood pellets can be used on their own or supplemented with other materials that are higher in sugars, nitrogen, or protein, such as wheat bran or other supplements.

Note: The more a growing medium is enriched, the more nutritious it becomes, but also the more susceptible it is to bacterial contamination and mold. For highly enriched growing media, complete sterilization is generally preferable to simple pasteurization.

Simple recipe using autoclavable bags

We recommend using these pellets with our Unicorn 3T autoclavable bags.

Recommended dosage per bag:

• 1 kg of beech pellets
• 1.8 liters of boiling water
• Approximately 10% grain mycelium, after cooling

This ratio results in a substrate with a moisture content of approximately 60 to 65 percent, depending on the batch of pellets and the level of drainage or absorption.

Step-by-step preparation

1. Place 1 kg of pellets in a Unicorn 3T bag or a suitable container.
2. Add about 1.8 liters of boiling water.
3. Let the pellets absorb the water and break down naturally.
4. Close the top of the bag to prevent contaminants from entering during cooling.
5. Let it cool for at least 3 to 4 hours, until the temperature drops below 38°C.
6. Inoculate with grain-based mycelium, ideally about 10% of the total weight of the moistened substrate.
7. Mix thoroughly, then allow to incubate under conditions suitable for the species being cultured.

How much mycelium should I plan for?

For a bag containing 1 kg of pellets and 1.8 liters of water, you will get approximately 2.8 kg of hydrated substrate.

With an inoculation rate of about 10%, you should allow for approximately 250 to 300 grams of grain-based mycelium per bag.

Example: To prepare 5 bags, use 5 kg of pellets, about 9 liters of water, and about 1.5 kg of grain mycelium.

Suitable species

This beech-based substrate is suitable for many tree-dwelling species, including:

• Oyster mushrooms
• Shiitake
• Lion's Mane
• Reishi
• Piopino
• Nameko
• Other mushrooms grown on wood

Note

• When used on their own, beech pellets provide a simpler, less nutrient-rich substrate.
• Adding grain-based mycelium naturally enriches the substrate and can improve productivity.
• Adding sound or other elements increases the potential for success, but also the risk of contamination.
• Always work with clean equipment and healthy mycelium.

See also our “Optimal” substrate in pellet form, already formulated for mushroom cultivation.