Free tool
Mushroom culture media calculator
Enter how many milliliters you want to make and get the amount of each ingredient for PDA agar, HoneyTek, Cordyceps broth or rice for broth.
What does this calculator work out?
It works out the ingredients for four lab preparations used in mushroom cultivation. Each starts from a base recipe for 1000 ml and scales to the amount you enter.
PDA agar (potato, dextrose and agar) for Petri dishes, in standard, antibiotic, yeast extract or clear versions. HoneyTek, a liquid culture of water with 4% honey, Karo, dextrose or sugar, or 10% malt extract. Nutrient broth for Cordyceps militaris and the rice that goes with it.
How do I use the calculator?
- Pick the recipe: PDA, HoneyTek, Cordyceps broth or rice for broth.
- Enter the amount in milliliters you plan to make.
- Pick the recipe type and, for PDA with antibiotics, the antibiotic.
- Tap Calculate and weigh each ingredient on a 0.1 g scale.
Example: how much potato, dextrose and agar for half a liter of PDA?
For 500 ml of standard PDA the calculator halves the base recipe:
| Potatoes | 100 |
|---|---|
| Dextrose | 10 |
| Agar | 10 |
| Water (ml) | 500 |
500 ml fills 20 to 25 Petri dishes of 90 mm.
Frequently asked questions
How much agar goes in a liter of PDA?
20 g of agar per liter of water, with 200 g of potato and 20 g of dextrose. That is the calculator's base recipe.
Can I swap dextrose for table sugar?
It works in a pinch, though dextrose gives more even growth. Use the same weight in grams.
How much honey goes in HoneyTek?
4% of the water volume: 40 g of honey per liter. With malt extract, use 10%.
What is PDA with antibiotics for?
It holds back bacteria while you clean up a contaminated culture. Antibiotics do not stop molds.
Track your batches in MycoLab
MycoLab keeps your recipes, your batches and every contamination you find. You see which recipe and which stage cause trouble. It is free.
Cultures to start your next batch
Cordyceps (Cordyceps Militaris)
The mushroom of energy and vitality. Prized in traditional Asian medicine for its adaptogenic properties.
Shiitake (Lentinula Edodes)
The king of gourmet mushrooms. Intense flavor, meaty texture, and proven health benefits.
White Oyster (Pleurotus Ostreatus)
The perfect classic. Purity, versatility, and exceptional yield in every grow.