Chaga - Mycelium dowel (Inonotus obliquus)
Drill holes, insert dowels and seal with wax. The dowels are made of birch (8x30 mm) 100 dowels inoculates 4 living birch trees.
Chaga is not an edible mushroom but is by many concidered to have very interesting medicinal properties. The dried up and ground conks are used to prepare tea and tinctures for natural remedies. Chaga can grow on a number of trees but is only considered to have a medicinal value when harvested from living birch trees.
Use the mycelium dowels to inoculate living birch trees. Note that the right of public access (allemansrätten) does not allow for inoculation on properties other than your own or where you have been granted permission by the land owner. Inoculation of living trees will damage the tree and can kill it making it a hazard for bystanders, buildings etc. if it should fall. Inoculation in living trees is done at your own risk.
Recommended type of wood: Live birch with a diameter of at least 15 cm. 100 mycelium plugs are enough for grafting four birches.
Best time for grafting: May-October. Time from grafting to harvest approx. 6 years, may vary. Cultivation advice see attached file.
To grow Chaga on living trees with mycelium dowels, you need an 8mm drill, beeswax and a wax applicator. You can find this items in our webshop under "accessories".
Best time for grafting is May–October. Mycelium dowels should be stored in refrigerator until grafting.
Time from grafting to harvest: approx. 6 years (may vary).
1. Choose a live birch without signs of other fungal growth.
2. Drill 5 holes 2–3 cm apart. One in the middle, and then 4 holes on either side of the middle hole so it becomes a "cross". Drill 4 cm deep with an 8-9 mm drill bit. Drills can be found in the shop under "accessories".
3. Insert the mycelium dowels in the holes using a hammer.
4. Seal the holes with beeswax by melting it in a pan (suggested by water bath). As this will take place outdoors, we recommend that you use a gas burner that you can easily transport with you. Dip the wax applicator and "dab" over the holes. (Beeavax and wax applicator can be ordered separately in the web shop under "accessories").
5. Repeat in 4 more places on the same birch, approx. 50 cm apart.
Note!
Chaga is grown on living trees, which is not covered by the common law. Only grow on your own trees or where you have the landowner's permission and be aware that the Chaga will damage and possibly kill the tree in the long run. Grafting into living trees can eventually cause the tree to fall with the risk of damage to buildings and passers-by. Grafting into live trees is done at your own risk.
Live birch with a diameter of at least 15 cm. 100 mycelium dowels are enough for grafting four birch trees.
Orders placed before 11.00 a.m. are usually shipped the same day. We deliver with DHL and deliveries usually take 2-3 working days. Fungal mycelium is resistant but cannot withstand high temperatures. If the climate exceeds 25, we wait for cooler temperatures before sending the packages in order for your products to arrive to you in the best possible condition.
