Not all mycelium is created equal—so why use one type of agar for every species?
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional cultivator, understanding what type of agar for mushrooms you’re working with can dramatically improve your success rate. From fast-growing cubes to slow, medicinal species, each mushroom prefers a different nutrient profile.

This guide covers:

• How mycelium “eats”

• Common agar types and what they’re good for

• Popular additives and what they do

• The best agar recipes for specific mushroom species

Let’s dive in.

How Mycelium Absorbs Nutrients

Mycelium secretes enzymes into its environment, breaking down organic material before absorbing nutrients. Each mushroom species evolved to process different types of sugars, proteins, and minerals based on its natural habitat.

That’s why knowing what type of agar for mushrooms you’re working with matters. It lets you match your plates to your species.

 Common Types of Agar Mixes Explained

 Malt Extract Agar (MEA)

• Made from malted grains

• Rich in complex sugars and amino acids

• Great for wood-loving species like Psilocybe, Pleurotus, Ganoderma

 Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)

• Potato starch + dextrose sugar

• General-purpose medium

• Works well for slower species or broad testing

 Dextrose Agar (DA)

• Pure glucose-based medium

• Preferred by fast-fruiting species like P. cubensis and Coprinus

 Yeast Malt Extract Agar (YMEA)

• MEA enriched with yeast extract

• Provides B-vitamins and nitrogen

• Excellent for medicinal and vitamin-hungry species

  Malt Yeast Agar (MYA)

• Malt and yeast with reduced sugar content

• Useful for more sensitive strains or morphologically clean growth

 Additives That Make a Difference

Enhance your agar plates with the following ingredients to help your mycelium thrive:

Which Species Prefer What?

Use this as a quick reference when deciding what type of agar for mushrooms to use for each species:

Example Custom Agar Blends

Here are a few go-to recipes depending on what you’re growing:

Fast-Growth Blend (for Cubensis, Coprinus)

• 20g dextrose

• 15g agar

• 1g peptone

• 1L distilled water

Medicinal Mycelium Mix (for Reishi, Lion’s Mane)

• 20g malt extract

• 2g yeast extract

• 1g CaCO₃

• 0.5g charcoal

• 15g agar

• 1L distilled water

Wild Print Recovery Mix

• 20g PDA

• 1g charcoal

• 1g yeast extract

• 0.25g gentamicin

• 15g agar

• 1L distilled water

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever asked what type of agar for mushrooms is best, the answer depends on your species, your setup, and your goals.
Different mycelium strains thrive on different food sources—and agar is how we simulate nature in the lab.

Use the right combination of sugars, vitamins, and additives, and your mycelium will reward you with vigorous growth, clean morphology, and faster colonization.

Looking for the Perfect Malt Extract Agar? Try Our Mycology-Grade Premix

If you’re serious about clean, consistent mycelium growth, our Malt Extract Agar (MEA) Premix is formulated for results you can see. Made with ultra-fine, lab-grade ingredients, it contains the perfect ratio of high-purity malt extract and agar — no fillers, no shortcuts. Every batch is blended and packaged in a HEPA-filtered workspace by experienced mycologists, ensuring you get contaminant-free plates every time.

Whether you’re working with Psilocybe, Pleurotus, Ganoderma, or even wild cultures, this premix gives your mycelium a strong, nutrient-rich start. Just add water, sterilize, and pour — it’s that simple. Trusted by cultivators across the country and tested in real lab conditions, this is MEA done right.

Want to get the most for your money? Save big when you buy a 5 pack of MEA Premix.

Give your mushrooms the foundation they deserve.
Grow clean. Grow confidently.