Flammulina velutipes, commonly known as the golden needle mushroom, exhibits remarkable regenerative and branching capabilities. When the mushrooms are dried, new fruiting primordia often form on the stalks, offering a great opportunity for secondary harvests. With proper care, these primordia can develop into high-quality mushroom bodies. Utilizing this natural trait in cultivation leads to dense, uniform mushrooms with fine stems, minimal cap opening, an attractive appearance, and higher yields. Below are the detailed techniques for successful regenerative cultivation:
First, place the fully colonized bags into the growing room and maintain a temperature between 12°C and 15°C. Once the fruiting bodies on the surface reach 2–3 cm in height (appearing as fibrous roots or long stems without caps), open the bag and gently roll down the surface material. Press the existing fruit bodies to lay them flat, ensuring even distribution. If some have already developed caps, carefully trim them off.
Next, increase ventilation after opening the bags. By the second day, the stipes will begin to dry and turn brown. About four days after opening (or five to six days if the temperature is below 12°C), the mycelium will start drying out, and small white spots—representing new primordia—will appear on the stipes. When the stipes grow to 2–3 cm and the caps are evenly sized, it's time to focus on ventilation. Before covering with a wet cloth, ventilate for 0.5 to 1 hour. At night, open windows for one hour of fresh air circulation. If temperatures exceed 15°C, extend ventilation to 4–5 hours.
As the stems grow to 2–3 mm in diameter, straighten the plastic bag to ensure even growth. If humidity is high or some stems remain moist, the buds may not divide properly. In such cases, the next day, additional buds will emerge from the stems, resulting in longer, denser, and more uniform stipes.
Maintain optimal humidity levels when the stipes reach about 10 cm. If the air humidity drops below 85%, cover the bag mouth with a damp cloth or mist the cover paper. When the stipes reach 15 cm and the caps are no larger than 13 mm, it’s time for harvesting. After picking, remove any old mycelium and leftover stipes, allow the surface to dry for 1–2 days, then reseal the bag and let it rest for 8–15 days. A second batch of mushrooms will then emerge. If the substrate is dry, cover the bag mouth with a damp cloth beforehand. The second round follows the same management practices as the first. This method ensures consistent quality and efficient production throughout the growing cycle.