Tremella encephala

conifer brain

Conifer brain, now usually placed in Naematelia, forms pale pink, brain-like jelly fruit bodies up to 3 cm across with a hard white core. The core is the remains of its host, the bleeding conifer crust Stereum sanguinolentum, which it parasitises on dead conifer branches. It is widespread in the north temperate zone and is not cultivated.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Very humid airBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest period

Where it grows wild

On and enveloping fruit bodies of Stereum sanguinolentum on dead attached or recently fallen conifer branches.

Recorded at 0–1921 m, median 260 m (33 records).

NetherlandsGermanyFranceSpainEstoniaRussiaCanadaUnited StatesAustralia

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.