DIY Agar Plates vs Pre-Poured

A comparison of costs.

At a reputable online mushroom grow shop (North Spore), I can buy ten pre-poured agar plates for $22. Easy enough. This way, I can throw them in a still air box or a flow hood and inoculate them. No mixing, no sterilizng, no pouring.

$2.20 each.

Or I go the DIY way: I can buy 1.5 kg of Malt Extract for $20, .45 kg of Nutritional Yeast for $20, and 1 kg of agar for $50. I also found 500 petri dishes for $150—from North Spore.

Cost per agar plate? 36 cents. Wow!

I do recommend that those dipping their toes in agar work should go for pre-poured plates. But those that are getting more serious about agar work should consider a DIY method.

There's also a psychological benefit to reducing the cost of each agar plate. With cheap plates, there is more of a willingness to experiment. To mess up, try something new, or try the same thing over and over. You will build your skills up faster with more repetitions. More transfers, more isolations, more inoculations.

That's something I need. More reps!