Growing Magic Mushrooms from Cubensis Spores: Q&A

Posted under: Ask Mick, How to's, Our products

Thinking about growing magic mushrooms from scratch, with cubensis spores? All questions answered here! A special Magic Mushroom Shop Q&A, covering your questions regarding to growing magic mushrooms from cubensis spores.

Growing magic mushrooms from scratch, where do I start?

First, its important to do a little bit of homework. Seeing as you're entering new territory, it might be smart to do some research. Very helpful is our article on "how to use magic spore vials", written specifically for curious cultivators, interested in reading more about the rewarding process of advanced cultivation.

 

I’ve got a mushroom, which is all I need because it’s the reproductive part, right?

Basically. Specifically, you want its spawn, which comes in the form of spores. If all you have is a mushroom – the fruiting body – most of its spores are probably lost already. Consider purchasing specially prepared spores.

 

How do I get the right spawn?

Spawn can be: Fresh/dried mushrooms (clones), spore prints, spore vials, or spore syringes.

sporeThe type you get is up to you, but it determines how you inoculate your growing material. We recommend spore vials – and here’s why.

The next step is preparing growing material – substrate for the spores to spread fungus (mycelium) through, get nutrients from, and eventually grow mushrooms on.

 

What material should I use?

When growing magic mushrooms, you have many options: moist dirt, manure, tree stumps/bark, or certain kinds of flour. See substrate material options here. Modern methods are typically vermiculite mixed with growing matter. We recommend a Brown Rice Flour (BRF) technique, named PF-tek (instructions in the next answer!). It is simple, clean, and reliable.

vermiculite                 brown-rice-flour

How do I prepare growing material?

In order to keep this answer short, we would like to direct you to the detailed PF Tek instructions for a BRF substrate. 

Or watch this instruction video on making the substrate:

 

Sterilization?

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You need to make sure your materials and substrate aren’t contaminated with any other micro-organisms. Mushrooms may never grow if your jars, cakes, or other materials are contaminated! Learn to use a pressure cooker to sterilise and see other methods and a list of what needs disinfecting.

 

Jars and cakes?

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Small-to-average size batches of mushroom growing are done with substrate “cakes” (explained in the PF-tek) made in glass jars or grow boxes. If you’d like to make much larger batches, check out this Casing Technique or MycoMate Kilo Kit (a high yield kit without mycelium).

I’ve prepared and sterilized my grow material. How do I plant mushrooms?

Well, you don’t plant them exactly like a plant. Mushrooms grow as part of a fungus: first you grow mycelium, a white web-like structure, then later the mycelium sprouts mushrooms. The fungus planting process is called inoculating.

How to inoculating and incubate? 

When inoculating, you're injecting the spore liquid on the surface of the substrate and allowing the spores to seep into your material.

The ideal temperature incubating for the next 4 weeks is around 27 degrees Celsius (a warm room in a house). Read our updated instructions on heating mats to prevent overheating. 

Some substrates are a bit more flexible. As long as it doesn’t drop to 15 degrees or lower mycelium will keep growing. Watch the instruction video on inoculation and incubation:

 

Flush? …like down the toilet?Mazatapec magic mushroom grow kit

A flush is a reproductive cycle of the mycelium, during which the fungus produces mushrooms! To start mushroom growth (flush), soak the substrate in water, then keep it moist by misting with water and checking temperature and humidity levels daily for a few weeks.

 

How do I take care of them?

Follow our instructions for grow-kits.

 

When do I harvest and how do I pick my mushrooms?

The-Life-Changing-Effects-of-Psychedelics

When do you harvest magic mushrooms? Basically, when the heads expand, but right before they break their veil and release spores. For details on how to pick them, see this post here. If you’re not using them immediately, dry your magic mushrooms for storage.

Is that it? Do I throw the mycelium away after harvest?

Not yet! The great thing is you get multiple “flushes” (mushrooms popping up) out of each batch of inoculated material. The sizes and numbers differ, but you can get around 3 flushes, if the right conditions are provided. Make sure you work clean to avoid contamination and maximize your flushes!

Is your kit not growing? Read our advice for non growing kits.

Ok, then I throw it out?

You may get a few extra if you plant the exhausted mycelium outdoors in a moist shady place, mushrooms may pop up after decent rainfall during warm months. Throw it out if you must, but there’s always the potential to reuse or compost your material.

Great! I’m ready to start, where do I get the supplies?

cultivation_necessities

With this supply list, you'll have all the material you need.

To make it easy: it's all available in our store!  

Sound great! But what's in it for me?

Growing your own mushrooms from scratch can be very rewarding. To make it easier on yourself you can always get one of our colonized magic mushroom mushroom grow kits.  Perfect for beginners, starting out, and experts who want to simplify the process.

Another great alternative: magic mushroom grow kits without mycelium. These kits have a pre-produced substrate and can be delivered with spores. The pre-produced substrate will save you a lot of time and energy.

Why buy a grow kit without mycelium? Not everyone can get there hands on colonized grow kits, due to legality reasons. The magic mushroom grow kit without mycelium can be shipped to most countries around the world. That's a plus! And you'll be creating the mycelium and psilocybin yourself as soon you start the inoculation and incubation process. 

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