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What to do if your magic mushroom kit won’t grow?
Posted under: Ask Mick, Learn, News and Science
Learn when you just need more patience, when to improve conditions, and when to “wake up” a truly sleeping grow kit.
We’ve all been there: you set up your grow box in the grow bag with water, follow all the steps, and after 10, 11, 12 days you start wondering if anything is ever going to happen.
Don’t panic. Magic mushroom grow kits are living organisms, not machines. Every kit and every strain can behave a bit differently. In this guide we explain when a kit is simply lazy, when it is unhappy because of the conditions, and when you are dealing with a real sleeping kit that needs a wake‑up call.
Always follow the correct instructions
Always follow the instructions that belong to the exact brand and type of grow kit you have. The manuals are brand- and type-specific and explain how your kit grows best.
You can find all written manuals here: Magic Mushrooms Grow Kit Instructions.
Do not use your own grow method. Always follow the official instructions for your specific kit.
| FreshMushrooms XP | First pins usually within about 14 days under proper conditions. |
| Cloud920 Classic XL | First pins usually within about 14 days under proper conditions, similar to FreshMushrooms XP. |
| GetMagic kits | First pins usually within about 21 days under proper conditions. |
| Cloud920 Grow Bags* | Often take up to about 28 days for first pins. This is normal for these grow bags. |
You can find all individual kits and brands here: magic mushroom grow kits overview.
*Note on hybrids: Some Cloud920 Grow Bags contain hybrid strains such as Jack Frost or similar genetics. These often need 7–14 days longer than standard cubensis kits. Penis Envy and related hybrids can take even longer than 4 weeks to produce first pins, but they are definitely worth the wait.
Temperature and basic setup
For all kits, the temperature should be at least 20 °C and not higher than 28 °C, with an ideal range around 23 °C.
If your room temperature stays consistently below 20 °C, you can use a thermo heating mat. Never place the grow box directly on the mat. Always put something in between (cardboard, cork, coasters, etc.). For detailed tips, see: thermo mats – what to do.
Tip: Always use the grow bag that comes with your kit and follow the manual. The grow bag provides the right balance of humidity and fresh air.
When is your kit lazy, unhappy or sleeping?
Not every kit follows exactly the same timeline. Use the table below to estimate the “status” of your kit, based on the normal first‑pin expectation for your brand.
| Brand / type | Normal first pins | Lazy | Unhappy | Sleeping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshMushrooms XP | Within ~14 days | Up to ~7 days later (day 15–21) | Up to ~14 days later (up to ~day 28) | More than 21 days after normal (no pins after ~day 35) |
| Cloud920 Classic XL | Within ~14 days | Up to ~7 days later (day 15–21) | Up to ~14 days later (up to ~day 28) | More than 21 days after normal (no pins after ~day 35) |
| GetMagic kits | Within ~21 days | Up to ~7 days later (day 22–28) | Up to ~14 days later (up to ~day 35) | More than 21 days after normal (no pins after ~day 42) |
| Cloud920 Grow Bags* | Within ~28 days | Up to ~7 days later (day 29–35) | Up to ~14 days later (up to ~day 42) | More than 21 days after normal (no pins after ~day 49) |
Important: Only use the “sleeping kit” solutions once your kit truly falls into the sleeping range according to this table. You can find the sleeping kit solutions further down in this article. Before that, your kit is usually just lazy or unhappy.
Lazy kits: just a bit of extra patience
Lazy kits are kits that need a little more time than expected but are otherwise fine. They fall within roughly 7 extra days after the normal first‑pin timing for your brand.
If you don’t see pins yet but you are still within the lazy window, keep following the instructions and check daily. Do not make drastic changes yet. These kits often suddenly “wake up” on their own.
Unhappy kits: fix the conditions
Unhappy kits are kits that show no pins up to about 14 days later than expected. In most cases, this is caused by suboptimal conditions: temperature, light or fresh air.
By checking and tweaking a few basics, you can often bring an unhappy kit back on track.
1Check the temperature
Measure the temperature as close to the grow kit as possible. Make sure it is between 20 and 28 °C, ideally around 23 °C.
If you use a thermo mat, never place the box directly on top of it. Always use a buffer (cardboard, cork, a rack or coasters). For more details, see the blog: thermo mats – what to do.
2Check light and location
Grow kits need indirect daylight and a normal day‑night rhythm. Do not place your kit in direct sunlight or in complete darkness.
A clean shelf, table or cupboard with some ambient daylight in the room is usually perfect. Avoid window sills with strong direct sun and places with extreme temperature swings.
3Use the grow bag correctly
Make sure you use the grow bag exactly as described in the manual: correct water level, correct way of closing or folding, and the filters not being blocked.
Only open the bag as described in the instructions to allow for fresh air exchange. Opening too often or for too long can cause drying out or contamination.
4Build in extra patience for hybrids and slow strains
Hybrid strains, especially Jack Frost and similar genetics, typically need 7–14 days longer than standard cubensis kits to produce pins. On their own this delay is not a problem.
Strains in the Penis Envy family are also known for being slow. They often take longer than 4 weeks to pin, but growers usually find the results worth the extra waiting time.
Sleeping kits: how to wake them up
If your kit falls into the sleeping range according to the table (no pins more than 21 days after the normal first‑pin timing), you can try a “wake‑up” procedure.
Warning: Before attempting to wake a sleeping kit, always check carefully for contamination (off smells, coloured molds, slimy spots). If you see clear signs of contamination, follow your contamination guidelines and contact support instead.
1Cold shock in the fridge
Place the grow kit (with the lid on the grow box) in the refrigerator at 2–7 °C for about 8–12 hours. This gives the mycelium a cold shock.
2Back into the grow bag
After the night in the fridge, place the grow kit back into the grow bag strictly following the original instructions, in a spot with the correct temperature.
Again, aim for a stable temperature around 23 °C and the proper light conditions. From here on, patience is key.
3Wait for renewed activity
After “waking” a sleeping kit, it often takes at least a week before you see new activity or pins forming. Keep checking your kit daily and maintain good hygiene.
If there are no signs of contamination and conditions are good, many sleeping kits will still start producing pins after this reset.
When to contact support
If you are unsure whether your kit is just slow, unhappy, or truly problematic, take clear photos of your kit (top and sides) and note the start date, brand, type, and current temperature.
Contact the Magic Mushrooms Shop support or helpdesk and include your photos so the team can assess your situation and give you tailored advice.
August 2, 2025