Michael Davis
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are often used as recreational drugs and can cause hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Growing magic mushrooms can be a rewarding endeavour, and there are seven main steps to the process of growing mushrooms: strain selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, initiation, fruiting, and harvest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms, hallucinogenic mushrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Origin | Pacific Northwest or Australia |
| Active ingredient | Psilocybin, a compound with psychedelic qualities if ingested |
| Cultivation | Grown in small amounts at home or foraged from the wild |
| Growing conditions | Damp, chill environments |
| Temperature | 60°F and above |
| Lighting | Well-lit environments; specialty mushrooms need light for proper morphology |
| Oxygen | Well-ventilated environments |
| Harvesting | Mushrooms are ready to harvest when the caps fully open |
| Drying | Fresh mushrooms are laid out on absorbent paper in a well-ventilated area for 24-48 hours |
| Sterilization | Substrates are placed in a pressure cooker to kill any potential contaminants |
| Tools | Sterile syringes, protective gear, thermometer, hygrometer, grow tents |
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What You'll Learn
Sterilization
The first step in sterilization is to prepare the substrates, which are the nutrient sources or "food" for the mushrooms. Common substrates include manure, compost, sawdust, straw, wood chips, hardwood dowels, logs, leaf litter, cardboard, and agricultural byproducts such as coffee grounds, cotton shells, and sugar cane fiber. These substrates need to be sterilized to eliminate any potential contaminants that may interfere with mushroom growth. This can be done through various methods, including fermentation, pasteurization, or a lime soak for straw substrates, and steam sterilization for sawdust or wood pellet substrates.
To achieve effective sterilization, specific equipment and tools are required. A pressure cooker is commonly used to sterilize the substrates by killing any contaminants. After sterilization, the substrates must be allowed to cool to room temperature before introducing the mushroom spores or spawn. Other essential tools include sterile syringes for spore inoculation, protective gear such as gloves and face masks to prevent contamination from the handler, and containers like Mason jars or grow bags to hold the substrate during the inoculation and colonization stages. Additionally, a thermometer and hygrometer are crucial for monitoring temperature and humidity levels, which are critical factors in maintaining a sterile environment.
Sterile Techniques
Maintaining proper sterile techniques is crucial to the success of mushroom cultivation. This involves keeping all equipment and work surfaces clean to minimize contamination by microbes. Specialized equipment, such as scalpels, Petri dishes, gloves, and dedicated inoculation spaces, helps reduce microbial contamination. Assuming an object is contaminated if you are unsure is a good practice. Sanitization, which refers to the removal of most microbes, may be sufficient for growing edible mushrooms, but sterilization, which completely eliminates microbes, is essential for hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Environmental Conditions
Environmental parameters also play a vital role in maintaining a sterile environment. Lighting is important, and while specialty mushrooms do not require a specific light spectrum, sufficient lighting similar to that needed to comfortably read a book in the room is recommended. Maintaining adequate oxygen levels and ventilation is crucial to the art of fruiting mushrooms. Temperature control is another key factor, with ideal temperatures for most species in the 60s Fahrenheit, specifically in the low 60s for higher quality mushrooms.
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Temperature
The optimal temperature range for cultivating hallucinogenic mushrooms is between 50°F to 75°F (10°C to 24°C). At temperatures below 50°F (10°C), many mushroom species significantly reduce their productivity, and their growth rate slows. On the other hand, as temperatures exceed 75°F (24°C), productivity decreases, and the mushrooms' quality deteriorates. Therefore, maintaining temperatures within this optimal range is essential for successful cultivation.
Basements or other in-ground areas are popular choices for growing hallucinogenic mushrooms because they naturally maintain temperatures within the desired range with minimal heating or cooling requirements. Grow tents, such as the Mars Hydro VG80 2x4 Indoor Grow Tent Kit, are also effective solutions for temperature control. These tents provide an enclosed environment, allowing for precise temperature regulation, which is crucial for optimal mushroom growth.
Additionally, temperature considerations extend beyond the growth period. Post-harvest processing and storage at appropriate temperatures are critical for preserving the quality, potency, and safety of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Proper drying techniques help remove moisture, preventing spoilage, and careful storage under suitable conditions protects the mushrooms' psychoactive properties.
The choice of mushroom strain can also influence the ideal fruiting temperature. Different strains exhibit variations in their preferred temperature ranges for optimal growth and fruiting. Therefore, selecting the right strain for the specific temperature conditions can significantly impact the yield and quality of the hallucinogenic mushrooms.
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Lighting
When choosing a light source for growing hallucinogenic mushrooms, it is essential to consider the light's intensity, spectrum, and heat output. Incandescent light bulbs, for example, are not ideal for growing mushrooms as they emit a warm "red" light in the low range of 2700-3500 Kelvin, along with a significant amount of heat radiation. Instead, a colder light with a higher Kelvin range, such as "daylight" fluorescent tubes or LED lamps, is preferable. These lights typically emit light in the 6000-7000 Kelvin range, which is closer to the blue end of the spectrum, found to be optimal for mushroom growth.
Blue light, with a wavelength between 400 and 500 nanometers, has been shown to promote faster colonization times and higher yields of fruiting bodies in some mushroom species. It mimics the natural conditions under which many mushrooms grow, signalling to them that they are near the surface and triggering the fruiting process. Additionally, blue light can enhance the nutritional profile of mushrooms, increase their flavour, and extend their shelf life. Active Grow's Blue Sun Spectrum LED technology is an example of lighting tailored for mushroom growth, focusing on this specific wavelength.
For those who prefer natural lighting, indirect sunlight from a window can be sufficient for mushroom growth. However, it is important to ensure that the mushrooms are not exposed to direct sunlight, as this can be detrimental to their development. Maintaining high humidity levels is also crucial when growing mushrooms with natural light.
When it comes to artificial lighting, LED lights are a popular choice among mushroom growers. These lights can be set to 12-hour schedules to provide the necessary illumination for the mushrooms. Fluorescent CFL lights are another option, offering the advantage of guaranteed light access for the mycelium, even in the absence of natural sunlight.
Overall, the lighting requirements for hallucinogenic mushrooms can vary depending on the specific species. While some mushrooms thrive in bright, blue-spectrum lighting, others, such as the Psilocybe Albino, prefer almost complete darkness for optimal growth. As such, it is important to research the lighting needs of the particular hallucinogenic mushroom species being cultivated.
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Harvesting
After harvesting, the next crucial steps are proper drying and storage. These processes are key to maintaining the mushrooms' potency, preventing the degradation of the psychoactive compounds, and avoiding the growth of mould and bacteria. The fresh mushrooms should be laid out on a clean, absorbent paper in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. A fan can be used to gently circulate air around the mushrooms, reducing the initial moisture content. This process typically lasts 24-48 hours, depending on the ambient humidity and size of the mushrooms. Once dried, a food dehydrator set between 95-105°F (35-40°C) can be used.
Psilocybin mushrooms, or 'magic mushrooms', are not grown at a commercial scale due to federal prohibitions on their possession, sale, and transfer. Instead, they are grown in small amounts at home or foraged from the wild. They grow most dependably in the damp, chill Pacific Northwest of the United States, often found on excess carbon deposits like wood chips near urban spaces.
Psilocybe cubensis, a species of psilocybin mushroom, is easily grown in controlled settings and is relatively potent. It was the model organism for underground cultivation when psilocybin and psilocin were criminalised in 1970, as the possession of spores and mycelia of psilocybin-active species remained legal.
Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are another species that can be cultivated. They are faster-growing than shiitake mushrooms, with an incubation time of 4-12 months for logs and 10-20 days for straw.
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Strain Selection
The first step in the cultivation process of hallucinogenic mushrooms is strain selection. This is one of the most important factors in successfully growing mushrooms. The strain is similar to a plant breed. Individual species of mushrooms like Pleurotus ostreatus (commonly known as oyster mushrooms) will have thousands of different strains or expressions of the genetic makeup.
The most potent species of hallucinogenic mushrooms are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. The Psilocybe cubensis strain, a tropical species originally found in Cuba, is easily grown in controlled settings and is relatively potent. It grows naturally in tropical and subtropical conditions, often near cattle due to the ideal conditions they provide for the growth of the fungus.
Psilocybe mushrooms were historically used by the Pre-Columbian Aztecs of South America for religious ceremonies and healing rituals. They called them “teonanacatl,” meaning “god’s flesh.” Spanish missionaries of the 1500s thought it caused a sort of demonic possession in users and tried to destroy all records and traces of this mushroom being used by natives. In 1970, the Nixon administration labeled psilocybin and other drugs like marijuana as “Schedule I” drugs, which meant they had a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical uses.
Today, several start-ups have moved into “the psilocybin space” to patent new methods of psilocybin synthesis, including bioengineering yeast and E. coli to produce the compound. The race to invent and patent faster ways to mass-produce pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin is on. One such psilocybin-active species is Psilocybe allenii, which grows wild in the San Francisco Bay Area and along the Pacific coast.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven key steps to growing mushrooms are: strain selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, initiation, fruiting, and harvest.
The ideal temperature for most species is in the 60s Fahrenheit. The highest quality mushrooms with good fruiting speed develop at temperatures in the low 60s Fahrenheit.
Specialty mushrooms need light for proper morphology. If a book can be read comfortably in the fruiting room, the lighting is sufficient.
Sterilization is a key step in mushroom cultivation. It involves using a pressure cooker to sterilize the substrates, cooling them down, and then using sterile syringes, protective gear, and containers to maintain a sterile environment.
During incubation, temperature and humidity control are crucial factors to maintain. The ideal humidity level will depend on the species of mushroom and the growing medium chosen.
