Psychedelic mushrooms, also referred to as shrooms or magic mushrooms, are shockingly very easy to grow. All you need is a little patience, some spores, a substrate, and some basic equipment. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to grow your own magic mushrooms. In no time, you’ll have a generous harvest on your hands.
Different Types Of Mushrooms
There are more than 14,000 different types of mushrooms, many deliciously edible and many poisonous. Some of the more popular varieties can be grown at home by adhering to some simple guidelines.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are amongst the colorful types of mushrooms and often help with decomposition of dead trees in the wild. You can easily grow oyster mushrooms at home and if you invest in a kit, it’ll more than likely include a perforated bag of straw that has been injected with oyster mushroom spawn and already has some degree of mycelium developing.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms can be grown similarly to Oyster mushrooms and as part of a grow kit, you’ll be provided with wooden dowels infused with the Shiitake mycelium. These wooden dowels are then introduced into hardwood logs that have been set up by drilling holes at 6-inch intervals along the length of the log. Once the dowels have been added they’re preserved using wax which makes sure that the dowel spawn doesn’t wither.
White Cap (Button) Mushrooms
Growing button mushrooms is the among the most straightforward of all techniques. Kits for these varieties will comprise a lid and tray and a pre-spawned compost or substrate. Maintain a warm temperature and the kit moist and fruiting should start within 3-4 weeks.
Magic Mushrooms
Magic shrooms grow naturally in different areas of the planet. Consequently, if you live in the right place, you might be lucky enough to come across some in the wild. Nonetheless, for those lacking experience, it’s easy to mistaken mushrooms – a potentially deadly mistake.
The best way to stay safe is to purchase them from a trustworthy source or grow your own. Because of their current legal status, the latter might not be an option. It’s, however, possible to buy spores as these don’t have the active compound psilocybin.
Please be aware that growing mushrooms is also illegal and readers choose to do so at their own discretion. This post is for educational purposes only.
Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
If you plan on looking for mushrooms in the wild, your best bet might be to try densely forested areas near a water source. Mushrooms need moisture and nutrients to grow, and these environments provide both. Some species also flourish in grassland and fields. It takes four crucial factors to stimulate mushroom growth:
- Temperature. Generally, a temperature between 60-90F is ideal for fruiting body growth.
- Fresh air exchange. Similar to humans, mushrooms breathe oxygen. So, they need constant fresh air exchange to grow properly.
- Humidity. Mushrooms are more than 90 percent water, so very humid environments are key for good growth.
Before harvesting mushrooms, make sure you can positively identify them. Some species look similar to magic mushrooms but are poisonous. They can cause bad reactions ranging from death to mild sickness. If you’re not sure if a mushroom is safe, leave it alone.
How to Grow Magic Mushrooms at Home
Growing magic mushrooms from the comfort of your home is relatively simple. Nevertheless, it does entail some patience and hygiene . You’ll also need a small number of equipment, though most of them are easily obtainable.
The most challenging aspect is getting hold of a spore syringe. It’s essential to purchase this piece of kit from a trustworthy vendor. If not, you could end up with misidentified strains, contaminated spores or in some instances, just water.
What Do You Need to Grow Mushrooms?
One of the simplest ways to grow mushrooms is by using a mushroom grow kits. They usually consist of a grow bag, substrate, and a spore syringe – hypothetically, everything you need. Some grow kits are obtainable the mycelium ready to go. All you do is add water.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Magic Mushrooms?
How long do magic mushrooms take to grow? Well, this varies depending on the variety and conditions.
Closely monitor your mycelium cakes, and you will soon start to resemble white bumps, which then grow into ‘pins.’ The shrooms should be ready for harvest in five to twelve days after this. It’s advisable to harvest them before the veil breaks, exposing the gills.
Conclusion
Hopefully this has been useful. Keep in mind that it’s your responsibility to know and understand regulations and rules having to do with the cultivation of mushrooms in your specific region or state. Happy growing!
This is a collaborative post. Photo by Florian van Duyn on Unsplash