Depending on who you ask, magic mushrooms are either beloved and famous or feared and infamous. It should come as no surprise that we at USA Magic Mushroom Grow Kits adore them and fall into the first category.
However, “magic mushroom” is a fairly broad word that encompasses hundreds of different kinds of psilocybin-containing mushrooms. If you’ve ever produced or purchased magic mushrooms, they were most likely a strain of Psilocybe cubensis. This species is widely distributed and easy to cultivate, making it the world’s most popular magic mushroom.
What is Psilocybe Cubensis?
The most common species of magic mushroom on the earth is Psilocybe cubensis. It is found in North, Central, and South America, as well as South Asia and Australia. It is a species with an incredible range, growing naturally on primarily bovine manure. This cultivar expands substantially in the field of domestic horticulture. There may now be dozens of selectively produced strains, each with its own shape, size, coloration, and effects.
Psilocybin is the active chemical in Psilocybe cubensis, hence the name. In reality, all magical mushroom species are members of the Psilocybe genus. Their psychoactive ability is what characterizes them, at least to us. The chemical formula for psilocybin is 4-PO-HO-DMT. The dimethyltryptamine (DMT) at the end causes it to interact with serotonin receptors in the brain. It has this property with the majority of hallucinogens, which predominantly affect serotonin synthesis.
What are the Characteristics of Psilocybe Cubensis?
Characteristics of Psilocybe Cubensis includes a hollow white stipe measures 4-15 cm (2-6 in) high by 0.4-1.4 cm (0.2-0.6 in) thick and turns yellowish with age. The well-developed veil leaves a permanent white membranous ring, the surface of which normally turns the same color as the gills due to spores falling. 90% of the fruiting bodies are water.
How Did Psilocybe Cubensis Gain Popularity?
Psilocybe Cubensis Mushroom became famous due to its ease of cultivation and accessibility. While other magic mushroom species are considered stronger—azurescens, semilanceata, and cyanescens—cubensis is exceptionally easy to cultivate, not only in the lab, but also at home. Since 1976, when Oss and Oeric published a book explaining the easy techniques required for home production, Psilocybe cubensis has grown in popularity.
What is the Appearance Of Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms?
Going into the diverse appearances of the numerous cultivated strains of cubensis would take too lengthy for the purposes of this article. However, we can provide a general overview of the look of wild Psilocybe cubensis variations.
Cap
Psilocybe Cubensis tops start out conical and flatten down as they grow. Sizes range from 1.5 to 8cm. Furthermore, size can be influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from heredity to environment. Even within the same strain, the size of magic mushrooms varies greatly.
In terms of coloration, the caps start off reddish and soften to a more golden tint as they age. The cap, like the majority of Psilocybe mushroom components, can bruise blue.
Gills
The gills are the component of a mushroom that releases spores. Fertilization is accomplished through the use of spores. They are generated asexually, and if the conditions are favorable, hyphae will grow from the ground, mate, and give rise to a new mushroom.
Gills begin as a pale color and darken as they release spores. Before the spores are expelled, a “veil” that covers the gills detaches from the cap and “drops” when the mushroom matures. The gills darken when spores are expelled.
Stem
Mature stems range in length from 4 to 15cm and thickness from 0.5 to 1.5cm. They are frequently white and might turn a bright yellow color. These, more than any other area of the body, can bruise blue. Mycelium (the white subterranean mould from which mushrooms develop) may appear as a fine, white, cotton-like fuzz at the base of the stem in household cultivation.
Different Strain
As previously stated, there are numerous strains of cubensis available today, each with unique properties. Some of these look nothing like their wild ancestors. Albino A+, for example, is simply that: albino. It seems ghostly white because there is no colour. Penis Envy, one of the strongest known strains of cubensis, has a noticeably phallic appearance and is far more difficult to cultivate than others.
Potency Of Psilocybe Cubensis
The appearance of cubensis mushrooms can differ in many ways. Potency also varies greatly between strains and even within strains. Once again, potency is determined by a mix of genetic and environmental factors.
Psilocybe cubensis potency can vary by a factor of ten in the wild. Cultivated mushrooms are more similar to one another, differing by a factor of about four. The concentration of two chemicals, psilocin and psilocybin, is used to determine mushroom potency. Psilocybin is transformed in the body to psilocin, which can subsequently be digested.
In the case of wild mushrooms, UV radiation and the nutrient content of the dung in which the mushrooms grow are regarded to be important variables in determining the eventual potency. This explains why indoor mushrooms have less diversity and are generally more strong. Their UV exposure will most likely be low, and their substrate will be nutrient-rich and properly controlled.
It’s also worth mentioning that smaller mushrooms from the same colony have a higher gram-for-gram concentration of psilocybin/psilocin than larger mushrooms. As a result, 10 grams of little mushrooms will be more potent than 10 grams of giant mushrooms.
Because of all of this variety, dosing mushrooms is always an estimate. There will be no two grams with the same amount of psychotropic chemicals! As a result, if you have the option, combining cubensis strains and sizes should even things out and allow for more precise dosage.
How To Cultivation Psilocybe Cubensis?
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are renowned for their ease of cultivation, as previously stated. They thrive in warm, humid settings where they may convert their hyphae into nutrient-rich excrement.
Indoors, they are sturdy, resilient, and adaptable to a variety of settings, making them simple to cultivate at home. While dung is their natural substrate, they may grow on a variety of host habitats, including grain, straw, cardboard, and coco coir, to mention a few. Psilocybe cubensis mycelium floating in water can even be grown. This is known as a liquid culture.
It not only grows nicely, but it can also travel. If you don’t want to dedicate room to fungal culture, you can get pre-colonised grow kits that will begin fruiting right away!
What Is A Mushroom Substrate?
Plants acquire energy from sunshine and collect water and nutrients from the soil to develop. Fungi, on the other hand, do not require light to develop and feed on decaying organic matter in the environment. The mushroom substrate provides energy and nourishment to the mushroom mycelium (the subterranean component of a fungus). As a result, it is the most significant factor in growing magic mushrooms.
When you buy a ready-to-grow mushroom kit from Zamnesia, it already includes a suitable substrate (a mix of perlite and vermiculite) and colonised “spawn,” such as a rye cake penetrated with mycelium. After some simple preparation, the mycelium in your kit will begin to grow, and your mushrooms will follow.
However, if you want to grow mushrooms in large quantities, you will need a suitable substrate that has been inoculated with mushroom spores or combined with mushroom spawn. The mycelium subsequently spreads throughout the substrate, eventually producing mushrooms (the fungus’s above-ground fruiting bodies).
There are numerous mushroom substrates. Straw or hardwood sawdust are two frequent ones, as is a blend of coco coir and vermiculite. Coffee grinds or manure can also be used as a mushroom substrate. Unlike garden soil, mushroom substrates must be prepared before use. You’ll need to add water and possibly nutrients as well. Most essential, the substrate must be pasteurized or sterilised.
what is the Best Substrate for Psilocybe Cubensis?
So, what is the greatest substrate for producing Psilocybe cubensis, otherwise known as our magical mushrooms and truffles? In our experience, mixtures of coco coir and vermiculite, as well as straw and manure, produce excellent results. This is not to indicate that you should not employ others; nevertheless, some of these substrates may be more difficult to obtain or are only ideal when blended. One of our favorites is a 1:1 blend of coco and vermiculite, which delivers ideal nourishment and has just the right structure for growing.
What To Do With Used Magic Mushroom Substrate?
You might be shocked at how much spent substrate you end up with once you’ve ventured deep into the wonderful world of mushroom cultivation. What should I do with it?
If you only have a tiny enterprise, there is no need to throw anything away—compost instead! Set aside a spot in your garden for a lovely pile of waste that will eventually transform into the best compost. This way, you’ll not only get some amazing magic mushrooms, but also a terrific soil supplement for whatever else you wish to plant!
Common Mushroom Substrates
A good substrate should not only include all of the organic ingredients your mushrooms require to thrive, but it should also be simple to deal with and inexpensive. Understand that there is no “best” solution for all species of mushrooms. As a result, some growers like to experiment with various substrates to discover which one produces the greatest results for each species of shroom.
Coco Coir And Vermiculite
A mushroom substrate made of coco coir and vermiculite is ideal. Coco coir is made from the husks and shells of coconuts, whereas vermiculite is a heat-treated and expanded mineral with a high water retention capacity. A standard 1:1 blend of coco coir and vermiculite.
A coco coir and vermiculite mixture is not very nourishing for plants, but it is sufficient for growing a variety of mushrooms. Pasteurize it before inserting your spores.
Coffee Grounds
Good gardeners understand the value of used coffee grounds. Because they are high in nitrogen, they make a great soil amendment. Coffee grounds are also suitable as a mushroom substrate, however they are not our first choice. Because discarded coffee grounds are high in organic compounds, they can readily contaminate your operation. As a result, rather of using them on their own, it is often preferable to combine them with other substrates such as coco or sawdust. Sterilisation is preferred, but pasteurisation can also be used.
Logs
Mushrooms enjoy devouring degraded organic stuff, which includes rotten wood. In theory, getting a log and cultivating some magic mushrooms sounds like a wonderful idea, but in practice, it can be a little complicated. To begin, not all mushrooms will grow on a log since some eat just particular types of wood and not others. Second, it can take several months to a year for the first flush of flowers to appear. However, it may be worthwhile if just for decorative purposes in your yard. A log, once inoculated, can produce flushes for many years and requires no care or sterilizing!
Living Trees
Fungi frequently create a mutually beneficial interaction with other creatures known as mycorrhizal association. That would be trees in our instance. You may come across trees in the wild that have mushrooms growing naturally along their trunks or branches. Inoculating a genuine tree with magical mushroom spores would be difficult and impractical for our goals, yet it may be doable. Logs are ideal for mushroom cultivation at home.
Manure
Many mushroom species, particularly Psilocybe variants, absolutely like manure. Manure is frequently utilized in commercial growth of culinary mushrooms, which can be a time-consuming process.
Manure must be composted to create a suitable substrate. This is accomplished by heating a mixture of manure and straw to 72°C, which kills the “bad” microbes while benefiting the beneficial ones. Following that, the compost is pasteurised once again to remove any leftover pollutants. Although commonly employed in the commercial sector, manure is not suitable for domestic use.
Soy Hulls
Another good substrate for mushroom growing is soy husks. By combining them with hardwood sawdust, you can achieve excellent results. Depending on the type of mushies you’re cultivating, you may need to experiment to find the best ratio. You can begin with a 1:1 ratio and work your way up to discover what produces the greatest results.
Sawdust Or Wood Chip Mixes
In addition to coco and vermiculite mixes, hardwood sawdust is a popular substrate for mushroom development. It’s appealing because it’s a waste product from the wood industry, which means it’s commonly available and inexpensive. Sawdust, on the other hand, is rarely utilized alone; it is usually blended with wood chips to improve its structure and pace of colonisation. However, not just any sawdust will do for mushrooms; it must be from a hardwood such as oak or maple. Magic mushrooms cannot be grown in softwoods.
Wood pellets can be used instead of hardwood sawdust. Because they are used in wood stoves, they are commonly available. The pellets must be soaked in water and ground into sawdust before inoculation.
Straw
Straw is a good mushroom growing substrate. As an agricultural waste product, it is usually quite cheap, so you can get a lot of it for very little money. Although your mushrooms will enjoy straw, be aware that it might be a bit messy to work with because it must be chopped, cleaned, and pasteurize. Unless you’re a commercial mushroom grower acquiring massive amounts of straw from a farm, a little bag from a grow store is probably preferable. This straw is frequently pre-cut and washed. To pasteurize, place the straw in a container and fill it with boiling water.
Other Magic Mushroom Substrates And Mixes
You should have no issue finding any, or at least some, of the above substrates to grow your magic mushrooms. But if you can’t for whatever reason, or if you just want to try something new, there are alternative options. Examine cellulose-based items such as paper and cardboard, as well as discarded grain and tea leaves. However, you won’t know which substrate is ideal for your type of mushroom unless you try it. There are numerous DIY mushroom substrate recipes available on the internet.
For some cultivators, it’s not so much the growing of mushrooms as it is coming up with wonderful new substrate formulas. You’ll have no trouble finding like-minded people to talk to and share your experiences with online.
What Is Liquid Culture?
Liquid culture (also known as LC) is a self-contained sterile environment that permits mycelium to grow in a mixture of water and sugar. Though a simple notion in theory, it actually creates the ideal environment for mycelium to thrive in a relatively short period of time.
It is frequently regarded as a low-cost yet highly successful method of producing mushrooms at home, owing to the fact that many of the supplies and instruments are readily available. However, liquid culture is not without risk; care must be taken to guarantee that the environment remains sterile and within the optimal limits.
While it starts off as a self-contained growing endeavor, once the culture matures, it must be inoculated into grain, compost, or something similar to allow the actual mushrooms to flourish.
Usage Of Psilocybe Cubensis
Without a question, magic mushrooms are a lot of fun. However, for many people, the psychedelic experience is considerably more than simply a little fun. Even among individuals who consume mushrooms strictly for recreational purposes, it’s rare to leave without feeling as if something significant has occurred.
So it’s no surprise that they’ve been used for religious and ceremonial purposes for thousands of years across numerous cultures. Psilocybe cubensis is being researched for its possible medical and therapeutic purposes in the modern world.
Effects Of Psilocybe Cubensis
Given the variety of potential applications and the reverence felt by many for these fungus, it should come as no surprise that the effects of Psilocybe cubensis can be exceedingly powerful and profound.
They produce a warping of reality that affects all senses at low doses. As the dose grows, this can become a full-fledged psychedelic trip. While total hallucinations and detachment from reality are uncommon with cubensis, it is nonetheless capable of causing intense experiences that transform the user’s connection with reality.
Because of their potency, these mushrooms must be treated with caution. While they are one of the more affectionate psychedelics in the sense that the high is frequently joyful by default, they can nevertheless turn sour if a user begins on a psychedelic mushroom excursion without giving sufficient respect. However, poor trips on mushrooms are far milder and shorter than on other psychedelics such as LSD.
When taking any psychedelic, make sure you’re in the right environment and have a positive mindset. That is, ensure that your mindset is good and tranquil, and that your surroundings are comfortable and familiar. Otherwise, it will be a war of wills, and the mushrooms will triumph!
Legality Of Psilocybe Cubensis
Magic mushroom legality varies from country to country. According to certain laws, mushrooms are categorised into constituent parts:
- Mushroom (fruiting body)
- Mycelium
- Spores
In certain countries, such as the Netherlands, these portions are treated differently by the law. For example, spores and mycelium (and truffles) are legal, which is why mushroom grow kits are legal, but mushroom fruiting bodies are banned. Check the regulations in your own nation before purchasing, growing, or plucking!
Psilocybe Cubensis: Nature’s Gift
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are, to put it mildly, fantastic. Despite the modern world’s irrational dread of psychedelics (which is fading), magic mushrooms have been popular for much of human history. And now, more scientific discoveries concerning them are being made that just add to this ancient reverence.
Nonetheless, anyone considering using such a potent substance should proceed with caution and respect. If you overdo it, you may develop a lifetime phobia of them. If you tread carefully, you might find yourself with a loving companion for the rest of your life.