Actually, after the very 1st flush, all the next flushes go easier and faster (10-15 days for the next crop). You don't have to take care of your cake every day! Just soak it, make sure you have air vents in your growbox/monotub (or flip the top lid upside down to have a gap between lid and box for airflow) and that's it!
No problem if you leave the cake unattended for a few days, or week, or even until harvest.
What would I do in your case?
1) The best way. Store fully colonized grain spawn jars/bags for up to 4 month in the refrigerator and make 'fresh' cakes when you have time to take care of them. This method is less stressful for mycelium, less risks of contamination and you'll get a good harvest.
More details here: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/How_to_store_Mushroom_Spawn_for_a_long_time_and_postpone_Spawn_to_Bulk
2) Fruiting outdoors. Bury cake in the garden (or in a plant pot) and let nature do its job. It is possible if the day/night temperature within 50-85F or 10-30С and of course, if this option feasible in your environment.
Find examples here: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/Disposing_of_magic_mushrooms_cakes
3) After all, if you REALLY need to pause the process from one flush to the next it is better to do the next.
Mist the cake or soak in water as described in this guide. Then put it in a clean plastic bag to retain moisture and store it in the refrigerator to slow down the growth (up to 2-3 weeks at 36-54F or 2-12C). If the cake is wet enough you can soak it AFTER the storing in a refrigerator. Then provide fruiting conditions and wait for the flush.
However, it could be stressful for mycelium, higher risk of contam, yield could be lower or even 0.
If you store cake back in the dark in a fruiting chamber (without rehydration) here are the possible scenarios:
1) cake dries out and mycelium dies -> Game over!
2) cake will bear fruit in the dark if there is enough moisture -> Such magic :)
Hi Shroomok, is there a chance to pause the process from one flush to the next? The reason is that I am not always at home and cannot care all the time about my growth. I was thinking store the cake back in the dark and simply not rehydrate it after the previous harvest. What will happen?
@On.point.paul don't worry, should be fine! After harvesting soak the cake in water for 2-4 hours (check the next step of this guide) and you'll see new pins growing again (typically within 3-10 days).
Good luck!
@shroomok I misunderstood harvest suggestions and picked my pins after the first flush. Will I still get a decent second flush or have I potentially stunted the grow?
Yes, it is possible to play with truffle grow box, but only mycelium samples should be used to inoculate the grain. Mycelium before sclerotia forms is the best. Don't use sclerotia stones for your G2G transfer!
It is also possible (and better) to use mycelium samples for further Agar work.
The sterility routine is crucial. There is no 100% guarantee of the result, but your approach has a better chance of success ;)
Looking forward to your experiments and updates.
Hello Shroomok, same question as @Kennedy but with truffles out of a truffle grow box (truffles are still growing and box isn't open yet). Can I use the grain2grain technique with the still air box to produce the truffles in my own jars?
Hi! I used your guide using glas jars with rubber injection ports and air locks. Pc for 1,5 h. Injected with a syringe front a online store. For some reason I got green mold in all 6 jars. That was a really big surprise. Any ideas what went wrong?
In this write up, I wanted to show the entire process from spore print/syringe to final harvest, which took about 8 months. So yes, it's a longread!
It is much easier to navigate if you click on the "Table of contents" to see all steps and subtitles.
Regarding substrate description. At the beginning of this step (Step 2) I mentioned:
1) what grain is the best to use
2) what I'd avoid and why
3) what I prefer to use.
Then you can see a few options of substrates for YOUR choice:
1) how to prepare whole grain (oats, rye, millet, wild bird seeds, wheat, barley). The process is the same for ANY type of whole grain. The only difference is a simmering time. As an example I showed the process with whole oats.
2) how to prepare rye grass seeds (recipe)
3) how to prepare BRF substrate (recipe)
Just choose one ;)
Lastly, I'm always urging growers to do more DIY and, of course, make their own grain jars/bags. Why? The quality will be better, you can make them anytime you want and it will be much cheaper! Just take a look 'Start making your own grain substrate for mushrooms and save money': https://shroomok.com/amazon-kits/grain-substrate-for-mushrooms
Let me know if you have a specific question or need details about a step you are struggling with.
I'm always glad to help and ready to add/update information if something is unclear to readers.
B+ STRAIN (aka SUBspecies) belongs to Psilocybe Cubensis species. NONE of the Psilocybe Cubensis strains (B+ in particular) produce sclerotia. Therefore, if you want magic truffles, you need to have the proper species (not a strain of P.Cubensis) that is genetically capable of producing truffles. You've mentioned them already: Psilocybe Tampanensis, Psilocybe Mexicana (Jalisco, Mexicana A, Psilocybe Pajaritos), Psilocybe Galindoi, Psilocybe Atlantis, Psilocybe Atl#7.
For a better understanding of mushroom genetics take a look at the Mushroom Genetic Tree here: https://shroomok.com/articles:mushroom-strains – it's a graph, which consists of Mushroom categories -> species -> strains -> hybrids/crosses/isolations.
Hi Shroomok.
"All species that produce sclerotia also can produce mushrooms."
But what the other way around? You've mentioned Psilocybe Mexicana, Psilocybe Galindoi or Psilocybe Tampanensis, Psilocybe Atl#7, Psilocybe Atlantis. I have only B+ at the moment. Is it a good idea to start with this for an experiment or should I try to order one of your listed spores?
Thank you
This and many other sites are as confusing as can be. Your substrate description is also confusing. It seems like they're doing on purpose to get people to buy already prepared substrate. First you say you can use oats. Then you go on to describe the process of preparing rye. I don't know if the people writing these are on shrooms as they're writing them but they just don't make any sense it jumps around too much. It is a very lengthy and complicated description. Please compile a one pager for each substrate recipe thank you!
Hello @Kennedy!
I’m glad you found this guide helpful.
The short answer is NO. If you simply put a sclerotia in grain it will rot.
However it is possible to CLONE sclerotia sample (from the inside) on the agar. The risk of contamination is still high, so you will need to make a several transfers from agar to agar and perhaps use peroxidated/antibiotic agar to clean up the culture. Then you can use healthy mycelium on agar for grain inoculation. This approach is more likely to succeed ;)
Thank you for your comment and kind word!
Regards, Shroomok
Hello Shroomok, thanks for the helpful guide!
I have just one question left:
If you have access to sclerotia from a box of fresh magic truffle (ready to consume) as you can buy them in Netherlands, is it possible to just use them to inoculate your grain instead of using a syringe with a liquid culture?
Thanks in advance for the answer and keep up the good work!
Greetings, Kennedy
That was informative, you had 4 that are new to me and got me a little curious, good job by the way, very easy to understand for anyone new and curious, give this a read
or
or
I want to ask what is the item that looks like a egg or electronic cattle ?
Automated monotub for mushroom cultivation
I want some
The magic of Golden Teacher mushroom
Hi @Kitty555, glad to see you... again ;)
Actually, after the very 1st flush, all the next flushes go easier and faster (10-15 days for the next crop). You don't have to take care of your cake every day! Just soak it, make sure you have air vents in your growbox/monotub (or flip the top lid upside down to have a gap between lid and box for airflow) and that's it!
No problem if you leave the cake unattended for a few days, or week, or even until harvest.
What would I do in your case?
1) The best way. Store fully colonized grain spawn jars/bags for up to 4 month in the refrigerator and make 'fresh' cakes when you have time to take care of them. This method is less stressful for mycelium, less risks of contamination and you'll get a good harvest.
More details here: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/How_to_store_Mushroom_Spawn_for_a_long_time_and_postpone_Spawn_to_Bulk
2) Fruiting outdoors. Bury cake in the garden (or in a plant pot) and let nature do its job. It is possible if the day/night temperature within 50-85F or 10-30С and of course, if this option feasible in your environment.
Find examples here: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/Disposing_of_magic_mushrooms_cakes
3) After all, if you REALLY need to pause the process from one flush to the next it is better to do the next.
Mist the cake or soak in water as described in this guide. Then put it in a clean plastic bag to retain moisture and store it in the refrigerator to slow down the growth (up to 2-3 weeks at 36-54F or 2-12C). If the cake is wet enough you can soak it AFTER the storing in a refrigerator. Then provide fruiting conditions and wait for the flush.
However, it could be stressful for mycelium, higher risk of contam, yield could be lower or even 0.
If you store cake back in the dark in a fruiting chamber (without rehydration) here are the possible scenarios:
1) cake dries out and mycelium dies -> Game over!
2) cake will bear fruit in the dark if there is enough moisture -> Such magic :)
Good luck with your experiments!
Rehydration of psilocybe cakes
Hi Shroomok, is there a chance to pause the process from one flush to the next? The reason is that I am not always at home and cannot care all the time about my growth. I was thinking store the cake back in the dark and simply not rehydrate it after the previous harvest. What will happen?
Rehydration of psilocybe cakes
@On.point.paul don't worry, should be fine! After harvesting soak the cake in water for 2-4 hours (check the next step of this guide) and you'll see new pins growing again (typically within 3-10 days).
Good luck!
Magic mushroom harvesting time, first flush
@shroomok I misunderstood harvest suggestions and picked my pins after the first flush. Will I still get a decent second flush or have I potentially stunted the grow?
Magic mushroom harvesting time, first flush
Looks like early trichoderma about to release spores
Clots of mycelium on top liquid culture
Hello @Kitty555
Yes, it is possible to play with truffle grow box, but only mycelium samples should be used to inoculate the grain. Mycelium before sclerotia forms is the best. Don't use sclerotia stones for your G2G transfer!
It is also possible (and better) to use mycelium samples for further Agar work.
The sterility routine is crucial. There is no 100% guarantee of the result, but your approach has a better chance of success ;)
Looking forward to your experiments and updates.
Enjoy and good luck,
Shroomok
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hello Shroomok, same question as @Kennedy but with truffles out of a truffle grow box (truffles are still growing and box isn't open yet). Can I use the grain2grain technique with the still air box to produce the truffles in my own jars?
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hi @Eric
Most likely, your syringe was contaminated. Also poor sterility routine before/during inoculation process could be the reason in your case.
Substrate sterilization before adding psilocybe spores
Hi! I used your guide using glas jars with rubber injection ports and air locks. Pc for 1,5 h. Injected with a syringe front a online store. For some reason I got green mold in all 6 jars. That was a really big surprise. Any ideas what went wrong?
Substrate sterilization before adding psilocybe spores
Hey @WhatDPluck??
In this write up, I wanted to show the entire process from spore print/syringe to final harvest, which took about 8 months. So yes, it's a longread!
It is much easier to navigate if you click on the "Table of contents" to see all steps and subtitles.
Regarding substrate description. At the beginning of this step (Step 2) I mentioned:
1) what grain is the best to use
2) what I'd avoid and why
3) what I prefer to use.
Then you can see a few options of substrates for YOUR choice:
1) how to prepare whole grain (oats, rye, millet, wild bird seeds, wheat, barley). The process is the same for ANY type of whole grain. The only difference is a simmering time. As an example I showed the process with whole oats.
2) how to prepare rye grass seeds (recipe)
3) how to prepare BRF substrate (recipe)
Just choose one ;)
Perhaps this guide for making grain substrate + additional recipes here will be more helpful for you: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/Cooking_the_substrate_for_psilocybes
Lastly, I'm always urging growers to do more DIY and, of course, make their own grain jars/bags. Why? The quality will be better, you can make them anytime you want and it will be much cheaper! Just take a look 'Start making your own grain substrate for mushrooms and save money': https://shroomok.com/amazon-kits/grain-substrate-for-mushrooms
Let me know if you have a specific question or need details about a step you are struggling with.
I'm always glad to help and ready to add/update information if something is unclear to readers.
Thank you!
Shroomok
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hi @Kitty555
B+ STRAIN (aka SUBspecies) belongs to Psilocybe Cubensis species. NONE of the Psilocybe Cubensis strains (B+ in particular) produce sclerotia. Therefore, if you want magic truffles, you need to have the proper species (not a strain of P.Cubensis) that is genetically capable of producing truffles. You've mentioned them already: Psilocybe Tampanensis, Psilocybe Mexicana (Jalisco, Mexicana A, Psilocybe Pajaritos), Psilocybe Galindoi, Psilocybe Atlantis, Psilocybe Atl#7.
For a better understanding of mushroom genetics take a look at the Mushroom Genetic Tree here: https://shroomok.com/articles:mushroom-strains – it's a graph, which consists of Mushroom categories -> species -> strains -> hybrids/crosses/isolations.
B+ is a good one for beginners in mushrooom cultivation. To grow Psilocybe Cubensis B+ and any other Cubensis strain follow 20 steps of my growing diary here: https://shroomok.com/articles:grow-mushrooms-at-home-guide
Best of luck in your endeavors🤞
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hi Shroomok.
"All species that produce sclerotia also can produce mushrooms."
But what the other way around? You've mentioned Psilocybe Mexicana, Psilocybe Galindoi or Psilocybe Tampanensis, Psilocybe Atl#7, Psilocybe Atlantis. I have only B+ at the moment. Is it a good idea to start with this for an experiment or should I try to order one of your listed spores?
Thank you
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
This and many other sites are as confusing as can be. Your substrate description is also confusing. It seems like they're doing on purpose to get people to buy already prepared substrate. First you say you can use oats. Then you go on to describe the process of preparing rye. I don't know if the people writing these are on shrooms as they're writing them but they just don't make any sense it jumps around too much. It is a very lengthy and complicated description. Please compile a one pager for each substrate recipe thank you!
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hello @Kennedy!
I’m glad you found this guide helpful.
The short answer is NO. If you simply put a sclerotia in grain it will rot.
However it is possible to CLONE sclerotia sample (from the inside) on the agar. The risk of contamination is still high, so you will need to make a several transfers from agar to agar and perhaps use peroxidated/antibiotic agar to clean up the culture. Then you can use healthy mycelium on agar for grain inoculation. This approach is more likely to succeed ;)
Thank you for your comment and kind word!
Regards, Shroomok
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
Hello Shroomok, thanks for the helpful guide!
I have just one question left:
If you have access to sclerotia from a box of fresh magic truffle (ready to consume) as you can buy them in Netherlands, is it possible to just use them to inoculate your grain instead of using a syringe with a liquid culture?
Thanks in advance for the answer and keep up the good work!
Greetings, Kennedy
How to grow magic truffles Psilocybe Mexicana and Tampanensis
That was informative, you had 4 that are new to me and got me a little curious, good job by the way, very easy to understand for anyone new and curious, give this a read
How to make mushroom Liquid Culture
I’m in a place with fluctuating temperatures and was curious if I could use a dehydrator on the lowest temp (85ish) as an incubator?
Magic mushrooms incubator control
Not bad. I've had 45 grammers consistently tho
Cubensis Albino Penis Envy 31 grams