Stuff to buy for growing
Check the list of required stuff for your first mushroom grow! Shopping list and necessary equipment for mushroom cultivation. List of helpful stuff to make your mushroom growing process easier, however they are not necessary for the first try
Pre-growing preparation tour. Shopping lists. How to start magic mushrooms growing?
What are the main stages of the magic mushrooms life cycle?
Remember! The whole Mushroom Cultivation process consists of 2 main stages:
1️⃣ Colonization period (first 2-4 weeks). It is vegetative phase when mycelium of psilocybin mushrooms is formed. This mycelium grab the nutrient substrate in the jars or spawn bags.
For this phase we need to prepare liquid spore syringe, spawn substrate, bags or jars for spawn substrate, make substrate sterilization, substrate inoculation, make mushroom cakes and cover them with casing layer, make an incubator and control the necessary microclimate conditions for this period: no light at all, temperature +27+30°C or 80-86°F, low humidity (30-55%).
2️⃣ Fruiting and harvesting period (next 6-8 weeks after colonization period). It is a phase of pinhead and primordia formation, mushrooms fruit bodies growth and harvesting.
For this phase, we need to prepare a growbox (aka fruiting chamber), reduce temperature to +21+23°C or 70-74°F, provide lighting, high humidity (90-99%) and ventilation.
At first, it will be enough to prepare all stuff for the first stage — colonization period. If you succeed in it, then proceed for the second phase.
Newbie cultivators often don't know about the separation of these two stages of mushroom cultivation and confused the conditions (most often temperature conditions). In the next sections we'll discuss step by step all details, differences and possible mistakes for each period.
Where do you start your magic mushroom cultivation? Alternatives and costs
❇️ Option 1 — «grow kits and no worries»
Ready to use basic and simple growbox and/or grow kit for beginners with everything you need to start can be found online. The price is about $100-$200. Also you'll need to buy some stuff for convenience and make shopping at the pharmacy.
Delivery within 3-5 days if shop is located in your country. About 2-3 weeks for delivery from other countries.
Fully automated grow box made specifically for growing mushrooms costs from 130$ and more.
You can also buy ready to use sterile substrates and some useful stuff to save money for the first attempt.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon (for beginners):
Simple Fast Automated Cultivation Equipment, 12 Jars Mushroom Growing Kit - $130.86
To be honest, such kits are "so-so" quality, but good enough for a start for newbie. For experienced cultivators it's better to make everything by your own. It's worth it!
❇️ Option 2 — «DIY»
It's super easy, fun and exciting process! You can assemble your incubator and fruiting chamber (growbox or monotube) by your own. This constructor is real to make much better and even cheaper in long-term prospect.
You don't need to buy everything at once. You just need time, passion and patience.
Our total costs were about $130 for the whole process described in this guide
Your very first growing can be organized cheaper. You can spend no more than 80$ for EVERYTHING you need. We'll show you how you can save money for the first time. All costs were 130$ for the whole growing process described in this guide, including equipment for simple Incubator and GrowBox and additional tools for our convenience. This price doesn't include pressure cooker, autoclave or expensive stuff for professional mycology.
As a result, it turned into 1 kg 883 g of raw harvest (details about yield by strains and by flushes in Growing Stats section) and about a hundred spore prints. But the most important were emotions gained from 10 weeks of an exciting GROWING trip!
Let's move step by step and make a list of necessary stuff to start you own mushroom cultivation.
List of required items for colonization period
For the first stage of growing process you need to prepare:
1️⃣ Spore print in zip bag. This is the most important and indispensable participant of the whole growing process. Then we'll prepare a Liquid spore syringe for substrate Inoculation.
2️⃣ Cardboard box, pasted inside with air-bubble wrap (for heat retention). It will be our incubator in the future. It's dead easy!
The air-bubble wrap is glued with double-sided tape.
Styrofoam box as incubator for mushroom cultivation.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Thermobox for mushroom incubator 14" x 14" x 14" - $31.99
Thermo Foam Box for mushroom incubator, 19"x 12" x 16" - $32.84
Thermobox for mushroom incubator 17" x 17" x 17" - $47.99
Cabinet or cupboard shelf as incubator for mushroom colonization period
3️⃣ Jars with lids for spawn substrate or spawn bags. Polypropylene jars with polypropylene lids, glass screw jars with metal twist-off lids or Mason jars. The volume of jars from 250 ml to 1 liter. About the features, preparation, advantages and disadvantages of each type of jars we'll talk in detail in the Jars for spawn substrate section.
⚗️ Any kind of glass jars with twist-off metal lids.
⚗️ Mason jars for making inoculation port and air filter.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids & Bands | 16-oz | 2-Pack - $10.42
Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids & Bands | 16-oz | 6-Pack - $24.99
Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids & Bands | 24 oz | 2-Pack - $32.99
Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids & Bands | 32 oz | 12-Pack - $37.00
⚗️ Lid components for air filters and self-healing injection ports (aka bottle stoppers).
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Synthetic Filter Disc for spawn jars - 64 pcs. - $8.99
Self Healing Injection Ports for mushroom spawn jars- 100 pcs. - $7.99
Syringe Filters PTFE Hydrophobic for spawn jars - 25/50 pcs. - $13.99/$17.71
2-in-1: Filters 64 pcs. + Vial Rubber Injection Ports 100 pcs. - $12.99
3-in-1: Wide Plastic Lid + Syringe Filter + Self Healing Injection Ports - 3 Pack - $14.99
3-in-1: Mushroom Growing Jar Lids - Regular Mouth - Filter + Injection Ports - 6 Pack - $16.99
3-in-1: Ready to use Mason Jar Lid + Syringe Filter + Self Healing Injection Ports - 6 Pack - $22.99
⚗️ Heat-resistant Polypropylene (5PP) jars.
Polypropylene is NOT an ordinary food plastic. Food PE withstand temperatures up to +100°C (212°F). But polypropylene can withstand temperatures up to +140°C (284°F).
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
PP jars for grain spawn&LC | 16 oz.| 12-Pack - $15.99
PP jars for spawn&LC 24 oz. | 12/16/24/32 oz. | 8/9/12/15/16/24/30-Pack - $11.97-$17.97
PP jars for mushroom spawn&LC 32 oz. | 8/12/16/24/32 oz | 24/48-Pack - $17.99 - $19.99
Autoclavable Reusable PP Jars with CO2 Filter |17 oz. | 6-Pack - $22.99
⚗️ Polypropylene Autoclavable Mushroom Grow Bags as jar alternative.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Small-Medium Mushroom Spawn Bag with Air Filter- 10 pcs. - $7.59
Middle Mushroom Spawn Bags with Filter -10/20/50/100 pcs. - $9.99-$47.68
Large Mushroom Grow Bags with Gas Filter - 25 pcs. - $24.95
Autoclavable Polypropylene Grow Bags + Injection Port + CO2 Filter - 10 pcs - $28.49
4️⃣ Heater for incubator to keep the temperature in the incubator +27°...+30°C or 80-86°F for the first 2 weeks. But it depends on the season of the year and temperature conditions in your home. So, during the hot season you can do without it, but during the cold season you'll need additional heating.
You can use shoe dryer
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Heater for incubator and Boot Dryer - $14.99
Incubator heater and Boot Dryer - $25.49
Shoe Dryer with build in fan - $44.44
Or heating mat (silicone mat heater, heat mat for terrarium, floor mat heater, plant and seed warming mat, hydroponic heating pad for indoor seedling and germination), animals bed heater, any household heater or any heating element, сorner near radiator or even your cat.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Reptile Heating Pad without Thermostat, Waterproof - 8" X 12" and other sizes - $14.99
Seedling Heat Mat without Thermostat, Waterproof - 20" x 20" and other sizes - $39.99
Seedling Heat Mat with Digital Thermostat Combo Set - 48"x20.75" - $75.99
Pet Heating Pad, Waterproof - 96-108℉ - 17.7 x 15.7 Inch and bigger size - $23.99
Pet Heating Pad - 86-131℉/30-55℃ - Timer, Waterproof - Size: 28x16 Inch and bigger size - $37.99
✅ Thermostat, temperature controllers for mushroom incubator. Optional, but useful device to maintain stable temperature
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
BN-LINK Digital Heat Mat Thermostat Controller - $18.99
Digital Temperature Controller Dual Probe - $30.99
WILLHI 10A Temperature Controller 110V Digital Thermostat Switch - $31.99
Inkbird WiFi Thermostat Temperature Controller with 2 Probes and 2 Outlets - $34.99
Inkbird Digital Temperature Controller 2-Stage Outlet 110V 10A 1100W - $35.00
5️⃣ Whole pure dry grain that is suitable for food for people and animals. You can use organic grain or grain for sprouting.
To prepare the spawn substrate you need at least 1-2 liters of dry grain per 1 spore print. In fact, even 10 liters of grain can be inoculated with one spore print, it depends the inoculation method.
For spawn substrate you can use: wheat berry, oats, barley, rye, wild bird seeds, popcorn, corn, brown rice, millet, sorghum.
🌾 Whole wheat berries.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Hard Red Winter Wheat Berries, 5 lbs - $17.95🌾 Whole oat with husk.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Organic Whole Oat Grain Seeds (With Husk Intact), 2 Lb - $21.94
🌾 Brown rice.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
BEN’S ORIGINAL Whole Grain Brown Rice - 2 lbs. - $3.48
Extra Long Brown Basmati Rice - 3.3 Pounds - $14.99
Nishiki Premium Brown Rice - 15 Pounds - $25.59
🌾 Millet or wild bird seeds
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Bird Red Millet, 1/2/10/20 lb - $9.99-$59.99
Deluxe Wild Bird Food, 10 lb bag - $14.99
Wild Bird Seed Mix, 10-Pound bag (10/20/40) - $27.99-$52.99
Organic Rye Berries, 5 lbs bag - $21.95
Details about grain options, peculiarities of substrate preparation and sterilization we'll discuss in sections: Choose and prepare substrate, Cooking the substrate for psilocybin mushrooms and Spawn substrate sterilization
✅ You can buy ready to inoculate sterile grain for mushroom spawn, so that skip next steps and move on Inoculation section. Such option can save your time greatly and money for expensive pressure cooker, jars and lids accessories. It's a great option if you just want to try mushroom cultivation with ease.
Shroomok's choice on Amazon:
Sterilized Rye Berry Mushroom Substrate with Self Healing Injection Port - 1/6/12 Bags - $9.69
Sterilized Wheat Grain Bag with Injection Port - 3 Lb - 1 Bag - $14.95
Mini All in One Mushroom Grow Bag - $22.95
All in One Mushroom Grow Bag – Coco Coir & Rye Berry 1.5 LBS - $24.99
Sterilized Wheat Berries in Injectable Jars with Self-Healing Injection Port and Filter - 3 Jars - $35.99
Sterilized Rye Grain Mushroom Substrate in Injectable Jars - 2 Jars - $36.95
Sterilized Rye Berry Grain Bag with Injection Port - 3 lbs (2 Bags Each 1.5 lb) - $38.74
Sterilized Rye Berries Substrate in Mushroom Grow Bags - 1 Pound - 6 Bags - $43.95
Sterilized Rye Berry Mushroom Substrate in Injectable Quart Jars - 4 Jars - $53.95
BRF Jars Brown Rice Flour Mushroom Substrate - 6 Jars - $54.95
Sterilized Rye Berry Mushroom Substrate in Injectable Jars - 12 Jars- $116.00
6️⃣ Drainage. Vermiculite and Perlite
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Vermiculite 8 qt. - 1/2/5 Pack - $12.64
Organic Vermiculite 4/8 qt. - $15.95
Organic Perlite 1/4/8 qt. - $10.99
Premium Perlite 8 qt. - $13.89
7️⃣ Thermometer and hygrometer. Electronic thermometer with a hygrometer or an ordinary household thermometer to monitor temperature in the incubator and grow box.
More convenient to use electronic external thermometer and hygrometer 2-in-1.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
2-in-1: Simple Digital Thermometer and Hygrometer - $7.95
Bluetooth Digital Hygrometer, Thermometer with Remote App - $12.99
2-in-1: Professional Digital Hygrometer, Thermometer - $17.99
List of required items for fruiting period
For the second stage of growing process you need to prepare:
1️⃣ Plastic container or terrarium for making fruiting chamber (aka grow box).
Detailed construction of the fruiting chamber is presented in the DIY Grow Box for Magic mushrooms. Fruiting conditions section.
The volume should be about 30-40 liters (30-40Qt). You can use plastic boxes of larger (50-80L or about 50-80Qt) or smaller shoeboxes (15-20L or 15-20 Qt) as well. The bigger the better. Because the will be accumulated less carbon dioxide (CO2) during mushrooms growing. Bigger grow box can be ventilated rarely. It's easier to control the microclimate conditions.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Plastic Shoeboxes for mushroom cultivation - 14/17/28/58/68 Qt - 4/6/10/12 Pack - $27.99-$137.59
Container for Mushroom growbox, 64 Quart - 2 Pack - $45.99
Homz Container for Mushroom growbox or monotube, 15/31/64/66/112 Qt - 2/4 Pack - $47.45/$79.99
Buckle Plastic Box for mushroom cultivation - 132 Quart - 1 Pack - $64.31
2️⃣ LED lamp. The lamp light should be weak in the blue range (~435 nm).
No need to use powerful lamp. Light is needed only to set the direction of growth for mushroom fruit bodies. A diode strip is also suitable for lighting your grow box. Moreover, natural light is suitable as well, but NOT direct sunlight and only diffused light.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
RGB Color for mushroom cultivation, Light Bulb W/ Remote Control - $9.99
Lamp for mushroom growing, Flexible Gooseneck, 3 Level Brightness - $13.41
LED Light for mushroom cultivation, RGB, Battery Powered, Waterproof W/Remote, 3 Pack - $14.29
Gooseneck Lamp for mushroom growbox, Metal Large Clamp, Adjustable Light - $23.98
LED Lamp for mushrooms, Wireless Charger, USB Charging, Touch Control, Auto Timer - $26.99
LED Lamp for mushrooms, USB Charging Port, 2 AC Power Outlet, 1H Timer - $26.99
Led Floor Lamp, 4 Color Temperatures Brightness Levels, Adjustable Gooseneck - $39.99
3️⃣ Plastic Food Containers. Any food flat container for making small mushroom cakes and casing. The volume about 1-3 liters can be used
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Garden Propagator Set for Mushroom Cakes - 3/10/20 Pack - $7.99
Lunch Boxes with Lids for mushroom cakes - 28 oz - 12/20 Pack - $10.99-$16.99
Seed Starting Plant Growing Trays for Mushroom Cakes - 10 pcs. - $21.99
EarlyGrow Medium Domed Propagator, for Mushroom Cake - $22.99
Food Container with Lid - 28/32/38 oz - 50 Pack. - $26.99-33.99
4️⃣ Coconut peat soil or coconut substrate. One liter is enough for 2-3 liters of spawn grain. It is necessary to have coconut fiber in the compost.
Or you can use pressed coconut fiber bricks. Such one coco block is enough for 5 liters of grain, because the coconut fiber will increase 10 times when soaked in water.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Coco Coir Mini Brick 650 Gram Block - $9.99
MOTHER EARTH Coco Bale 5 kg, 100% Coconut Coir Fibers - $19.38
Bliss Premium Coconut Coir, 10 lbs Brick - $23.99
Coco Coir Mega Brick, 11 Pound - $26.75
5️⃣ Limestone flour based on calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is used as a buffer agent to reduce substrate acidity level. And
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Lime, Calcium Carbonate for mushroom cultivation, 2 qt. - $12.99
Organic Lime, Calcium Carbonate for mushrooms, 5lb - $16.90
Organics Lime for mushrooms, 6 lb - $17.76
Oyster Shell Flour - Source of Calcium - $24.99
6️⃣ Gypsum (CaSO4) for substrate aeration.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Food Grade Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum) 3 Pounds - $6.35
Organic Garden Gypsum Calcium Sulfate, 5 lb - $20.00
✅ You can buy ready to use sterilized compost with right water content. No need to buy coco coir, vermiculite, gypsum, limestone and spend time for pasteurization or sterilization. Ready to use sterile coco coir mixed with vermiculite and Lime to use as Casing layer or Spawn to Bulk for Mushroom Cakes or Monotube you can find on Amazon.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Ready Sterilized Compost Mushroom Substrate - 10 Pounds - 1 Bag - $24.95
Coco Coir, Vermiculite, Gypsum - 5 lbs - $24.99
Ready Sterile Coco Coir/Vermiculite Casing Substrate - 5 Pounds - $34.95
List of required items to buy at the pharmacy
1️⃣ Growers outfit: face mask, gloves, medical cap, disposable medical gown or PE raincoat
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: 10 Gloves and 1 Mask Bundle - $7.99
2️⃣ Sterile syringe (5ml or 10ml or 20 ml) with needle — 1 syringe per 1 spore print. Better to use a big volume syringe to prepare more liquid spore suspension.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Syringe Needle for LC or spore syringe, 18 ga - 50 Pack - $9.90
Plastic Syringe for Liquid culture or spore syringe, 5/10/20/60 ml - 12 Pack - $9.99
Sterile Syringe for liquid spore or liquid culture 5/10/20/30/60 ml - 30Pack - $13.19
3️⃣ Antibiotic in pills or Hydrogen peroxide solution 3% (H2O2) - optional!
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Amazon - Solimo Hydrogen Peroxide Topical Solution USP, 32 Fl Oz - $6.07
4️⃣ Antibiotic in ampoule or Hydrogen peroxide solution 3% (H2O2) - optional! Veterinary antibiotics can be used
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Amazon - Solimo Hydrogen Peroxide Topical Solution USP, 32 Fl Oz - $6.07
5️⃣ Sterile injection water — minimum 3-5 ml per 1 spore print. Additional 5-15 ml will be needed to dilute the liquid spore suspension and fill in the whole volume of syringe.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Sterile Water 100ml 6 Bottles - $12.59
6️⃣ Ethyl alcohol (70% or 96%) — 400-500 ml minimum. We recommend to use 70% alcohol in spray bottle.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Isopropyl Alcohol 70% USP Grade - One Quart Spray - $21.99
Isopropyl Alcohol 70% USP Grade - 4 X 1 Quart Spray Bottle - $45.00
7️⃣ Breathable bactericidal patch — minimum 20-30 pcs. For 1 jar you will need 3 patches and 8-10 pcs. for the grow box. Or you can use micropore, omnipore tape.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
3M Micropore Tape 1530-1 (2 rolls) 1 x 10 yards - $4.60
Micropore Surgical Tape - 3m - 2" x 10 YD - 6 rolls - $9.95
Box of Flexible breathable bandages - 50 pcs. - $14.99
8️⃣ Cotton disks — 1 pack (50-100 pcs.)
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon: Cotton Rounds Organic, 100 Count - $3.79
List of required kitchen and household items
1️⃣ Pressure cooker, autoclave or multicooker.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Aluminum Pressure Cooker - 7 Qt - Silver - $38.45
Pressure Cooker 15-PSI, Polished Aluminum - 22 Qt - $91.39
Pressure Canner and Cooker - 23 Qt - $128.63
Pressure Cooker & Canner, 3 PSI Settings - 22 Qt - $129.99
Steam Autoclave Sterilizer - 8.5 Qt - $179.90
Professional All-American Non-Electric Sterilizer - 25 Qt - $449.95
2️⃣ Saucepan (the volume about 3 liters).
3️⃣ Sieve or colander.
4️⃣ Aluminium foil.
5️⃣ Marker pen.
6️⃣ Teaspoon.
7️⃣ Tablespoon.
Useful and helpful, but not necessary stuff
These items will be helpful for cultivation process, but not necessary for the first growing experience.
1️⃣ Aquarium air pump for automatic ventilation and to maintain high humidity level. This gadget is useful for automatic fresh air exchange.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Quiet Oxygen Pump for 20-100 Gallon - 2 Outlets - $14.99
Air Pump with Dual Outlets - up to 80 Gallon - $16.98
Adjustable Oxygen Pump for 20-100 Gallon - 2 Outlets - $16.99
Powerful Air Pump - for 20-200 Gallon - 2 Outlets - $19.99
Your grow box can be ventilated and misted manually. Details are in the DIY Grow Box for Magic mushrooms and Pinhead initiation. Fruiting parameters sections.
2️⃣ Humidifier for growbox. Terrarium humidifier allows you to maintain a constant humidity level of the grow box automatically.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Cheap USB-Powered Mini Humidifier 250ml - $6.99
USB Mini Portable Humidifier 350ml - Led Light - $10.99
Portable Humidifying Unit - 0.7 L - Light and Auto Shut-Off - $29.99
Professional Humidifier/fogger with Extension Tube - 4L Large Tank - $37.99
Professional Humidifier Double Extension Tube, 2 in 1 Joint - 2.2 L Tank - $45.99
Professional Humidifier, Fogger for GrowBox - 2 L Tank - $45.99
3️⃣ Carbon dioxide sensor (CO2 detector). To control carbon dioxide level in growbox during mushrooms fruiting period. These sensors are also indicate temperature and relative humidity.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
3-in-1: CO2 Detector, Temperature, Humidity - $39.97
3-in-1: Portable CO2 Detector, Temperature, Humidity - LCD Display - $48.99
Air Quality Monitor: CO2, Temperature Humidity - NDIR Channel Sensor, Rechargeable Battery - $71.99
3-in-1: CO2 Meter, Temperature, Humidity; USB Power & Battery - $89.45
Professional 6-in-1: CO2 Detector, Air Pollution, Temperature, Humidity - $89.99
3-in-1: CO2, Temperature, Humidity, Tabletop & Wall Mountable - $129.99
Smart Home - All-in-One - Radon & Air Quality Monitor - $148.76
4️⃣ Soil pH meter to check and control acidity level of substrate.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
3-in-1 Soil Moisture pH Light Meter - $15.90
4-in-1 Soil Tester Moisture - $18.99
Digital Soil Ph Meter - $21.93
5️⃣ UV Sanitizer Lamp. Useful for preparing conditionally clean spore prints from your harvest and for preparing working space for all mycological manipulations. This device can reduce contamination risks greatly!
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Ozone UV Germicidal Light UVC Lamp Timer, for Home and Mycology - $27.99
UV Light Sanitizer - for Home and Mycology - $29.99
6️⃣ Medical or jewelry pocket scales for weighting mushroom crop, microdoses and trip doses accurate to the 0.01 gram. Turned out to be very useful.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Digital Pocket Jewelry Scales - Scale Capacity 200 g, Scale Accuracy 0.01 g - $10.75
Mini Digital Jewelry Scale - Capacity 500g, Accuracy 0.01g - $10.99
Professional USB Milligrams Scale - Capacity 50g, Accuracy 0.001g - $22.78
All in One: Scales, Case, Tweezers, Calibration, Weighing Pans - Capacity 50 g, Acuracy 0.001g - $37.99
And many other useful gadgets to optimize your growing process and make your mushroom cultivation automated.
The sky is the limit!
Here are some helpful tips and notes for newbie grower.
Where to buy everything you need
Be ready to check:
- Shroomok's Choice on Amazon
- Grow-Kits from Shroomok
- pharmacy
- flower store
- pet store
- supermarket
- market
- grocery store with all sorts of household trivia.
- the vast expanse of the Internet to help you, where you can order online a lot of useful things to start growing.
Don't forget to check all stuff you've already had at home.
Why is sterility so important for mushroom cultivation?
In the process of psilocybin mushrooms cultivation we are simulating natural conditions. In these conditions there is a fierce competition and fight for the nutrient substrate between psilocybe spores, bacteria, molds and viruses.
It is very easy for psilocybin mushrooms to lose this battle. But we can help them win!
How? By maintaining sterility at all stages of growing process.
Main sources of contamination with bacteria, molds and viruses are:
🔴 Grower himself (hands, hair, breath, snot, saliva).
Solution: gloves, face mask, medical cap and medical gown (or PE raincoat).
🔴 Workspace (microorganisms on surfaces and flying in the air).
Solution: disinfect the space, avoid draughts and ventilation during mycological manipulations, treat all surfaces with alcohol, use a glovebox or still air box (SAB).
🔴 Instruments and tools.
Solution: treatment with alcohol or sterilization.
🔴 Spore print.
Solution: use sterile spore print or antibiotic application.
🔴 Substrate.
Solution: use antibiotic or hydrogen peroxide for spawn substrate preparation and thorough substrate sterilization.
How to prepare work space for mycological manipulations?
Let us remind you that in this guide we use only the simplest and most accessible methods to organize growing psilocybin mushrooms at home. Our process was carried out without laboratory equipment, glove box and SAB which are desirable but not necessary. Still, let's say a few words about the ideal conditions for growing psilocybin mushrooms. Such conditions minimize the probability of mold spores, bacteria and viruses entering the substrate during liquid spore syringe preparation, during inoculation, casing process and during spore prints preparation.
Still, let's say a few words about the ideal conditions for growing psilocybin mushrooms. Such conditions minimize the probability of undesirable spores penetration, which leads to substrate contamination.
Laminar flow cabinet or Glove box
Glove box or laminar flow cabinet — a vacuum box, which is used in laboratories to ensure the sterility of the laboratory procedures carried out. The main disadvantages are its high cost, as well as a number of inconveniences arising from working with thin and fragile instruments while wearing thick gloves.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
Vertical Laminar Flow Hood, Clean Bench with Three Fans, HEPA-Filter for Cleanliness Dust Free Work - $480.85
Simple mobile acrylic glovebox for mycological manipulations.
An alternative option is a DIY sealed glovebox made from a plastic container with a germicidal lamp and gloves. This is a simple and cheap option.
Still air box (SAB)
One more alternative simple option is still air box (SAB) for all mycological manipulation. It's easy to make. SAB is not sealed, it does not eliminate the possibility of contaminants, but it helps greatly reduce the risks of contamination by bacteria and spores flying in the air or live on surfaces.
Moreover, you can use such box as SAB, then use it as a growbox or make a monotube. So, no need to buy additional stuff.
Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:
SAB Mini Still Air Box | 32qt - $99.95
What if there is no glovebox and SAB?
If you don't have such devices and don't want to bother with them for your very first growing experience, then take care about preparation the cleanest space at home, which isn't occupied by molds. Ideal for manipulation is a bedroom and a table thoroughly wiped with alcohol over the entire surface. Kitchen and bathroom are not recommended for mycological manipulations. Such places give more opportunities for further contamination.
Now you need to do the following:
- Clean your room before mycological manipulations.
- Turn off any ventilation or air conditioning, close windows and eliminate drafts.
- Wipe a table with alcohol (70%).
- Prepare your grower outfit: medical cap, face mask, gloves, and a PE raincoat or medical gown.
It's sad and funny that after a while this look became normal on the streets of all cities and countries. Suddenly, covid-19 turned everyone into growers :)
We don't know about the corona virus, but in the case of growing psilocybin mushrooms, this outfit is must have! No doubts, from your hair, from your face, from your clothes, through snot and saliva can fall a lot of "uninvited guests", which won't let the magic mushrooms come into the world.
Keep in mind! You should use your grower outfit at ALL stages of the growing! Just change gloves, if necessary. You can neglect anything, but not a sterility!
❗️❗️❗️The first and the most important rule of growing mushrooms is a STERILITY❗️❗️❗️
For now, we have everything prepared according to the lists above. Bags for our growing trip are packed! It's time to begin exciting journey that will last for the next 10 weeks
Let's go! STEP 1. Day 1. Liquid spore syringe ▶️