Cultivation
From cow dung to coffee grounds. this species grows well on a variety of substrates.
October 14, 2020 - By Shane O'Connor, MS
In a recent article,Psychedelic Science Review examined how light exposure and tryptamine levels play a part in the cultivation of the magic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis. In particular, the article discussed how both of these variables affect the psilocybin and psilocin concentrations in the mushroom.
This article explores the versatile range of substrates suitable for P. cubensiscultivation. While the growing medium it enjoys is versatile, P. Cubensis only produces fruitbodies (mushrooms) under optimum conditions of temperature, humidity, nutrition and pH.1
Outdoor Cultivation Substrates
According to psychedelic mushroom expert Paul Stamets, P. cubensis grows in tropical and subtropical climates, often in close connection with grazing cattle.2 With cow dung being the favoured habitat of P.cubensis, its circumtropical distribution is largely supported, if not caused, by the worldwide cattle ranching industry. The reason this species loves cow dung is that cows have minimal stomach acid, providing a welcoming environment for the fungus. The cow usually eats grains or grass, covered with mushroom spores. The spores then germinate in the cow’s moist, warm stomach.
In his paper titled The Outdoor Cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis, Gerald Peppard recommends aged cow dung as the prime natural substrate for the fungus.3 The moisture content should be the same consistency throughout the whole piece of dung, dry.
Indoor Cultivation Substrates
Regarding indoor cultivations, mushrooms thrive on a multitude of substrates including coffee, brown rice flour, straw, and sawdust.4 The most suitable substrate for P.Cubensis is said to be rye grain. If grown inside a mason jar – a popular and effective method of cultivation – mycelium will permeate the grain within ten to fifteen days.
There are two approaches when growing mushrooms in a jar; either leave the container alone at room temperature or “case” it with soil. Jars left uncased ordinarily produce mushrooms within a month. There are usually only a few flushes (crops), as the grain dries out unless kept in a highly humid environment.
Casing Layer
Many cultivated mushroom species, P. cubensis included, will fruit abundantly if the substrate is coated in a soil-like layer known as a casing layer.4 Casing soils generally consist of non-nutritive materials with high water-holding capabilities, such as peat moss; or vermiculite, along with gypsum and calcium carbonate. The casing layer serves several vital functions for the developing mushrooms.
Since a highly acidic environment can be damaging to the fungus and can promote the growth of bacteria, the addition of chalk (calcium carbonate) to casing soil serves to maintain a slightly basic environment (a pH between 7.5 and 8.5).1 Because of its high water content, the casing layer helps to keep the substrate from losing moisture to the atmosphere. This creates a humid microenvironment which acts as a water reserve for dehydrated mushrooms to draw upon as they grow.
Since the casing layer takes up and releases water like a sponge, it also allows a grower to easily maintain a bed at its optimum moisture level while minimizing the risk of waterlogging the substrate and drowning the fungus.
Summary
Like many organisms in the natural world, there are several approaches one can take when cultivating P.cubensis. The fungus appears versatile and durable owing to its wide distribution around the globe. However, correct cultivation requires careful consideration of the substrate, pH of the environment, and other factors.
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Andrew Chadeayne
3 years ago
Great article – very interesting – thanks for writing. That’s really cool how the spores germinate in the cow’s stomach so the dung comes out already inoculated and ready to go.
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Doug Lundy
2 years ago
interesting how the content never fulfills the promise of the title, or even tries. The info here could be summarized, It Varies..C’mon. So substrates?? I will keep searching!
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Tom
2 years ago
Reply toDoug Lundy
Why Aren’t we cooking Cow Manure?…..It seems like a logical choice, v. Rice flour or rye. Anyone ever try it?
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ben
2 years ago
Reply toTom
I believe this is due to the unclean nature and risk of illness associated with cow manure.
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bellyOfTheBeast
1 year ago
Reply toben
if sterilized it should be ok but there is still the aversion to eating soi close to cow sh*t. Ironically cow manure has medicinal properties and is used to prevent infection in some cultures. not completely sure on that account. it’s still pretty gross.
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K- JT
1 year ago
Reply toben
I don’t know I ate a lot of shrooms straight out the patties never got me sick
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Scott
2 years ago
Reply toTom
I wondered the same actually. I think the BRF cakes are terribly inefficient. That is just my opinion.
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Doug
1 year ago
Reply toScott
What do you recommend then?Ive used brf cakes,they worked very well for me.
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the chemist
1 year ago
Reply toDoug
i start my 24 oz culture jars, which are commercially sterilized for 2 hours to be sure the uncrushed grain truly is sterile then inoculate them. it is a 5 grain mix. then inoculate and jars inspected in 3 or 4 days for growth, if contaminated the contents of that jar are dumped, jars are cleaned and recycled.When fully colonized the spawn is now mixed by hand in gloves into 5 lbs of coco coir and vermiculite are then fruited in my sterilized totes which hold my final ten lbs of coco coir and verm. temp held at 75 degrees.in…Read more »
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K- JT
1 year ago
Reply toTom
No but I bet you it would work I will try it as soon as I get my hands on some
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Yolo Grower
2 years ago
Reply toDoug Lundy
There’s an entire paragraph that gives you substrate options and then the author even adds the bonus of a soil enclosure. Are we reading the same article???
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ty
2 years ago
I took the the article at face value. Its basic, much appreciated. Had ph questions as well as substrate ideas. Covered both. TY
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Bryan Fender
2 years ago
I’ve been researching the magic mushroom for about a month. At first it appeared that this wonderful fungi was easy to grow. But, as I maneuver through the articles I’m starting to discover that it’s not as easy as it appears. I’ve looked at different methods. One item in common within each article is the fact that your growing area must stay CLEAN!!! Without cleanliness contamination can occur and your grow becomes worthless. Thank you for your article. Hopefully, us potential mushroom growers will find the magic pathway to successful growing.
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Dean
2 years ago
Reply toBryan Fender
For smaller-scale personal growing, a clean/sterilized workspace isn’t as necessary as you think. If you’re inoculating pre-sterilized substrate jars then that’s the one time (at least in my experience) that you need to be very careful of contamination. Once the jars have been successfully colonized, the mycelium will has its own immune system and can fight off mold and bacteria to a point. Your fruiting chamber doesn’t need to be sterile. I wash it with soap and water between each grow. My general rules are to never touch anything with my bare hands and no bare hands in the fruiting…Read more »
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Scott
2 years ago
Reply toBryan Fender
Speed is your friend in the beginning stages. I think using a good liquid culture is very helpful. It is super easy to make. Your jars can fully colonize in 9-10 days. Injecting with spores can take double the amount of time to fully colonize. During that time mycelium is vulnerable to attacks from competition/contamination. Keeping the temperature in ideal range is important also. The mycelium is vulnerable to competition when it is starting out. Once it has fully colonized your grain jars it is actually pretty tough.
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Cacogenicist
1 year ago
This article seems sort of dated. It conflates grains and bulk substrates and casing layers — those terms have perhaps evolved over time. The most common way P. cubensis is cultivated indoors is as follows: (Germinate spores on agar plates) – Innoculate hydrated, sterilized grains with live mycelium or spores – Transfer colonized grains to a modified or unmodified plastic tub – Mix grain spawn with a bulk substrate in the tub, most commonly a low-nutrient substrate like pasteurized coco coir. Pasteurized straw or manure-based bulk substrates are also sometimes employed. High-nutrient substrates may possibly increase yield, but definitely increase…Read more »
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Don Savidge
1 year ago
Hi, I am new to cultivation. I had excellent spore growth on both of two petri dishes, and transferred the cultures to two cow dung sterile canning jars. Despite significant mycelium growth, I cannot seem to achieve fruiting bodies. Is there a minimal specific number of daylight hours of sunlight required to achieve fruiting bodies? Any other suggestions? It has been approx 6 – 7 weeks now.
Thanks,
Don
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Jake
9 months ago
Reply toDon Savidge
You need to introduce fruiting conditions to your mycelium.
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Kris
9 months ago
Reply toDon Savidge
I see lots of talk about cow dung, and I even tried it myself. But I have not as of yet found one single first hand account of success with it. It is just the same myth being retold. Stamets wrote somewhere “leashed” cow dung could be used. What ever he meant by that. I do note that mushrooms always only grow in the periphery. Maybe some synergy with the bacteria growing in the dung. But I imagine this is impossible to control. Way to many parameters.
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T.
9 months ago
I’m going home in a minute to hopefully find my bag with more mycelium not mold. Yes great info here. I’m a mush. Virgin hopefully not for long. So far one of my bags has sour rot I think and the other hopefully mycelium, after 27 days waiting. Liquid culture wasn’t supposed to take that long but my temp. Was too low so it was sleeping I guess. Next I’m trying the monotub with casing. Thanks for the tips. Peace.
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Christopher Thomas Espinosa
7 days ago
what is the best substrate to use for growing penis envy
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