Psilocybe Cubensis Cultivation Techniques

Shopping List: 12cc spore syringe. (available from "Sacred Herb" on Johnston)
12 short, wide-mouthed, 1/2 pint MASON jars
1 ten gallon fish tank
brown rice flour (available from health food stores)
1 bag horticultural vermiculite (from Walmart, garden stores..)
spring or filtered water
aluminum foil
a pressure cooker or large steamer
optional-> 1 piece styrofoam (optional)
spray bottle
turkey baster
optional-> "Vita Lite" or "Daylite 65" flourescent bulbs with fixture

Technique:

1) For each 1/2 pint jar, measure 2/3 - 3/4 cup vermiculite, 1/8 - 1/4 cup brown rice flour, and 1/4 cup chlorine-free water. (tip - mixtures with slightly more flour and water in relation to vermiculite seem to show more vigorous growth.)

2) Prepare each jar by punching tree small holes through the bottom of each lid, just inside the periphery of the rubber sealing edge. Fill th jars with the flour mixture 3/4" from the top. Add straight vericulite until there is a flat surface even with the top of the jar. (this adds a layer of protection against airborne contaminants.) Place the lid on the jars with the rubberized edge facing up. Turn the lid band just until it stops. Cover with a 6"x 6" square of aluminum foil (cover tightly if using a pressure cooker, very loosly if using a steamer -> see step 3.)

3) The next step is to sterilize the jars. If sterilization is incomplete, contaminants may later ruin one jar or spread and infect the whole goddamn crop! If you have access to a pressure cooker, cook at 10 p.s.i. for 20 minutes (re- fer to the instructions that come with the cooker or canner.) Otherwise, steam for 1 hour in a 3 peice veggie steamer (a pot, basket insert, and lid.) Make sure boiling water can't splash into the jars.

4) Avoid sudden changes of temp. when removing jars from heat. After they have cooled, take the first jar and tighten the lid. Shake the syringe to dis- ribute spores evenly. Remove the needle guard from the syringe (do NOT remove until you are ready - this will protect against accidental contamination.) Swiftly pull the foil from the jar and insert the needle through a hole. Tilt the syringe towards the center of the lid so the tip lies against the glass and inject several drops (aprox. 1/3cc) of spore solution. Shake the Syringe again and do the next hole inoculation. Repeat for each hole in every jar. One syringe will easily inoculate 12 MASON jars.

5) If any spore solution remains, flame the tip of the needle and replace the needle guard. Spores can be stored for at least 6 months, sometimes as long as 1-2 years! Flame the needle again before the next use. If you ever accidentaly touch the needle, steralize the tip w/ a ciggarette lighter.

6) Loosen the lid bands of the jars after inoculation. Store jars in a safe place that is not in direct light. Make sure the temperature is always above 70 degrees; within a week, you should see the white wisps of mycelium growing from the points of inoculation. After 3-4 weeks, the entire jar should be filled witrh a white cake of mycelium.

7) When the jar is full, it is time to transfer the cake to the fish tank. Make sure the aquarium is as clean as possible to reduce the risk of contamination. Remove the jar lid and scrape away most of the vermiculite layer. Clean the inside of the jar with a tissue. Next, place a clean MASON jar lid over the mouth of the jar and turn upside down. Lightly tap the jar until the fungus cake slides out. If there are excess water droplets on the cake, dab them up with tissue paper. Place th cakes inside the fish tank and insert the peice of styrofoam at a 45 degree ange. Cover the aqarium with glass, plexiglass, or plastic wrap to seal in moisture.

8) Once in the fish tank the mushrooms reqire a humid environment. At least several times each day, open the top of the aquarium and wave in fresh air. To re-humidify the aquarium, there are several options. One technique is to vigourously spay the middle of the styrofoam with a spray bottle. Others have experimented with humidifiers; yet another way is to pour boiling water into a mug and place it in the sealed fish tank. Each day siphon excess water out of the bottom of the tank with a turkey baster.

9) Just as important at this point is light reaching the aquarium. Psilocybe cubensis requires blue light found in natual daylite. The tank can be placed in a room with windows so it recieves defused daylight (do not put in direct sunlight). Otherwise, a floresent tube simulating daylight is required (these are commonly known as "Vita-Lite" or "Daylite 65" floresents - available at any garden store.)

10) After several weeks in the fish tank, many mushrooms will be ready to har- vest. Mushrooms are ready when the cap begins to open and the viel begins to tear. Dry them before consumtion - place on a screen so air comes from all sides. Place over a lightbulb or in a windowin direct sunlight until dried hard. An average dose is 10 to 20 grams....haha no just jokin' 1-2 grams per dose. Hope you don't die!