Best Substrate for Magic Mushrooms
Growing fungi can be anything but “fun” when you’re just starting out. Mushroom cultivation is growing in popularity (no pun intended), but it is also quite difficult to master even for your average greenthumb. Mycology isn’t a new field of study, but we still haven’t unlocked all the secrets of mushrooms even after the entire span of human history. Mycelium have influenced the story of humankind and potentially impacted our species’ evolution for hundreds of thousands of years. It’s only natural that we are curious about these fantastical fungi and the myriad benefits of cohabitating with one another.
For these reasons of a long and rich history, and not to mention all the health benefits that mushrooms have bestowed upon us, growing your own fungi has become a very popular pursuit. This new wave of interest in mycology and mushroom cultivation has also extended to those most magical of fungi – yes, we’re talking about psychedelic mushrooms. Magic mushrooms, or one of the 180+ species of fungi that contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin or psilocin, are outgrowing their reputation as a “controlled substance” and quickly becoming a source for positive change in society today.
Psilocybin and other psychedelic substances are steadily emerging from the shadows of misunderstanding and into the light of scientific discovery, and most important medical efficacy. Some very debilitating conditions like depression, severe anxiety, PTSD and emotional trauma are being treated with magic mushrooms therapy. Such revolutionary concepts like microdosing psilocybin are also gaining traction in the world of entrepreneurs, professional athletes and students. Suffice to say, we’ve barely begun to tap into the potential of magic mushrooms, and as the research continues to pour in it seems like the state of magic mushrooms in modern society will only continue to flourish as verdantly as the fungi themselves.
Are you interested in growing your own medicinal fungi or magic mushrooms? There’s a lot to learn when it comes to mushroom cultivation, but we’ve got some helpful tips on getting you started.
HAVING FUN & GROWING FUNGI
Like with any project, particularly a cultivation one, you need to start from the ground up. However, instead of focusing on the soil or growing mediums you need to have a successful crop, we need to shift our gears and take a different direction to grow mushrooms. No soil? Have we been taking too many of our own magic mushrooms?! It might sound strange at first, but magic mushrooms don’t actually need a nutrient rich soil to grow successfully – in fact, mushrooms can flourish in a lot of odd places, such as in the hollows of trees, on top of decaying forest humus, and even in seemingly non-viable fibrous materials like straw or sawdust. What kinds of materials are we talking about? Let’s discuss the fascinating world of mushrooms and the best mushroom substrates.
Contrary to popular belief, many species of mushrooms don’t grow in soils or similar mediums as most high-value crops. Magic mushrooms and other fungi favorites actually proliferate within cavities of other plants, such as tree knots, or in something called substrates. Shroom substrates are typically made up of saw dust, straw, coconut coir and many other fibrous mediums. Why do mushrooms prefer these seemingly inert, abrasive materials to grow in? It’s true that nutrient rich soil makes the most sense for plant life, but here is where we need to divert from our usual thinking: fungi are not really plants, they’re actually more akin to unique, sentient organisms.
Fungi are unlike any other living organism on Earth: they’re seemingly impervious to many environmental conditions that other plants or animals would be greatly affected by; they’ve reportedly been on this planet for hundreds of millions of years (if not billions!); and they’re more closely related to humans than they are to plants. Fungi as a family of organisms on the “tree of life” model exist on their own branch, close to humans, but very distinct from animalia and plantae. According to the godfather of mycology himself, Dr. Paul Stamets, we actually share almost 50 % of our DNA with mushrooms… FIFTY PERCENT!
The mycelium of fungi – the complex root network that acts almost like their nervous system – are also unique to plants, although there are some studies looking at how certain species of trees exhibit similar abilities of communicating with one another through these underground networks. Not only are mushrooms more like us than the fruits or vegetables we assume they’re like, fungi differ from plants in how the uptake nutrients, how they respond to their environment and what conditions they need to thrive. Essentially, most plants generate energy and sustenance by creating chlorophyll through photosynthesis (the process of converting light energy into biochemical nutrients). Fungi, on the flip side, feed off of the decaying matter of plants or animals – such as a felled tree, manure or a combination of organic matter in a state of breaking down.
Here we come to the crux of the matter of growing psilocybin fungi: magic mushroom substrates. What are these strange materials and how can we use them to cultivate our own magic mushrooms? Let’s dig deeper into these alternative growing mediums and learn about what makes them effective for myco cultivation.
WHAT ARE MAGIC MUSHROOM SUBSTRATES?
When we’re discussing what mushrooms grow in and how they are different from plants, one of the most alien concepts that new cultivators encounter is the idea of using substrates. Magic mushroom substrates like sawdust, soybean hulls and wood chips might appear to be odd choices at first, but the proof is in the pudding (or in this case, the proliferation of mycelial networks).
Shroom substrates are any bulk material, typically fibrous and with much aeration available, wherein mushrooms can grow. Mycelium feeds off of decaying organic matter in order to convert the decomposing materials into food and energy, eventually fruiting into the mushroom we see in the extended stem and bloomed cap. Certain conditions need to be present, such as moisture, the absence of heat or direct sunlight, and a stable air-to-water ratio for the mushrooms to proliferate successfully. Nevertheless, as we’ve mentioned fungi are very hearty and can almost grow anywhere despite their environment, so even if the conditions are not ideal you will find mushrooms blooming all over the globe.
If you’re looking to cultivate your own mushrooms for personal consumption, there are certain steps you can take to increase your shrooms’ chances of success. For starters, there are a handful of effective substrate options that myconauts seem to favor over others. These popular mushroom substrates are:
Coco Coir: the shaved husks and shells of the coconut, coconut coir is very popular in the cannabis industry as well as mushroom cultivation. Typically, commercial grade is available in a variety of forms, such as blocks, pyramids, loose-bulk and bales.
Coffee Grounds & Compost: many compostable materials can make for a good mushroom substrate, particularly coffee grounds and fruits/vegetable scraps. You have to be careful that you don’t mix in too many different kinds of waste, such as animal materials and manmade, biodegradable products. When it comes to compost, keeping it simple is best.
Sawdust/Wood Chips: typically hardwood varieties, but some softwood blends are usable as well. Beech wood, oak, and particularly maple are often top choice for fungi growth.
Manure: we’ve all seen mushrooms growing in feces before, so this one comes as no surprise. Similar to compost, you need to be wary of what else could be in the decaying fecal matter, such as what the animals ate or the medicines they’ve been given. Choose a manure that has been sterilized, treated, cured or pasteurized in some form to ensure it is safe & viable.
Soy Hulls: soybean hulls are becoming a lot more common for many cultivators, and they’re an excellent choice as a shroom substrate. Soy hulls are often combined with wood chips to provide different tiers of decaying matter throughout the lifecycle of your fungi.
Straw: everyday, pasteurized straw-hay, very cheap but a very common choice for mushroom growers. Just be wary of the mess that straw can make.
Once you’ve chosen the best mushroom substrate, you need to set the stage for the mycelium to take root in the material. To kickstart mycelium growth, there are many ways to prepare your shroom substrate, such as pasteurizing it with heat, adding moisture (humidity & dampness promote the decomposition of organic materials) or by supplementing the substrate with specialty myco fertilizers. Mushrooms typically thrive in moist, humid conditions because they are not watered like with typical plant cultivation. The best mushroom substrates are kept moist – you can’t let your substrate or mushrooms dry out. Conversely, you can’t have too much moisture or other, potentially harmful organisms like molds or bacteria can form alongside your fungi. It’s a fine line of balancing your shroom substrate, especially when you consider keeping it pasteurized or sterile.
Pasteurization of magic mushroom substrates involves heating the material up in water or a steam chamber, usually around a temperature range of 150-175 ℉ for 1.5+ hours. Sterilization is a more intense heat treatment of your mushroom substrate, requiring much higher temperatures of 250 ℉ or more. Whether you’re pasteurizing or sterilizing to remove the presence of potentially harmful molds or bacteria, be careful to not “overcook” your mushroom substrates – just like with moisture, it’s a balancing act that requires a lot of practice. A very important note on temperature, mushrooms typically proliferate in the range of 17-20 ℃. If temperatures in and around the substrate exceed 23 ℃ their growth might be stunted; temperatures at or exceeding 30 ℃ can even kill mycelium within several hours.
When you are confident that the magic mushroom substrate is in a balanced state of moisture, cleanliness and nutrition, it’s time to colonize with your mushrooms. Mushroom colonization occurs when the mycelium have completely covered and inoculated themselves into the decomposing material. You’ll notice them covering the substrate as small, hairlike, powdery or crystalline-looking swaths of organic materials – sometimes colored, other times they can be white or grey. Small protrusions and the beginnings of fungal growth should start to crop up around your mushroom substrate within a week or so, but it is largely dependent on the strain of mushroom you are cultivating.
THE BEST MUSHROOM SUBSTRATES FOR YOUR FUNGI
Although most psilocybin DIYers prefer magic mushroom substrates like straw or sawdust, there are some unique options for the more adventurous myco cultivators. If you live in a region where the climate and seasonal changes suit other mushroom species (such as the Redwoods of California or the Westernmost coastlines of British Columbia), growing mushrooms in natural substrates outdoors can be a fun way to grow your own fungi. Hollowed out logs, treewells and knotted wood can make for viable mushroom substrates – but the best part is, you’re literally tapping into nature’s nutrient-rich profile whereby mycelium know exactly what to do in order to thrive.
Others have had success rigging up mushroom colony structures, such as tiered planters boxes with straw or wood chips between layers. There really is no limit to the ways you can cultivate mushrooms, as long as your shroom substrates offer an ideal balance of moisture, humidity, temperature and food sources (i.e. decaying organic materials) your mushrooms will take care of the rest. Certain magic mushrooms and some species of medicinal fungi can be simple to grow once you’ve dialed in your process, but until you get to that point it’s essential that you keep trying, experiment with all of the best mushroom substrates, and always trust in the power of the mushrooms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What can I use as a mushroom substrate?
There are many popular options that are also very affordable, such as sawdust, straw, hay, soybean hulls, manure, coconut coir or coffee grounds. The important thing to remember when choosing a mushroom substrate: is this material organic? Will it decay over time? These principles are critical to a substrate’s viability for fungi cultivation.
What is the best substrate for Psilocybe Cubensis?
The best mushroom substrate is wholly dependent on the grower and the strain of mushroom they are cultivating, but most magic mushroom cultivators prefer cheaper, manageable options like straw, sawdust or coconut coir.
How do you make a mushroom substrate?
Mushroom substrates are made up of bulk, loose organic materials that can be digested by mycelium and turned into food for the mushroom throughout its lifecycle. Organic materials that decompose, like straw, sawdust, wood chips, manure and many others can make excellent shroom substrates. To make your own, add moisture, sterilize or pasteurize the substrate in hot water or steam, and enrich the substrate using specialty myco fertilizers before inoculating with the mycelium.
How long do mushroom substrates last?
Depending on the substrate’s decomposition rate, and the speed at which the mycelium metabolizes the decaying organic materials, mushroom substrates can last for several weeks or so. Also, the temperature, humidity and moisture you need to maintain for the particular species of fungi you’re growing will determine how long the substrate is needed.
