The fine art of fungi cultivation
Marijuana and mushrooms - more is alike than we think
A fruiting container in full bloom.
Cultivating cannabis and fungi has many similarities—and a number of differences. Both plants offer a unique experience upon consumption, a heightened reward that compels growers to work tirelessly in the hope the fruits of their labor will provide a blissful bounty.
Another way these two crops are alike is in the planning stage. The more time you put in on the back end, the better your outcome will be. Prepare your substrates, nutrients, and tools in advance, and ensure you have everything you need before you begin.
The growing environment for both crops must also be impeccable, with mushrooms and cannabis thriving in controlled settings. They also both require completely sterile conditions during the beginning of the life cycles. People may be surprised by this fact, but the truth is pathogens can attack a crop quickly, whether it’s weed or mushrooms. Prevention and monitoring of the environment are crucial with both fungi and cannabis if you want to be successful.
Genetics also plays a big role in the production of both cannabis and mushrooms. There are many different varieties of both cannabis and mushrooms, with genetic expressions running the gamut with everything from potency to flavor to effect. Much like cannabis seeds, the DEA recently declared mushroom spores legal in all 50 states. More companies are offering high-quality spore syringes, with Inoculate the World arguably one of the finest.
Psilocybe cubensis is one of the most well-known and widely cultivated psychedelic mushrooms, famous for its hallucinogenic properties due to its active compounds, psilocybin and psilocin. It is often referred to as "Golden Teacher," "B+," "Penis Envy," and many other strain names, though all belong to the same species with varying genetic traits.
Sneak peek of Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook
The Enigma Mushroom is a rare and unusual mutation of Psilocybe cubensis that does not produce traditional mushroom structures like stems and caps. Instead, it grows in a unique brain-like, blobbed formation through a process known as sectored mycelial fusion.
Speaking of mushroom genetics, one of the new additions to the latest edition of Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook is an entire chapter titled “Psilocybe: The Species.” It dives into many of the most popular psilocybin varieties. Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of this cutting-edge content:
There are some thirty thousand documented species of mushroom-producing fungi worldwide. Of these, approximately one hundred species or varieties are known to contain psilocybin or related compounds. Most of these are found within the genera Psilocybe and Panaeolus, with a few appearing elsewhere in Inocybe, Conocybe, Gymnopilus, and others. Of course, not every species in these genera contains psilocybin, and even those that do may only produce it in trace amounts.
Penis Envy (Psilocybe cubensis) A highly potent strain of Psilocybe cubensis, Penis Envy is known for its thick stems, bulbous caps, and significantly higher psilocybin content compared to other cubensis varieties. It is often sought after for its intense psychoactive effects and unique genetic traits.
In this book, we present methods for the cultivation of two types of psilocybin mushrooms: the coprophilic (or dung-inhabiting) species Psilocybe cubensis and the complex of interrelated lignicolous (wood-inhabiting) species such as Psilocybe azurescens and P. cyanescens. We chose to focus on these particular species for several important reasons: they produce psilocybin in relatively high quantities, they have a long history of cultivation, and they fruit reliably under easily reproducible conditions.
In addition, they offer the possibilities of indoor (with P. cubensis) and outdoor cultivation (with any of the species in the P. azurescens complex). While there are certainly other well-known species that also meet these criteria, the two types we have chosen should produce ample quantities of psilocybin for any diligent grower.
The aim of this chapter is to familiarize you with these species, including their natural habitat, distribution, and behavior, so that you understand their basic biology as you begin work with them. This book is not meant to be a “field guide” and does not prepare you to find and collect these species from the wild. Foraging for mushrooms, whether for food or for psilocybin, requires a great deal of knowledge and skill. Being poisoned as a result of misidentification is a real and potentially lethal risk.
If you are interested in collecting your own mushrooms, we suggest you closely familiarize yourself with at least several good field guides and consult directly with experts who already know the fungi of your area. Chances are you have a local mycological society or club where there are people who can teach you what you need to know in order to identify mushrooms from the wild.
Psilocybe samuiensis A rare and distinct species of psilocybin mushroom, Psilocybe samuiensis was first discovered in Thailand and is recognized for its slender stems and smaller, bell-shaped caps. This species is known for producing milder yet deeply introspective psychedelic experiences.
For further reading about the many psilocybin-containing mushrooms found worldwide, Paul Stamets’ Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World is currently the most comprehensive text on the subject and is an essential addition to any mycology library.
If you want to see what’s next, you’ll have to order Psilocybin Mushroom Handbook. You’ll learn even more about the psilocybin mushroom strains, as well as gain useful knowledge of the mushroom life cycle and tips for growing.
