We’ve all seen mushroom grow kits at a grocery store, most often for Oyster Mushrooms, and wondered “What the heck is that?” and continued on with our shopping. What retailers have figured out as far growing mushrooms from home, has never come at a better time with psilocybin interest on the rise. But, what is a psilocybin grow kit specifically, and how does it differ from a legalized mushroom strain grow kit? Well, in truth there is not much of a difference. Most mushroom grow kits contain mushroom spores, mushroom substratum, and a bag of some sort. But why use a psilocybin grow kit instead of just making your own? A psilocybin grow kit is a good introduction into magic mushroom growing for anyone without experience. But also great when you do not want to make your own substrate or do not have the resources to sterilize materials yourself. In this article we will discover the types of psilocybin mushrooms and why they require a grow kit for safe and best results.
Keep in mind, growing or germinating psilocybin mushrooms is illegal on a federal level and in most states. This article does not advocate the cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, but more serves as a source for information on psilocybin and mushroom grow kits. The Controlled Substances Act classifies psilocybin as a Schedule 1 Substance, and therefore considered illegal in most places. Although the situation is slowly changing as researchers learn more about the therapeutic potential of these mushrooms. Even though psilocybin mushrooms have now been decriminalized in several US cities, including recently in Oregon, mushrooms are still hard to come by. Therefore, more and more people are wondering about how to grow mushrooms at home using a psilocybin grow kit.
What Makes Psilocybin Mushrooms Desirable To Grow
Before we get into what actually is a psilocybin grow kit, let’s take a look at what a psilocybin mushroom is and why it is coveted to consume. Did you know that there are over one hundred and eighty different species of psilocybin containing mushrooms?! These diverse fungi hail from roughly a dozen genera, but are often lumped together as “psilocybin mushrooms.” Most belong to the genus Psilocybe, including well-known species like P. Cubensis (Penis Envy) and P. Semilanceata (Liberty Cap). Psilocybin mushrooms might be so diverse, according to a study in Evolution Letters, because they didn’t inherit the genes behind psilocybin from a common ancestor. Instead they passed them directly among distant species in a phenomenon called “horizontal gene transfer.” Psilocybin could have originally evolved as a defense mechanism, the study’s authors suggest, deterring fungi-eating pests by “altering the insects’ ‘mind’.” Which quite possibly could explain the mushrooms unique characteristics that make it psychedelic.
Most Common Know Psilocybin Mushroom Species:
- Psilocybe Cubensis is on the larger side as far as magic mushroom size goes. It’s also one of the most common. Called the common large Psilocybe, ‘Golden Teacher’, or ‘Mexican Mushroom’, it has many different types. The cap is usually reddish brown, with a white or yellowish stem. When bruised or crushed, its sticky flesh often turns bluish. Some people consider this a definitive sign of finding a psilocybin mushroom, but some toxic types of mushrooms bruise as well. It’s usually found in moist, humid climates and grows on the dung of grazing animals like cattle.
- Psilocybe Semilanceata or ‘Liberty Cap’ is a common psilocybin mushroom. In general, P. Semilanceata is found in damp, grassy fields usually populated by cattle or sheep but unlike P. cubensis, it doesn’t grow directly on the dung. It’s a small mushroom, either light yellow or brown, with a very pointed cap. Another psilocybe mushroom, Psilocybe Pelliculosa, is often mistaken for P. semilanceata, but its psychotropic properties are weaker.
- Psilocybe Baeocystis has a dark brown cap and brownish or yellowish stem when fresh. It can be found in fields in addition to growing on rotting logs, peat or mulch. Nicknames include potent Psilocybe, ‘Blue Bell’ and ‘Bottle Cap’.
If you plan on searching for mushrooms in the wild, your best bet may be to try densely forested areas close to water. Mushrooms require nutrients and moisture to grow, and these habitats provide both. Some species also grow in fields and grassland. P. Cubensis is also one of the easiest types of mushrooms to grow at home, which is why psilocybin grow kits are available. The other group of magic mushrooms is considerably smaller, but has a rich history of religious use back in time. It consists of one iconic species Amanita Muscaria (think the Mario Brothers Game mushroom), and a few less famous relatives like Amanita Pantherina (Panther Cap). Instead of psilocybin or psilocin, its main hallucinogens are chemicals known as muscimol and ibotenic acid. These “muscimol mushrooms” are related to some notoriously toxic fungi, namely Amanita Phalloides (Death Cap) and Amanita Ocreata (Destroying Angel). They’re generally less poisonous than those killer cousins, but given the high stakes of a mushroom mix-up, non-experts are advised to steer clear of Amanita varieties altogether.
Why Consumers Seed To Grow Psilocybin Mushrooms
One way to ensure access is for individuals to become psychedelically self-sufficient by growing psilocybin mushrooms at home. Some experts consider psilocybin mushrooms as one of the easiest things to grow in the world, as they need few specific parameters and a bit of patience. The man who did the most to bring magic mushrooms to mainstream U.S. drug culture was a writer and ethnobotanist named Terence McKenna. He had been experimenting with psychedelics since his teen years, but it wasn’t until a trip to the Amazon in 1971 that he discovered psilocybin mushrooms — fields of them, according to a 2000 profile in Wired magazine. In 1976, McKenna and his brother published “Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide,” a manual for cultivating psilocybin mushrooms at home. “What is described is only slightly more complicated than canning or making jelly,” McKenna wrote in the foreword to the book.
The increasing availability of information on growing techniques makes it possible for cultivators of all experience to grow psilocybin mushrooms without access to laboratory equipment. Along with states that embrace legalization of psilocybin, such as Oregon recently, psilocybin mushroom cultivation and use is on the rise. Countries and states that remove restrictions would most likely allow the growing and cultivation of magic mushrooms by individuals. But, keep in mind with some restrictions or limitations in being able to do so. One such example is again, the California Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative. This Initiative, proposed by California residents and mushroom advocates, would enable adults to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms for personal use within their own home and on private property. Although, individuals may not exchange psilocybin mushrooms for money, goods, or services, as such a transaction would constitute a ‘sale’. Individuals wishing to sell psilocybin mushrooms would need to be licensed to do so by the State of California. Germinating psilocybin mushrooms is still illegal on a federal level, so be sure to know the laws of doing so in the area you live. Cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms is most often only recommended for research and learning purposes only.
What Is Found Within A Psilocybin Grow Kit
Although the prospect of psilocybin mushroom cultivation at home may sound daunting, with some basic knowledge the process is fairly simple. Using a psilocybin grow kit to grow your own mushrooms can save both money and hassle. So, what can be found then inside of a psilocybin grow kit? It’s typical to find three basic things inside of a psilocybin grow kit: substratum containing living mycelium of the P. Cubensis (spores that have been developed), transparent grow bag with an air filter, and two paper clips. The mushroom substrate in a psilocybin grow kit consists of rye, vermiculite and perlite. Using a psilocybin grow has benefits because the development of the cubensis spores into the mycelium has already been done in a sterile laboratory. The mushrooms have not yet grown inside the kit because the mycelium is in a hibernation stage due to the cold environment. Trusted and reputable sources of psilocybin mushrooms are the best choice for purchasing a psilocybin grow kit.
The Cost That Comes With Growing Your Own Magic Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are one of the most widely used recreational psychotropic drugs because they can be found in the wild or grown fairly easily and inexpensively. Magic mushrooms are also considered to be one of the easiest to grow, considering a quality psilocybin grow kit is used. But as with anything hard to find mainstream, price can differentiate until the supply and demand is more even. If you’re buying magic mushrooms In the US, the cost can range with an average of $35 per eighth of an ounce (or $10 per gram). In Canada, where the first magic mushroom dispensaries are opening (though still not technically legal yet), those suffering from conditions such as depression, anxiety and cluster headaches can register to receive encapsulated microdoses of magic mushrooms at an even higher price per gram than those buying illicitly in the US.
By contrast, for $15-$20 you can purchase magic mushroom spores (the mycological equivalent to cannabis seeds) and with the right know-how and a few easily sourced (or, indeed, home-built) pieces of equipment, you could potentially produce well over 100 times the amount of mushrooms you could buy for the same price. Of course, there are additional set-up costs in both terms of time and money, as well as a level of risk. But some psilocybin mushroom cultivators have reduced these drawbacks by sharing them between a group of like-minded and trusted individuals. This in turn has effectively set up self-sufficient psilocybin mushroom collectives, with a shared goal and successful results. While under federal law, such activity is currently illegal, with Denver, Oakland and Santa Cruz all having decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms, the possibility of legal home cultivation for personal use may be just over the horizon. Oregon is proof of just that, making psilocybin legal as of January 2021 once finalized.
Growing Mushrooms That Contain Psilocybin Legally
Magic mushrooms grow naturally all over the globe, in many different regions of the world. Therefore, if you live in the right place, you may be lucky enough to find some in the wild. However, for those without experience, it is easy to misidentify mushrooms – a potentially lethal mistake. The best way to stay safe is to grow psilocybin mushrooms at home or buy from a reputable source. Due to their current legal status, the latter may not be an option for most. It is, however, possible to purchase spores as these do not contain the active compound psilocybin. That said, please note that growing shrooms is also illegal and readers choose to do so at their own discretion. Again, this article is for informational purposes only about psilocybin.
Whether or not such psychedelic therapies like psilocybin will become federally legal, is still far from reality in today’s world. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), psilocybin is a “chemical obtained from certain types of fresh or dried mushrooms.” The mushrooms containing psilocybin are also known as magic mushrooms, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or “shrooms”. In the United States, psilocybin is a Schedule I drug under an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act called the Psychotropic Substances Act. This means that it has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use, and is not regarded safe for use. This includes even under a doctor’s supervision. Since psilocybin is a psychotropic substance found in magic mushrooms, this is usually interpreted to mean that the mushrooms themselves are illegal. However, since mushroom spores don’t contain psilocybin, some have pointed to this as an ambiguity in the federal law. The legality of possessing, growing, consuming, or selling magic mushrooms greatly depends upon where you live. Ensuring what laws are applicable concerning magic mushrooms and a psilocybin grow kit are imperative for anyone seeking to cultivate these magnificent mushrooms.
