What are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Psilocybin is a chemical compound that is found in various mushrooms. Their chemical name is 4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine. It is a known hallucinogen that is obtained from various dried or fresh mushrooms, commonly called magic mushrooms. Psilocybin, when consumed, gets converted into psilocin.
They are also medically known as psychedelic drugs that can alter the senses and consciousness of the mind. They have long been used as recreational drugs. Although they occur naturally, advanced technology makes their synthesis possible in labs too.
Types of Psilocybin Mushrooms
Over 180 species of mushrooms contain psilocybin as a chemical component. This includes different species and strains of psilocybin, including Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe azurescens, Psilocybe zapotecorum, and Psilocybe bohemia etc.
How Does Psilocybin Work?
The psilocybin typically starts working half an hour after consumption, and its effects could last four to eight hours. They activate serotonin receptors in the brain and thus impact the person’s senses, cognition, and mood. The effect could last longer than the hours mentioned because the consumer loses a sense of time.
The working of psilocybin depends on two factors: the psychological state of the consumer and the environmental setting around them. Thus, their impact can be both positive and negative, depending on these factors and the intensity of the dosage.
How to Grow Psilocybin Mushrooms?
People are now widely growing psilocybin mushrooms at home. This reduces the risk of mistaking them for wild or poisonous mushrooms. Growing mushrooms indoors is reliable, economical, and fun for many growers.
They could be grown indoors as well. There are various methods and grow kits available for growing mushrooms. Below is a detailed method for mushroom growth:
Material Required
- Mushroom Spores
First, the mushroom spores of one’s desired strain are required. A mushroom spore syringe is used for this purpose. The syringe contains the spores, which are then sown in the substrate (where the mushroom will grow as well as take its nutrition from).
For the first time, a spore syringe is required. Once the mushrooms are cultivated, the growers can have their own spores from then on.
- Substrate (Brown Rice Flour/Vermiculite)
- ½ or 1 Pint Glass Jars with Lids
- An Incubator
- A Pot
- A Fruiting Chamber
- Filtered or Spring Water
- A Spray Bottle
- Alcohol Solution for Cleaning
- Measuring Cup
- Aluminium Foil
- Mixing Bowl
- Latex Gloves
- Micropore Tape
- Thermometer
- Surface Disinfectant
Step 1: Preparation
- Prepare jars by punching holes in their lids using a hammer and nails. The nails have to be disinfected first.
- The substrate is prepared by mixing brown rice flour, vermiculite, and water. ⅔ vermiculite is first combined with ¼ cup water, and then ¼ cup of rice flour is added to this mixture per ½ pint jar. This mixture makes a thick cake, from which the psilocybin can directly grow when placed in the fruiting chamber.
- Fill half of each jar with this mixture, and sterilize the upper half of the jar by using alcohol. Fill the remaining jar with dry vermiculite.
- Seal the jars with aluminum foil by wrapping them tightly around the lid edges.
- Sterilize the jars by boiling them in a pot for 60-75 minutes. Make sure that jars are not touching the base by using a small towel or tin foil. This would allow the heat to be distributed properly.
- Let the jars cool down.
Step 2: Inoculation
- Prepare the syringe by first sterilizing it. Sterilize the needle by heating it with the help of a lighter. Let it cool, and then shake it to evenly distribute the spores within it.
- Inject the spores into the jar by putting the syringe through one of the holes in the lid. Insert the proportional amount of the spore solution depending on the number of jars. Repeat the process for all the holes in the lid.
- Once it is done, seal the pores with the micropore tap and set the jar aside.
Step 3: Colonization
- Place the inoculated jars somewhere clean, at room temperature, or in an incubator to provide the ideal conditions for their growth. Within 2 weeks, mycelium will start to appear. Let it grow and strengthen its hold.
Step 4: Fruiting
- Fruiting chambers can be bought or made at home. To make a fruiting chamber, use a plastic container and drill holes all around it evenly. This will allow the air to pass. Next, fill the container with perlite. Run it under the distilled water, but do not wet dry it.
- Next, take the mycelium substrate, which is now “cake,” out of the jars and remove the loose vermiculite by running water over them. Let them dry. Then, roll them in dry vermiculite.
- Place the cakes in grow chambers by using patches of foil sitting beneath them so they do not touch the perlite. Use a fan to provide optimal air for the mushrooms to grow.
Step 5: Harvesting
- Once the mushrooms start to grow and, after 6-10 days, are ready to be harvested, pinch them off the base. Only harvest those that are ready.
- Dry the mushrooms to dehydrate them by putting them on a sheet of paper.
Step 6: Storage
- Store your mushrooms in a zip-lock bag. If the substrate is not contaminated, it could be used again.
Conclusion
Growing mushrooms is very easy and fun. However, precautionary measures and risks should be considered. One also needs to keep legal considerations in mind because the sale of these mushrooms is illegal in many states.
Throughout the growth process, cleanliness is the key. Sterilize and sanitize every piece of equipment again and again. Also, avoid growing mushrooms on a contaminated substrate.
