Psilocybe Cubensis Cultivation Techniques - Syringe Method Basic Information Sheet
Spores and growing information are intended for educational and hobby purposes only.
These techniques are based on those developed by a U.S. company, Psilocybe Fanaticus. Anyone with more than a passing interest
should read The Mushroom Cultivator, a comprehensive book by Paul Stamets and J. S. Chilton.
Shopping list: spore syringe; 12 short, wide-mouthed, 1/2 pint mason jars; 1 10 gallon aquarium; brown
rice flour (from health food stores); 1 bag horticultural vermiculite; spring or filtered water; aluminum foil; 1
piece plexiglass (lid for aquarium - use saran wrap if you're lazy); 1 piece styrofoam (may be required as a
spray shield - step 8); spray bottle; turkey baster or rubber bulb battery filler (step 8);
optional: "Vita Lite" or "Daylite 65" fluorescent grow bulgs with fixture (step 9)
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 containing slightly more flour and water in relation to vermiculite
seem to show more vigorous growth)
2) Prepare each jar by punching three small holes through the bottom of each lid, just inside the periphery of
the rubber sealing edge. Fill the jars with the above mixture to 3/4" from the top. Add straight vermiculite
until there is a flat surface even with the top of the jar. (This adds a layer of protection against airborne
contaminants) Place the lids on the jars with the rubberized edge facing up. Turn the lid band just until it stops.
Cover with a 6"x6" square of aluminum foil (cover tightly if using a pressure cooker, very loosely 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 your entire crop! If you have access to a pressure cooker, cook at 10 P.S.I. for 30 minutes.
Otherwise, steam for 1 hour in a 3-piece vegetable steamer. Make sure boiling water can't splash in the jars.
4) Avoid sudden changes of temperature when removing jars from heat. After they have cooled, take the first
jar and tighten the lid. Shake the syringe to distribute spores evenly. Remove the needle guard from the
syringe, 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 (approximately 1/3 cc) of spore
solution. Shake the syringe again and do the next hole similarly. Repeat for each hole of every jar. One
syringe should easily innoculate 12 mason jars.
5) If any spore solution remains, use a cigarette lighter to flame the tip of the needle and replace the needle
guard. Spores can be stored for at least six months, sometimes as long as 2 years. Flame the needle again
before the next use. If you ever accidentally touch the needle, sterilize the tip before further use.
6) Loosen the lid bands of the jars after innoculation. Store the 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 white wisps of
mycelium growing from the points of innoculation. After 3-4 weeks, the entire jar should be filled with a white cake of mycelium.
7) When a jar is full, it is time to transfer the cake to a 10 gallon aquarium. Make sure the aquarium is as
clean as possible to reduce the risk of contamination (first use soap, then spray down with Lysol). 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 (top facing down) and turn the jar upside down. Lightly
tap until the fungus cake slides out. Try to touch the cake as little as possible. If there are excess water
droplets on the cake, dab them up with tissue paper. Place the cakes inside the aquarium and if using styrofoam (see
step 8), insert the rectangular piece of styrofoam at a 45 degree angle. Cover the aquarium with glass,
plexiglass or plastic wrap to seal in moisture.
8) Once in the aquarium, the mushrooms require a humid environment. At least several times each day, open
up the top and wave fresh air in. To re-humidify the aquarium, there are several options. One technique is
to vigorously spray the center of the styrofoam with water (Applying water directly to the mushrooms is detrimental).
Others have experimented using humidifiers; yet another way is to pour boiling water in a mug and place inside the
sealed aquarium. Each day, siphon excess water from the bottom of the aquarium using a turkey baster or rubber bulb battery filler.
9) Just as important at this stage is the light reaching the aquarium. Psilocybe cubensis requires blue light found in natural daylight.
The aquarium can be placed in a room with windows so it receives diffused daylight (do not place in direct sunlight). Otherwise a
fluorescent growing light simulating daylight is required.
10) After several weeks in the aquarium, many mushrooms will be ready. Mushrooms are ready when the cap begins to open
and the veil (connecting the cap to the stem) begins to tear.
To collect your own spores, consult The Mushroom Cultivator.
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