In the world of psilocybin mushroom cultivation, nothing causes more internet arguments in shroom-growing forums than mushroom-to-grow kits. But as we’ll flesh out in this article, mushroom growth kits are advantageous to starting from scratch in several ways. Maybe you’re busy and looking for a quick way to get your hands on some well-sourced mushrooms with minimal effort. Or, you may have the bandwidth for more intricate growth but feel inundated by the enormous amount of information out there, not knowing where to start or whom to believe.
Mushroom grow kits are a simple and beginner-friendly way to get rolling. Just by following easy instructions, you end up with a sizable harvest no later than three weeks after the kit arrives on your doorstep. Growing mushrooms at home from kits can also be a fun, low-cost hobby. For some people, they’re a good springboard to more involved and larger-scale mycological escapades in the future.
Necessary Mushroom Grow Kit Supplies
The included supplies will vary depending on the type of shroom kit. It will either include living mycelium, or it won’t.
Living Mycelium Grow Kit Supplies
Mushroom grow kits with the fully colonized substrate (100% mycelium) typically ship internationally from the Netherlands. These kits generally include:
- Grow container (with lid). The plastic grow container holds the pre-inoculated substrate. Typically, this is a grain substrate, such as rye berries, that has been sterilized before inoculation.
- Grow or filter bag. The grow bag encloses the grow container and locks in the optimal humidity for fruiting body growth. Usually, these come with a simple air filter and paper clips to close the bag.
- Alcohol wipes and gloves. These are included for keeping sterile when handling the growing container.
- Instructions. A step-by-step manual, often with pictures (also available online from the grow kit supplier).
The only other crucial supplies that aren’t included are spray bottles and clean tap water, which keep humidity levels high throughout the fruiting process. Grow kit suppliers often sell other optional items that can be helpful, including heating mats and hygrometers.
Heating mats go under the growing container, ensuring the mushrooms stay within an optimal temperature range (73–80ºF). These are most useful for people growing in colder climates.
Hygrometers can be handy to keep track of humidity levels (which should be above 95% at all times). In general, though, if you see water droplets and condensation on the inside of the grow bag, you can be sure you’re above 90% humidity.
Mycelium-Free Grow Kit Supplies
Grow kits that don’t contain living mycelium substrate are often domestically sold. At its most basic, these may come with:
- Sterilized substrate. This is usually rye or brown rice flour that is pre-loaded in jars or spawn bags with injection ports.
- A grow chamber or bag. This is where the incubation and fruiting phases occur after the inoculation step.
- Compost. This “bulk substrate” supplies nutrition to the mycelium once it’s combined with the grain spawn, aka the substrate, after it has been colonized. Compost may be included in grow kits that feature large grow bags, which are used as fruiting chambers.
- Perlite. This volcanic glass absorbs water and helps maintain humidity when added to the bottom of the grow chamber. This is included in some grow kits that contain substrate jars.
- A psilocybin mushroom spore syringe. The syringe contains spores mixed with sterilized distilled water. A spore syringe usually holds about 10 ccs of this slurry, or enough to inoculate approximately 10 half-pint jars of the substrate. Syringes are either included or sold separately.
- Latex gloves and alcohol swabs. For the sterile technique during the inoculation step.
- Instructions. Step-by-step manual with pictures, also available online from the supplier.
These grow kits do not usually include vermiculite, but it’s highly recommended that you purchase it separately. This is particularly true for shroom grow kits based around cake methods, like the PF Tek. When applied as a thin layer on top of the substrate jar, vermiculite acts as a barrier to prevent contamination during the incubation step. After the substrate is colonized, the resulting cake can be hydrated and rolled in vermiculite to lock in moisture and boost final yields.
Lastly, to ensure contamination-free growth, it’s a good idea to purchase some other sterile-working items separately. This includes simple materials for a still air box (for sterile inoculating), a face mask, a lighter (for flame-sterilizing the syringe needle), and a cheap, disposable Tyvek suit.
Best Mushroom Grow Kits
The best mushroom grow kits are a mix of value, ease of use, and scope of cultivation. You want to ensure that the kit you choose can grow the mushrooms you desire first and foremost, and then determine whether or not the setup and specs meet your needs. Here are some of the best mushroom grow kits to consider before you embark on your cultivation journey.
Mushroom Grow Kit from The Third Wave
Kit Name: Mushroom Grow Kit from Third Wave
Highlights:
- Compact and discreet
- Comes with plenty of extra tools
- Guidance on spore recommendations
- Includes the Growing Mushroom Course
Best For:
- Intermediate
Price: $249
Where to buy: Buy online here
The Mushroom Grow Kit from The Third Wave offers an exceptional opportunity to cultivate your own supply of high-quality mushrooms in the comfort of your own home. Designed with convenience and ease in mind, this kit provides all the necessary tools and detailed instructions to ensure a successful growing experience without the need for extensive mycological knowledge or multiple shopping trips.
One of the standout features of this mushroom grow kit is its comprehensive nature. It includes all the essential components in a single package, ready to use straight out of the box. With pre-sterilized grain packaged into two 1-pound mycobags equipped with injection ports, the risk of contamination is minimized. The pre-pasteurized mushroom compost provides the necessary nutrients for optimal mycelium growth. Additionally, the inclusion of two 2-micron filter patch mycobags, mushroom bag clamps, vinyl tubing, sterile alcohol swabs, sterile needles, a 100W light bulb, a water spray bottle, an LCD hygrometer, and powder-free vinyl gloves ensures that growers have everything they need for a successful cultivation journey.
The versatility of the Third Wave Mushroom Grow Kit is another compelling aspect. Unlike other kits that require large containers and significant space, this kit utilizes sterilized mycobags that can easily fit into a closet, cabinet, or even a large drawer. This design allows it to accommodate various living situations, making it accessible to individuals with limited space.
The convenience and cost-effectiveness of the Third Wave Grow Kit are further enhanced by the flexibility it offers in terms of mushroom species. Growers have the freedom to choose from a wide range of incredible, edible, and sacred mushrooms. The kit recommends trusted vendors for high-quality spores, simplifying the process and ensuring a reliable source for the necessary ingredients.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Third Wave Grow Kit is the potential return on investment. With an average harvest ranging from 1 to 4 ounces, a single harvest can yield a substantial value of $280 to $1,080. This more than covers the cost of the kit itself. Furthermore, following the course guidelines and exercising patience can even lead to 3 to 4 harvests from one mushroom grow kit, maximizing the return and making it a truly worthwhile endeavor.
Mycology Supply
Kit Name: Mycology Supply Mushroom Grow Kit
Highlights:
- Variety of kits to choose from
- Gourmet growing kits come with liquid culture
- Great value for the pricing
- Easy for first time growers
Best For:
- Beginners
Price: Varies per product
Where to buy: Buy online here
Mycology Supply is a leading brand in the mushroom growing industry, offering a range of high-quality and educational grow kits. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or just starting, their product range caters to all skill levels and preferences. Beginners will find the Starter Kit to be the perfect entry point, providing all the essentials for successful mushroom growth, including versatile growing media and an 18-quart “Minitub” for fruiting. Embracing the popular monotub method, Mycology Supply’s kits ensure effortless cultivation with optimal airflow and humidity control, making the process a breeze.
What sets Mycology Supply apart is its commitment to education. Their Learning Kit offers a hands-on experience, guiding users through each crucial step of mushroom cultivation. From culture handling to bulk substrate preparation, this kit empowers growers with valuable knowledge and techniques for multiple successful harvests. For those seeking immediate results, the Ready-to-Grow Mushroom Fruiting Kit is fully colonized and ready to go, yielding fresh mushrooms within days and providing multiple flushes for continued harvests.
Mycology Supply also caters to enthusiasts with specific preferences. Their Medium-Sized Monotub Fill Kit is tailored to growing dung-loving mushrooms, complete with sterilized bulk media mix and sorghum for easy setup in a 20-40 quart monotub. With a focus on quality, educational value, and customer satisfaction, Mycology Supply has become the go-to brand for anyone seeking a rewarding and enriching mushroom-growing experience. Embark on your mycology journey with confidence and success, supported by Mycology Supply’s exceptional mushroom grow kits.
Magic Bag
Kit Name: Magic Bag
Highlights:
- Philanthropic impact
- Meticulously sterilized
- Eco-friendly production and certified organic
- Liquid culture and spores sourcing assistance
Best For:
- Beginners
Price: $29
Where to buy: Buy online here
Magic Bag is a remarkable brand that stands out in the world of mushroom cultivation. As a Certified Benefit Corporation, they go above and beyond by donating 100% of the profits from every mushroom grow kit they sell to non-profit medical research centers. These centers focus on exploring the therapeutic potential of the psychoactive compounds found in medicinal mushrooms to combat ailments such as PTSD, Alzheimer’s, treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety and depression.
Operating from a family home in rural Northern California, Magic Bag maintains a strong commitment to eco-friendly production practices. They source materials locally, prioritizing Ohioan suppliers whenever possible, and ensure their compost is organic and free from pesticides and synthetics. The field of mycology emphasizes sterility, and Magic Bag employs top-of-the-line commercial steam sterilizing autoclaves. This rigorous 2.5-hour sterilization process guarantees that your Magic Bag is resilient to contamination, setting the stage for successful mushroom cultivation.
Magic Bag takes responsibility seriously and encourages customers to adhere to local laws governing the cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms. Acknowledging the unique experiences that certain mushroom strains offer, Magic Bag emphasizes their use as tools for healing and personal growth, emphasizing respect and preparation. They recommend the involvement of integration therapists and guides, who can be found through online directories to ensure safe and meaningful experiences.
When it comes to acquiring the “seeds” of mushrooms, Magic Bag offers guidance. They highlight the advantages of liquid culture over spores, emphasizing its faster growth and greater resilience against contamination. Upon purchasing a Magic Bag, customers receive an order confirmation email that includes a list of partnered online retailers for liquid culture and spores, ensuring a seamless and reliable sourcing process.
Hodgins Harvest
Kit Name: Hodgins Harvest Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom Grow Kit
Price:
- $32 per kit
- $28.80 when you subscribe and save
Highlights:
- Affordable and easy to use
- Organic certification
- Generous yield sizes
- Comprehensive step-by-step guide
Best For:
- Beginners
Where to buy: Buy online and save 10% on your order
The Hodgins Harvest Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom Grow Kit is a top choice for individuals who are new to home mushroom cultivation. This kit strikes a balance between affordability, simplicity, and generous yield size, making it an excellent option for beginners. With this kit, you can embark on the fascinating journey of growing your own mushrooms without compromising on quality.
The kit offers an accessible entry point into mushroom cultivation, thanks to its reasonable price. It provides a cost-effective option for home growers, allowing them to explore the world of mushroom cultivation without breaking the bank.
One of the standout features of this kit is its user-friendly design. It includes all the essentials needed to start growing mushrooms: 6.5 lbs of certified organic mushroom mycelium, a comprehensive step-by-step guide, a plant-based plastic humidity dome, and a misting bottle. The straightforward instructions provided with the kit demystify the cultivation process, making it less intimidating for beginners.
In terms of yield size, the Hodgins Harvest kit offers a promising return. You can expect over 3 pounds of Lion’s Mane mushrooms from multiple flushes, making it an economical choice. The kit has the potential for additional flushes after the initial harvest, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh mushrooms.
Hodgins Harvest, a certified organic mushroom farm located in Rockland County, NY, is behind the development of this kit. Their expertise in cultivating a variety of mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane, ensures the quality of the product. The organic certification reinforces its commitment to sustainability and healthier ecosystems, aligning with the values of environmentally conscious consumers. This is a mushroom grow kit purchase you’ll feel really good about.
Booming Acres
Kit Name: Booming Acres All-in-One Grow Bag
Highlights:
- Grows any kind of mushroom
- Harvest up to 3 ounces per bag
- Readily available customer service
- Best pricing for a single bag
Best For:
- Intermediate
Price: $21.98 for the 5lb grow bag, and up to $174.84 for the 10-bag multipack
Where to buy: Buy online and save 10% on your order
Booming Acres is setting the bar high with this efficient, easy-to-use mushroom grow kit that takes the complication out of at-home mushroom cultivation. The bag comes pre-loaded with a sterile mix of grain and substrate, offering the ideal environment for your choice of mushrooms. Its standout features include a self-sealing injection port and a top-tier .2 micron air filter, simplifying the process while ensuring optimal growth conditions.
One of the reasons we’re excited about Booming Acres is their extensive range of products, catering to all levels of mycology enthusiasts. They offer a plethora of resources, including liquid culture syringes, agar cups, and sterilized grain, millet, and corn bags. This makes them a one-stop shop for both beginners and those looking to take their mycology ventures to a larger scale.
The Magical 5lb Mushroom Grow Bag delivers on all fronts – price, ease of use, and yield size, making it an exceptional choice for anyone eager to delve into the fascinating world of mushroom cultivation. With Booming Acres, growing your mushrooms has never been more accessible or satisfying.
Shrüm Kit from Advanced Mycology
Kit Name: Shrüm™ All-In-One Grow Bag from Advanced Mycology
Highlights:
- Long shelf life
- Helpful online tutorials
- Discreet and versatile
- User friendly and easy to inoculate
Best For:
- Beginners
- Intermediate
Price: $60
Where to buy: Buy online here
Advanced Mycology presents the revolutionary Shrüm™ All-In-One Grow Bag, a game-changing innovation in the world of mushroom cultivation. With a focus on simplicity and accessibility, Advanced Mycology has taken on the challenge of making mycology more approachable for all enthusiasts.
The Shrüm™ Grow Bag acts as a fortress against bacteria and mold, providing a secure environment for mushroom growth. The substrate within the bag is meticulously optimized for cultivating cubensis mushrooms, ensuring optimal conditions for their development. Filter strips incorporated in the design enable the escape of heavier CO2, allowing fresh air to reach the oxygen-breathing mushrooms. To further enhance the user experience, Advanced Mycology includes a mylar storage bag with a dry pack for storing dried mushrooms, making it a comprehensive and convenient solution.
One of the standout features of the Shrüm™ All-In-One Grow Bag is its radical new technology, which transforms the mushroom growing methodology. This breakthrough simplifies the entire process, making it more accessible to both beginners and experienced growers. Advanced Mycology understands that mycology can be challenging, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, often resulting in a high failure rate for new growers. With the Shrüm™ Grow Bag, they have made it as easy as “INJECT, WAIT, and HARVEST,” eliminating the need for complex techniques or extensive expertise.
The convenience of the Shrüm™ Grow Bag extends beyond its simplicity. It decentralizes the mushroom growing experience, giving users the freedom to cultivate their favorite mushrooms discreetly and easily on any available surface. By eliminating the dependency on bulk growers or middlemen, individuals can select the artisan genetics of their choice and grow their own profound mushrooms in the comfort of their own space. The versatility of the grow bag is another advantage, as it does not require a dedicated grow clean space. Whether it’s a mechanic shop, a closet, or even a floor, the Shrüm™ Grow Bag can deliver beautiful mushrooms without the need for extensive lighting.
The Shrüm™ All-In-One Grow Bag also comes with a guarantee of quality. Advanced Mycology stands behind its product and offers a refund or replacement for any grow bag that contaminates within six months of the manufactured date printed on the box or until the injection port is pierced, whichever occurs first. This demonstrates their commitment to customer satisfaction and confidence in the longevity of their product.
That Mushroom Guy
Kit Name: That Mushroom Guy Grow Kit
Highlights:
- Excellent pricing
- Quick results in 7-14 days
- Abundant harvest sizes
- Supports a passionate mushroom-loving family
Best For:
- Beginners
Price: $28.00 + Shipping
Where to buy: Buy online here
That Mushroom Guy, a family-owned mushroom farm located in Nowra, New South Wales, is dedicated to cultivating fresh and gourmet mushrooms. Brett, the passionate mushroom enthusiast behind That Mushroom Guy, started the business to fill the demand for affordable and high-quality mushrooms in his local area. Over time, his venture evolved into a full-fledged mushroom grow kit business, offering the joy of mushroom cultivation to households far and wide.
The Pink Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit from That Mushroom Guy reflects their unwavering commitment to quality and their passion for sharing delicious and healthy mushrooms with their community. The kit is designed to make mushroom cultivation accessible and enjoyable for both seasoned growers and beginners alike.
Priced at a pocket-friendly $28, the Pink Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit embodies That Mushroom Guy’s mission to make mushroom cultivation affordable for everyone. It offers an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of growing mushrooms without breaking the bank. Even for those with little experience in mushroom cultivation, the kit is incredibly user-friendly.
The clear instructions guide users through the process, and within 7-14 days, visible results can be observed. The simplicity of the kit simplifies the art of mushroom cultivation, making it an enjoyable and stress-free experience for all.
The yield potential of the Pink Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit is impressive, with the possibility of harvesting between 900g to 1530g of Pink Oyster Mushrooms. This generous yield not only makes the kit cost-effective but also provides a bountiful supply of home-grown, nutritious mushrooms for culinary exploration.
By choosing That Mushroom Guy’s Pink Oyster Mushroom Grow Kit, you become part of a family’s passionate journey in mushroom cultivation. It’s not just a product; it’s an invitation to embark on your own adventure of growing healthy and delicious fungi in the comfort of your home.
How to Choose a Mushroom Grow Kit
A ready-to-go mushroom grow kit that contains living mycelium is a good choice if you want to dip your toes into the world of mushroom growing. These grow kits allow you to quickly reap a nice harvest. Additionally, they require minimal time or effort. Overall, this is the best option if you are a beginner, barring potential legal issues associated with 100% mycelium kits. Suppliers generally offer a wide variety of Psilocybe cubensis strains for these types of kits. Each of these strains varies in its psilocybin and psilocin content (and, therefore, in its effects). This is true even among different harvests of the same strain.
As mentioned earlier, a grow kit that doesn’t contain living mycelium requires growing from spores. This can be a good option for those that have the time and want to understand the mushroom growth cycle. Besides learning more, you are also rewarded with a bigger yield. In addition, since you’re starting from spores, you have more choices with what you want to grow.
You can choose from over 40 P. cubensis strains or even work with a species other than P. cubensis, like the small but highly potent Panaeolus cyanescens. In general, the P. cubensis Golden Teachers, Wavy Caps, Cambodian, and B+ strains are highly recommended for beginners. They are also excellent options for microdosing psilocybin.
The Two Types of Substrates in Grow Kits
Broadly, mushroom grow kits may contain either living mycelium substrate (that is, the substrate is fully colonized by the mycelium) or sterile substrate, which contains no mycelium. The former expedites the growth process considerably. These kits let you bypass the contamination-prone inoculation and incubation steps of a full DIY grow. All you have to do is subject the colonized substrate to conditions that encourage fruiting. The three major factors here are the correct temperature, humidity, and lighting. The grow bag included in the shroom kit encloses the growing container and maintains the proper humidity for fruiting.
The mushroom grows kits that don’t contain living mycelium substrate instead come with a pre-loaded substrate that is already sterilized. In addition, these kits supply all the major grow equipment you will need, such as substrate jars, a fruiting chamber, grow bags, etc. Having a sterilized substrate allows you to skip the pesky sterilization step that you’d have to follow if you started from scratch. Sterilization would typically involve a pressure cooker and several hours.
These grow kits also save you the hassle of separately collecting all the materials you would need if you did a total DIY grow. However, you will still have to inoculate the substrate yourself with these shroom kits. To that end, the kit may include a spore syringe. Alternatively, it will have to be purchased separately from a reputable spore supplier. This part of the process is notoriously susceptible to contamination. Therefore, extra vigilance is required with the use of sterile techniques.
How Long Does it Take to Harvest Mushrooms From a Grow Kit?
Ready-to-go, living mycelium grow kits will be ready for harvest in as little as 2–3 weeks. On the other hand, shroom grows kits requiring inoculation and incubation can take as long as 5–6 weeks until they’re ready for harvest.
For cultivation from spores, the inoculation step takes the shortest amount of time (approximately a few hours). The next step, incubation, will take about 2–4 weeks until the substrate is fully colonized, depending on the temperature (70–80ºF is best). Once fruiting begins, it may take 7–10 days to see the first tiny mushrooms, aka “pins.” However, some people have reported online that pinning can take as long as three weeks. Slower times generally result from colder temperatures and suboptimal humidity.
Once the pins form, the mushrooms will roughly double in size with each passing day. They will be ready to harvest when the veils open, or before the spores begin to fall from the gills. Multiple flushes (harvests) are possible after “cold shocking” the mycelium. For living mycelium grow kits, this may involve soaking the growing container in cold water for 12 hours, then repeating the instructions from step 1. Overall, up to 3–4 flushes are possible, but the first flush is usually the largest.
Is a Mushroom Grow Kit Right For You?
Mushroom grow kits are a great idea for their ease of use and overall simplicity. Many beginner growers who don’t wish to manage their own grow from scratch enjoy that there are fewer steps involved and quicker times until harvest.
However, there are some potential downsides to consider with grow kits. Many mushroom growers argue that starting from scratch will be less expensive than grow kits in the long run since buying materials in bulk tends to be cheaper. This may not be a problem if you just want to have a small amount for a special occasion. But grow kits offer less control over the overall growth process. You’re relying on the company selling the grow kit to use the proper sterile technique.
For living mycelium grow kits, you also have fewer choices when it comes to mushroom strains and species to grow. If contamination does arise, you have to throw out this type of grow kit. In contrast, with a PF Tek, you can troubleshoot problems more easily without forfeiting the entire growth.
While seeing it through to a final harvest from spores can be highly rewarding, the efficiency and convenience of mushroom grow kits are certainly unmatched.
FAQ About Mushroom Grow Kits
What exactly is a mushroom grow kit?
Mushroom grow kits come in several flavors, but basically, they are an all-in-one package. They provide you with all the major materials you need to start growing your mushrooms.
Generally, shroom kits include a container, bag, or jar that contains some type of substrate. When foraging for mushrooms, you would typically look for mushrooms growing on logs, rotting material, dung, and other naturally occurring substrates. The substrate is the organic matter medium that supplies water and nutrients to the fungus. This allows it to expand its white, thread-like mycelial networks. These, in turn, will give rise to the fruiting bodies (our beloved shrooms).
Is it legal to grow magic mushrooms at home?
The legal landscape of psilocybin is changing slowly with recent city-wide decriminalization efforts. However, psilocybin and its prodrug, psilocin, still maintain an outdated Schedule I status in the United States. Internationally, only a handful of places have made psilocybin mushroom cultivation legal. These include the British Virgin Islands, Brazil, Samoa, Jamaica, and the Netherlands. In Austria, one can legally cultivate psilocybin mushrooms, but harvesting them for use as a drug is a criminal offense.
The US considers growing psilocybin mushrooms to be manufacturing a controlled substance. Doing so can result in harsh criminal penalties, even for personal use. The one exception is the state of New Mexico. Here, a 2005 court ruling declared that personal psilocybin mushroom cultivation is legal, provided one doesn’t dry the mushrooms after harvesting them (this surely makes heroic doses tricky, to say the least).
In cities that have decriminalized psilocybin—so far, Ann Arbor, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Denver—law enforcement considers personal psilocybin mushroom possession/cultivation to be low on their list of priorities. In November 2020, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use in a supervised setting.
How easy or difficult is it to use a mushroom grow kit?
When it comes to mushroom cultivation, mushroom grow kits are the easiest operation to manage by far. For grow kits with colonized substrate, only simple actions are necessary daily to keep them growing optimally. After hydrating the substrate, you’ll have to spray water against the inside of the grow bag to keep humidity levels above 95%. You will also have to ventilate the grow bag daily to allow fresh air exchange. Other than that, as long as the temperature is in the 70s (Fahrenheit) and the grow kit has some indirect sunlight, there isn’t much else to it until harvest.
Contamination is less of a problem since the mycelium has already overtaken the substrate, but it is still a concern. Basic sanitary measures should be taken into account, like wearing gloves or washing your hands/arms before handling the growing container. A face mask can also be useful to avoid breathing on the grow kit.
Mushroom grow kits that don’t come with pre-inoculated substrates are more time-consuming and labor-intensive. After carefully inoculating the substrate with a spore syringe, you have to incubate the substrate for several weeks in the dark. These steps require highly sanitary conditions since microorganisms can easily outcompete the mycelium when it hasn’t yet established itself in the substrate. Overall, these grow kits, at their most complicated, are an abridged, all-in-one version of a DIY grow, such as the PF Tek method.,
Can I use a mushroom grow kit without any prior experience?
Absolutely! Shroom kits are perfect for beginners. They provide all the necessary materials and step-by-step instructions, making it easy for anyone to start growing their mushrooms, even without prior experience in cultivation.
What types of mushrooms can I grow with a mushroom grow kit?
Mushroom grow kits are available for a variety of mushroom species. Popular options include oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and white button mushrooms. Many people use shroom kits to grow psilocybin-containing mushrooms like Penis Envy, Gold Cap, Liberty Caps, Flying Saucers, or Philosopher’s Stone. Some kits are designed for a specific mushroom species, so you can choose the one that interests you the most.
Where can I buy mushroom grow kits?
Mushroom grow kits can be purchased from various sources. You can find them online from specialized mushroom supply stores or gardening websites. Check out our links above for the best mushroom grow kits. Additionally, some local garden centers or specialty stores may also carry them. Just make sure to buy from a reputable source to ensure quality and customer support.
Can you ship a mushroom grow kit?
When it comes to mushroom grow kits, those that include a pre-inoculated substrate (with 100% mycelium) contain psilocybin/psilocin. Therefore, they are illegal in most countries, including the US. Some suppliers of grow kits won’t ship to countries where they are illegal, and others will ship them discreetly. When these shrooms grow kits ship despite their illegality, many people report receiving them without problems. However, there is still the possibility that customs officials will seize internationally shipped grow kits.
The grow kits that do not contain living psilocybin mycelium are perfectly legal in the US. If these kits come with psilocybin mushroom spores, the spores are legal for microscopy or research purposes (i.e., without the intent to cultivate). This is true in all states except for Idaho, Georgia, and (sadly) California.
How long does it take to grow mushrooms using a mushroom grow kit?
The time it takes to grow mushrooms using a grow kit can vary depending on the specific kit and mushroom species. Generally, you can expect to see your first harvest within a few weeks, usually around 2 to 4 weeks after starting the process.
How many harvests can I get from a mushroom grow kit?
Most kits offer multiple harvests. After the initial harvest, the kit can continue producing additional flushes of mushrooms over several weeks. The number of harvests can vary depending on the specific kit, mushroom species, and your care during the growing process. Three to four is the average.
What are the main advantages of using a mushroom grow kit?
Mushroom grow kits offer several advantages. Firstly, they provide a convenient and beginner-friendly way to grow mushrooms at home. Secondly, they often yield multiple harvests, allowing you to enjoy a continuous supply of fresh mushrooms. Lastly, using a kit ensures you have the necessary materials and instructions to maximize your chances of success.
Can I reuse a mushroom grow kit?
Some shroom kits are designed for single use, meaning they are meant to be used once and discarded. However, there are also reusable kits available. These kits typically require additional steps to prepare the substrate for another round of cultivation. Make sure to read the instructions or product description to determine if a kit is intended for single-use or reuse.
Are there any specific tips for maximizing success with a mushroom grow kit?
Absolutely! To increase your chances of success, it’s important to follow the instructions provided with your kit carefully. Additionally, maintain a clean and sterile environment during the growing process, and pay attention to factors like temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions. Regularly check and adjust these parameters as needed to create an optimal environment for your mushrooms to thrive.
How much does a mushroom grow kit cost?
The simple, living mycelium grow kits typically cost between $25–60, not including shipping. More potent or exotic species/strains tend to run a bit higher. Some suppliers sell discounted bulk sets (containing anywhere from 3–5 kits) that are cheaper on a per-unit basis. Generally, these kits will produce a final yield of about an ounce of dried mushrooms, +/- 10 grams.
The grow kits that don’t contain live mycelium typically cost about the same as mycelium-based grow kits, at least when considering the ones with the most basic features. Bigger kits (e.g. with larger grow chambers and more substrate jars/spawn) typically run $100 or more and, naturally, end up with bigger yields. Some of the more pricey grow kits also include many accessory items that can be useful, but are not strictly necessary. This may include hygrometers, digital thermometers, aquarium heaters, air pumps, grow lights, and more.
