Fed up of contamination?
We know many of you are diving into the wonderful (and sometimes wobbly) world of growing mushrooms from spores. So, we’re here to sprinkle a bit of clarity on the process, with a little help from our beloved Facebook mod and fungi fanatic, John Wilkie.
John’s whipped up not one, but two flow charts to guide you through the slippery sporescape of mushroom cultivation. Whether you’re a lab-coat-level cultivator or a spore-syringe-squirting beginner, we’ve got you covered.
This is the full-fat, gourmet approach. Think: agar, LC, grain spawn, substrate, all lovingly prepared from scratch. Yes, it’s a bit more work, but it’s also your best shot at top-shelf shrooms. Every step has built-in checks, so if something funky starts growing (and not the good kind), you’ll know when and why.
All in One
Ah yes, the “just send it” method. Pop your spores straight into an all-in-one bag and hope for the best. It can work — but it’s a bit like skydiving with a homemade parachute. Because spores are inherently dirty (nature is wild, folks), this route skips a lot of crucial checkpoints. Fewer steps, yes — but also fewer exits if contamination crashes the party.
The Takeaway?
Consistency in both quality and quantity only comes from following a solid, step-by-step process. The more sterile stages you include, the better your odds of a healthy, bountiful flush. Like sourdough or skincare routines, patience and precision pay off.
Dive into both flow charts and decide your own path, Jedi cultivator or rogue spore wrangler. Keep your eyes peeled for our next email as we look at testing spores on Agar.
As always, stay curious, stay clean(ish), and may your bags be ever fluffy.
P.S. Got questions? Or a contaminated bag that looks like it’s growing alien life? Share it with our Facebook group, we’ve all been there
