Mushroom Life Starts as a Spore
Mushroom spores are a type of reproductive cell produced by mushrooms, which can be used to propagate new generations of mushroom. They are incredibly small and hardy, making them perfect for growing mushrooms in a variety of environments. The spore is the most basic form of the mushroom’s life cycle, as it contains all the genetic information needed to develop into new mushrooms. They can be collected from the wild or purchased commercially.
Spores Can Survive in Space
Mushroom spores are incredibly resilient and can be stored for long periods of time without losing their viability. Spores have been recovered from the nose of space shuttles, showing their ability to survive in the harshest of conditions. Different species of mushroom have different spore sizes and shapes, which affect the success rate of germination (the process in which a spore develops into a mushroom).
Mushroom spores are incredibly versatile and have a variety of applications, from propagating new generations of mushrooms to being used in the lab for research.
How to Collect Your Own Spores
You can collect your own spores by creating a spore print. This is usually done by placing the cap of mushroom with the gills down on a piece of tinfoil and covering it with a paper cup or a glass cup and waiting 2-24 hours. When you lift the cup you will see the spores create a print that looks like the gills of the mushroom. Those spores can be stored and used at a later date.
When you see spores, you’re usually looking a cluster of millions or even billions of spores. A single spore is microscopic in size and can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Popular Spores
The most popular spores aren’t psychedelic. The oyster mushroom spores, Lions Mane, Shiitake and enigma are some of the more popular spores. Oysters are known for being vivacious and growing on cardboard boxes, which makes them fun to watch under a microscope. Another reason they’re popular is their “fruiting bodies” produce a hardy meat like texture and they absorb flavors like a sponge. Pink Oysters are often used as a bacon or pulled pork substitute. They’re loaded with nutritional value and some, like Lions Mane are extremely good for cognitive function.
Spore Syringes
When you purchase a spore syringe you’ll often notice a large clump of black floating in the water. Spores will float and gather together when they’re left in water. This is normal. Before you try to use spores in the syringe you want to give them a good hard shake for about 10-30 seconds so the spores break apart. You’ll find this to be true of gourmet mushroom spores (which are also called edible mushroom spores)
How to Turn Spores into Mycelium
You can look at your spores under a microscope and observe them but spores can be pretty boring to look at. If you want to watch what happens when spores turn into mycelium follow these steps…
- Buy some petri dishes.
- Make agar agar to pour into your petri dishes. Go here to see step by step directions to make agar agar.
- If you don’t want to make your own plates you can purchase pre poured plates here
- Now pour the agar agar into your petri dishes and let them cool to room temperature.
- This step needs to be done in a clean environment, so you don’t get contamination on your freshly poured agar plates. If you don’t have a laminar flow hood, you can get a beginners sized one here or learn how to make a Still Air Box
- Now you need to inoculate your agar plates with your spore syringe. Here’s the step by step.
- Now wait for 5-7 days and you should start seeing white mycelium grow. In some cases it can take up to 2 weeks before you see your spores turn into mycelium. Be patient.
Golden Teacher Spores
In terms of popularity, golden teacher is one of the most popular psychedelic spore types. Many people say that golden teacher is a gentle introduction to the psychedelic world. But the science community says that the strain of psilocybin consumed doesn’t make a difference. However, the amount consumed can impact the trip greatly. You decide what you believe to be true of both statements. You can find golden teacher spores here
Oyster Mushroom Spores
Their spore sprint is white to lilac-gray and best if viewed on a dark background. These mushrooms tend to grow in clusters or shelf-like formations, with broad, oyster- or fan-shaped caps that are two to ten inches across. Fresh oyster mushrooms should have firm white flesh and white gills. Purchase Golden Oyster Spores here.
Morel Mushroom Spores
Morels are one of the most sought after mushrooms anywhere. They have a bold meat taste that is exquisite and satisfying and they dehydrate and hold there flavor for many years. They are also an easy mushroom to identify, but also difficult to find. The exception to this is fire morels. Morels that follow forest fires and controlled burns are usually in abundance. Get your morel mushroom spores here.
Shiitake Mushroom Spores
Shiitake mushrooms, lentinula edodes, is probably the most popular cultivated mushroom around the world. It’s also one of the most commonly used mushrooms in gourmet cooking as it imparts a delicious bold flavor and texture. It’s a cool weather mushroom that naturally grows in forest on oaks and beeches typically. Although a popular mushroom for log cultivation, shiitake mushrooms are far easier and faster to grow on sawdust blocks in filter patch bags. You can find shiitake mushroom spores here.
Lions Mane Mushroom Spores
Lion’s Mane (hericium erinaceus) are teethed fungi from the genus Hericium and are one of the most delicious mushrooms that can be cultivated. This mushroom mimics the taste of lobster, especially when cooked with a little butter, onions and garlic. Buy lions mane mushroom spores here.
B+ Mushroom Spores
This fungi is the most versatile cubensis around. Adapting and growing in such a wide range of temperature conditions and substrates in nature. It truly thrives to spread spores and it’s a very heavy spore depositor. Get your B+ mushroom spores here.
Time to Start Your Journey....
If you’re ready to start growing but are feeling a bit intimidated by the process feel free to reach out and ask questions. We have an online course designed for new cultivators that will teach you the basics of growing. Come on, what are you waiting for?
