MUSHROOM MACHINE Grow Guide
DO NOT THROW VAN AWAY
YOU NEED IT TO FRUIT PROPERLY
DO NOT THROW AWAY!
CHOOSING THE GENETICS!
One of the first decisions every mushroom grower must make: choosing which species and strain to cultivate.
Psilly Willy’s Mushroom Machine is specifically tailored to growing mushroom species that enjoy low oxygen growth parameters. Psilocybe cubensis (SIL-o-cybe cue-ben-sis) grows perfectly in easily maintained environments like this!
Find the genetic redemption card inside the van to claim a single use research syringe! It is highly recommended to have a spore or liquid culture research syringe prior to redeeming the Grain Redemption Voucher.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!
Claim the free bag of grain via the Grain Redemption Voucher inside of the van. Freshly cooked and sterilized grain is the key to a successful mushroom grow. Once ready to start growing mushrooms with Psilly Willy’s Mushroom Machine, follow the instructions on the Grain Redemption Voucher to receive free grain. This is Step 1 to growing Happy Mushrooms.
INOCULATING GRAIN
Now that both syringe and grain are in hand, it is time to ‘noc-up the sterilized grain bag.
Items needed:
Sterilized Grain Bag (included with the Mushroom Machine)
Research Syringe
70% Isopropyl Alcohol Wipe
Tape
Prepare the items needed for inoculating the grain bag.
Washing hands is always recommended. Open the packaging that came with the research syringe and shake, being sure to break apart most clusters that may have formed. Prepare the syringe for use by removing the tip-cap of the syringe and screwing on the sterilized needle. Do not remove the sheath that comes with the sterilized needle yet! Wipe 70% isopropyl alcohol on the outside of the grain bag. Remove the sheath from the research syringe, then insert the needle inside the center of the sterilized grain bag. Inject the needle only halfway, trying to not let any plastic parts of the needle touch the grain bag. Inject approximately 3 mL of culture. Do not inject more than 3 mL of culture, too much excess water could cause bacterial contamination.
Remove the needle from the grain bag.
Apply tape to the injection site to ensure the grain bag is sealed air tight again.
Without opening the bag, allow for air within the bag to reach the inside portion of the filter patch. To do this, gently unfold the top empty portion of the grain bag. Open a pathway of air from the filter patch to the grain below by working the bag in the same motion as one would open microwavable popcorn. (See video reference).
Colonizing Grain Bag
Upon inoculating the sterilized grain bag, be sure to place the bag in an area that will remain as close as possible to 75°F. Be wary of temperatures over 78°F and under 68°F. Do your best to leave the bag completely undisturbed, the mycelium grows faster if you don't watch it! We recommend on top of your cabinets or refrigerator.
Do not open the bag! When the grain bag is about 20% colonized with white mycelium (generally 7-10 days after inoculating the grain), we recommend mixing the grain within the bag. Gently break apart any clusters of mycelium covered grain and mix the contents without opening the grain bag. Doing this will dramatically increase the speed of colonization for the remaining 80% of uncolonized grain. Full colonization can take around 3 weeks, longer if kept in a sub optimal temperature range. If foreign contaminations in the form of mold or bacteria start to grow, the grain bag should be considered void. Molds will often be green or black and sometimes yellow. When bacterial growth is present, the grain bag will be over-inflated and the grains will become darker and begin to look milky and wet, typically near the bottom of the bag.
Hydrating Masters Mix for MUSHROOM MACHINE
DO NOT PROCEED TO THIS STEP UNTIL THE GRAIN BAG HAS FULLY COLONIZED WHITE WITH MYCELIUM!
Open the Masters Mix plastic grow bag, with dry substrate, that came inside the van. Carefully pour 1 Liter (4 ½ cups) of water into the plastic bag. Let the water soak into the dry substrate for 1 minute. Proceed to fold the top portion of the bag over and under, like closing a bag of chips.
Place the Master’s Mix bag in the microwave and run on HIGH for 4:19! With the bag folded closed, allow the hydrated Master’s Mix substrate to cool down below 80°F - this will take a few hours minimum. Avoid placing it in a fridge or speeding up the process, the longer the better. We recommend hydrating at night, and spawning the next morning.
Alternatively, the Master’s Mix can be hydrated by bringing 1 Liter of water to a boil, then carefully pouring the hot water into the dry Master’s Mix bag.
Inoculating your MUSHROOM MACHINE
Once the Master’s Mix has cooled down, it’s now time to “spawn” (inoculate) the Mushroom Machine!
Prior to opening the now colonized grain bag,break apart all the mycelial-colonized grains so there are no larger clumps. Smaller clumps are fine.
Cut open the grain bag, and pour grain into the Master’s Mix bag.
Grab tape and seal the top opening of the now “spawned” Master’s Mix bag (with colonized grains) making sure that the seal is as air tight as possible. Any free flowing air has a high likelihood of carrying dirty air with unwanted organisms into the grow bag.
Evenly mix the contents of the bag without opening the bag.
Place the now mixed bag into the original van box that the kit came in. Gently shake the Mushroom Machine with the bag inside of it until the substrate looks evenly distributed across the surface. Gently pack down the substrate from the outside of the bag. When colonizing inside a fitted box, the future mushrooms will have nowhere to go but up! There should never be any mushrooms growing along the sides.
Place the Mushroom Machine in an area that will remain as close as possible to 75°F. Be wary of temperatures over 78°F and under 68°F. Do your best to leave the Mushroom Machine completely undisturbed, the mycelium grows faster if you don't watch it!
Upon placing the Mushroom Machine in an ideal location, be sure that the top portion of the bag is neatly upright, this will allow for the most even airflow and will assist in a nice pin-set during fruiting.
Once the substrate has been fully colonized with mycelium, this can take 7-10 days. Keep in a similar temperature location as during the colonization stage, however this time air movement should be minimal. Don’t have a fan blowing directly on the grow bag.
Mushrooms will start to grow seemingly from nowhere about 14 days after spawning the Mushroom Machine. Once mushrooms become visible and reach about ¼ inch in height, this is the perfect time to introduce some fresh air. Proceed to cut a 1 ½ inch slit through the white filter patch on the grow bag. Then deflate the air in the top portion of the bag, just to inflate the bag with “fresh air.”
Be sure to “fresh air” the bag once a day for high quality mushrooms!
Harvesting Your MUSHROOM MACHINE
Wait until the opportune time to harvest the mushrooms. This is ideally before the veil of the cap breaks, and releases dark purple spores. If this short time-frame window is missed, the mushrooms are still safe to consume.
The Mushroom Machine can be a multiple flush grow bag. The quickest, easiest way to harvest is to just cut the entire top off the bag and mow the lawn using a pair of scissors. NEVER PLUCK THE MUSHROOMS FROM THE SURFACE! This damages the surface and will drastically decrease the odds of future flushes from occurring.
After harvesting from the Mushroom Machine, simply drape the top of the bag back over the substrate, wait another 7-10 days, and just harvest again and again.
If extra care is taken after the first harvest. By misting once or twice a day, the chances of getting third or fourth flushes is very likely.
As pictured, the cap being harvested is at the most optimal stage of growth. Others in the picture have begun to open their veil and will soon also release their spores.