What to Know Before Buying Magic Mushroom Spores
1. Determine What Magic Mushroom Strain to Buy
There are dozens of magic mushroom species and hundreds of unique strains within those species. Therefore, the answer to this question is a matter of preference and intention.
For instance, for a milder psychedelic experience, you could consider microdosing a smaller amount of mushrooms to start, in which case the strain won’t be as significant a factor as for more profound psilocybin journeys.
The most commonly cultivated and circulated magic mushroom species is Psilocybe cubensis. However, growers have bred Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms into a staggering variety of strains with differing effects, appearances, and growing qualities, which can be found online as Psilocybe cubensis spore syringes and spore prints. A few common strains to look for include:
- Penis Envy, popular for their high potency, distinguished by their phallic appearance
- PES (Pacifica exotica spora) Amazon, renowned as a rapid colonizer with prolific fruitings to maximize mushroom yields
- Golden Teacher, common and easy for beginners to grow even in unoptimized conditions
- Magic Truffles, the underground sclerotia of various other psilocybe species, often easier to cultivate than mushrooms
Blue Meanies refers to either a bright blue-staining strain of Psilocybe cubensis or the species Panaeolus cyanescens. You’ll want to clarify with the vendor for identification purposes and to account for different growing conditions.
2. Use a Reputable Psilocybin Spore Seller
There are a few things you can look for when evaluating online sources for psilocybin spores. Look for what substrate they use to grow and descriptions of the drying and sterilization process in packaging spore prints or spore syringes with purified water.
A reputable vendor should provide a contact form and be willing to answer questions about their standards if they are not already stated on their website. Other signs of legitimacy include an About Us page, quality control methods, and shipping and payment details.
Don’t take vendors at their word, though – search for reviews from other sites, like the dedicated review site Spore Authority or discussion boards at Shroomery or r/PsilocybinMushrooms and r/SporeTraders. Do they seem to deliver what they say they will? Do they specify that buyers must be 18 or older?
3. Consider How Long They Last
Psilocybin spore syringes will generally last at least 30 days and often up to two years. Spores in this form won’t survive as long as in spore prints, but they’re more manageable in measuring a specific volume of liquid for study.
To maximize the life of spores in a syringe, they should be stored in the refrigerator or another cool, dark place. In warmer temperatures, bacteria can develop faster. Also, be careful to avoid accidental freezing, which could contaminate the spores and make them unusable.
Important: Each manufacturer offers their own advice on spore syringes storage and shelf-life, so make sure to carefully read the packaging instructions.
4. Understand the Legality of Magic Mushroom Spores
Because they don’t contain psilocybin, the sale and purchase of psilocybin mushroom spores are decriminalized in 47 of 50 US states, whose criminal laws only prohibit the possession, sale, and transport of the psychoactive compound itself.
The exceptions are California, Georgia, and Idaho. In California, the letter of the law specifically bans the sale, transport, and gifting of spores except by authorized researchers and research institutions. In contrast, Georgia and Idaho ban their possession for everyone.
Even in other states, spores can only be legally bought and sold for educational or research purposes, like microscopy, not to cultivate into hallucinogenic mushrooms, as most purveyors explicitly caution. So as soon as spores germinate into mycelium or fruit mushrooms, law enforcement can penalize you for possession of a controlled substance.
How high the risk or severe the punishment also varies by jurisdiction. Since 2020, some US cities, starting with Denver, have decriminalized psilocybin’s use and possession, making it the lowest priority of local law enforcement. However, such offenses remain felonies under the purview of the state of Colorado and the US federal government. Federalism can be funny that way.
Across the globe, a few nations buck the trend of prohibiting this naturally-occurring compound, such as Brazil, Samoa, and Jamaica, where hallucinogenic mushrooms are legal to grow and possess.
5. You’ll Need a Mushroom Grow Kit Too!
Growing your own magic mushrooms from spores can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only do you get to witness the mesmerizing growth process firsthand, but you also have the satisfaction of knowing that the mushrooms you cultivate are free from harmful contaminants. It’s like being the master of your own psychedelic destiny!
With Third Wave, they make it easy for you to follow a step by step growing process with their mushroom grow kits. The kits include a substrate bag filled with pre-sterilized grains, a grow bag or container, light bulb for accelerating fruiting, and detailed instructions for how to grow the mushrooms.
The only thing you need to provide for your kit are the spores – and thanks to this article you’ll soon be an expert on that too!
