In initial experiments, Psilocybe cubensis outperformed other species due to its fast colonisation and ability to easily produce large mushrooms, and is a likely reason why this species is now the go-to fungal favorite of home growers the world over.
Psilocybe mexicana is one of the most well-known psilocybin mushroom strains that develop sclerotia. These sclerotia are basically the same as the fruiting body of mushrooms with their only differences being appearance and location. Sclerotia develop underground instead of above like mushrooms. Sclerotia is the part of Psilocybe mexicana which people refer to as “magic truffles.”
Psilocybe mexicana is a Central American magic mushroom. It can be found throughout the jungle regions of Mexico and Guatemala where it grows near oak, alder, and plane trees. On rare occasions, it can also grow in the swampy subtropical areas of the United States particularly in Florida.
It’s easily identifiable because of its cap measuring between 3 to 5 centimeters when young, expanding to a flatter convex cap with age. It fruits between June and September, producing sepia to dark brown spores.
Among the hundreds of magic mushroom varieties, Psilocybe mexicana is one of those that became intertwined with tradition:
“There is a world beyond ours that is far away, nearby, and invisible. And that is where God lies, where the dead live, the spirits and the saints, a world where everything has already happened and everything is known. That world… has a language of its own.”
These are the words of Maria Sabina, a Mazatec medicine woman. Psilocybe mexicana and other entheogenic species such as peyote and morning glory were used in religious and ritualistic contexts. Of all the Aztec entheogens, Psilocybe mexicana is the most widely-used to call upon visions and divine knowledge. It also has the local name of tenonancatl which translates to “god’s flesh.” Aztec rulers used to keep priests on hand whose role is to divine the future through psilocybin-induced visions.
Psilocybe mexicana is a mild psychedelic mushroom but that doesn’t mean it should be underestimated. One can still expect the usual visuals associated with Psilocybe cubensis accompanied by a strong feeling of happiness and occasional fits of laughter.
Although Psilocybe mexicana is called mild, its effects can still depend on many factors such as body weight, mental state, and metabolism. It’s recommended to start with a low dose and work from there. Like most forms of magic mushrooms, Psilocybe mexicana can be eaten fresh, dried, or concocted as tea.
Although they have the same effects as magic mushrooms, magic truffles from Psilocybin mexicana have some advantages. In some countries such as the Netherlands, magic mushrooms are illegal while magic truffles are not. This led to the proliferation of magic truffles being sold in smart shops.
This guide compiles the steps in growing Psilocybe mexicana which will develop truffles more technically known as sclerotia.
Let’s get started!
Preparation of Substrate
When growing magic mushrooms, choosing a substrate is an important decision. A substrate is any substance where mycelium can grow. Many different materials can be considered a substrate – from logs to coffee grounds.
Some of the most common substrates (arranged from the best to least optimal) are:
- Rye Berries
- Rye Grass Seed (RGS)
- Wild Bird Seed (WBS)
- Brown Rice Flour (BRF)
The following are the steps to prepare substrate from rye berries:
- Brew a full pot (2 quarts) of strong coffee.
- Heat 2-2.5 gallons of water in a separate pot and add the coffee.
- Add two teaspoons of gypsum and stir.
- Measure your rye while the water and coffee mixture is heating.
- You need to use a cup of rye for every quart jar.
- Rinse the grains to remove debris and once the water runs clear and the coffee/water mixture is hot, turn off the stove and dump in the grains.
- Stir the mixture and cover. Let it sit for 4-24 hours.
- Bring it back up to a boil for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn off the stove and strain the grains. Make sure the surface of kernels are completely dry.
- Once completely dry, store them in jars with synthetic filter disks.
- Cover the lids and put a layer of aluminum foil on them.
- Pressure cook these jars for 90 minutes then remove.
- Once the jars are room temperature, remove the foil.
Now they’re ready to be inoculated with mycelium!
Inoculation with Psilocybe mexicana
Once you have a spore print or a spore syringe you can easily inoculate the substrates.
- Shake the syringe to dispense the spores equally.
- Put the needle into the jars and push the spore solution into the substrate jars.
If the needle comes in contact with any unsterile material or surface, you will have to re-sterilize it. Heat the needle using a Bunsen burner until the needle glows red. After that, let the needle cool off for a few seconds before using it.
Once you’ve successfully inoculated the substrate, sit back and watch them grow.
The sclerotia or the truffles will usually form before the mycelium fully colonizes the substrate. If you see stones forming a little early, understand that it’s perfectly normal.
Also, it’s not necessary to shake the jar at 30% colonization as opposed to what other online resources say.
Harvesting the Truffles
After a couple of month, your truffles should be ready to harvest.
- Get a spoon and sanitize it with alcohol.
- Scrape out the substrate and separate it from the sclerotia.
- Clean the truffles with a sterilized brush and store them in fresh paper bags for weeks or you can dry them to store them for a longer time.
And there you go! You’ll have a stock of magic truffles from Psilocybin mexicana that you can store for future use.
While growing your own magic truffles from Psilocybin mexicana is a fun learning experience, you can also purchase ready-to-grow magic truffle grow kits online! These grow kits are guaranteed to produce magic truffles in just a few days!
Order your magic mushrooms online today!
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