Out of the thousands of mushroom species in the world, perhaps the most controversial are magic mushrooms. They arouse the curiosity or ordinary people and medical scientists alike because of their effects and benefits. Among the laymen, its psychedelic properties are worthy of interest, while in the medical field, the potential uses of magic mushrooms for treating and alleviating psychological disorders are a focus of many studies.
Many of us are aware of the effects and benefits of consuming dried shrooms but have very little knowledge on how they grow.
The Growing Cycle
Magic mushrooms and all other species of mushrooms for that matter start their life as spores. These spores are produced in the hymenium, a tissue in mature mushrooms that develop on the surface of structures that can be found under the cap, such as the gills, teeth, or pores. Mature mushrooms create millions and millions of very tiny spores each day. They can be the size of pollen, or far smaller that they can only be detected with the help of a microscope. They are ejected out of the mushroom and into the surroundings or natural carriers such as the wind and animals redistribute the spores to the environment. When they end up in a fertile substance, they start to germinate.
In the germination stage, the spores produce a structure that appears hair-like when observed under the microscope, called the hyphae. When compared to plants, the spores are likened to the seed while the hyphae are comparable to the roots that develop when the seed is planted.
However, unlike roots, the hypha needs another compatible hypha in order to flourish. These hyphae combine to form a single unit and originate the formation of the mycelium. The mycelium is a thread-like structure that contains all the genetic information needed to grow, given the right conditions, and turn into mushrooms. The mycelium develops through the substrate and branch into all directions in search for nourishment. When the mycelial tips come across organic matter, they excrete enzymes that can convert these matters into food.
As the mycelium continuously gets nurtured and grows at a rapid pace, it develops into a network and eventually forms tight and circular colonies. These colonies arise from the mycelium and become the mushroom primordium. The process from the mycelium to the primordium usually takes a few days to 2 weeks, depending on the kind of mushroom.
The fruiting body of the mushroom grows from the primordia and begins developing its parts. If the mushroom is a basidiomycete, as is the case with magic mushrooms, the basidia develop inside the cap, along the gills. These basidia will become full-grown spores waiting to be released into nature.
Cultivating Magic Mushrooms Indoors
The number of magic mushrooms cultivators these days is steadily increasing.Growing magic mushroom indoors is made even more possible by the availability of spore syringes and mushroom growing kits through dealers and vendors in the web. There is a vast variety of magic mushroom species to select from at very competitive price ranges.
Mushroom growing kits are ideal for people who are just starting to delve into mushroom cultivation. Creating a substrate that is conducive for mushroom growth can be tricky; mushroom growing kits already come with a suitable substrate injected with a developing mycelium, so all that there is to be done, basically, is subject the mycelium to conditions that encourage its growth.
The more experienced cultivators employ the famous PK-Tek to create their own substrates where the spores are injected. Though the PK-Tek is more laborious than simply purchasing growing kits, the method is not too complicated and newbies can definitely follow.
The Effects and Benefits of Magic Mushrooms
Even during the olden times, magic mushrooms have already benefited our ancestors. Ancient cultures have utilized the psychedelic fungi for therapeutic and religious purposes. Our ancestors believed that ingesting shrooms brought about healing while the fungi’s ability to trigger vivid out-of-body experiences allowed them to communicate with their deities.
In the medical field, plenty of researches found out that magic mushrooms are beneficial to mental health. They can help alleviate mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and several others. These positive findings encourage further studies on its possible uses in treating psychological problems.
A lot of magic users testify to the wonderful experiences they went through while under the influence of magic mushrooms. The psychedelic effects of the consumption of these fungi include elation and happiness, almost similar to those of another psychedelic substance, the LSD.
While the psilocybin contained in magic mushrooms can indeed trigger positive reactions, like any chemical compounds, its effects are not always predictable. There are times when the body may respond negatively to the ingestion of magic mushrooms, that’s why caution must always be exercised when taking them.
