The 9er Process

by 9er

Nan's Nook : Archives : Misc Tek : 9er Tek


 

This is a whole grain (rice) technique for growing warm fruiting, grain loving, wild mushrooms.  This Tek is intended for those who wish to step up from the MMGG (Magic Mushroom Growers Guide**see disclaimer) to a slightly larger scale, but who aren't interested in bulk substrate growing.  A familiarity with MMGG is assumed.   While these pages describe an exact procedure, there is a world of experimenting and different variations which may work better or worse for different people and for different species.   These pages are intended as a starting point, not as a "my way is the only way" procedure.

Grain, straw, or compost? That is the question.  After experimenting with straw, grain seems to work better for closet type growing.  The yield of fruit  is directly related to the dry weight of the nutritious part of the substrate.  When space is a concern, it's nice to have a compact, highly nutritious substrate.  Straw is great for beds or large containers but the nutrients are sparse and they are used up quickly.  If one is  growing in a small area, one probably isn't inclined to try and make 4 cubic yards of compost and purchasing the right kind of compost can be troublesome.

This leaves grain.  Now then, ... how to make it cheap and simple.  The cheapest and simplest way to get started is to follow the MMGG found at  Nan's Nook.  The following is for those who are willing to get a bit more involved in order to produce much more in the same space.

 
 

Table of contents

1.  Making a glovebox
2.  Culture source and Cloning procedure
3.  Preparing the substrate
4.  Casing and fruiting
5.  Spore collection
6.  Blender Usage
7.   Mycoporn (more pics)
8.  Misc. goodies and tips
     a) Tips for rye grain
     b) Stalled jars
     c) Some helpful products
      d) Drying and Storage
 

Primary Equipment Required

Pressure cooker -  Any cooker which operates at 15 PSI can be used, but the size that holds 7 Qt jars (or larger) is preferred.

Transfer chamber (Glove box) - This is essential for consistently clean batches.

Incubation chamber - This can be a styrofoam or plastic ice chest.  Is is best to use an insulated container because you want to keep the temp inside at 82 deg F.   An aquarium heater in a tall, small diameter, glass  container (like a vase) works well for heat and humidity in the incubation chamber.  A glass container is more efficient than plastic at transferring heat to the air in the chamber.

Fruiting chamber - A 10 or 20 Gallon aquarium, a plastic storage box, or whatever you prefer.  In dryer climates some provision for humidifying might be required.  For many, misting the casing will be sufficient.

Misc. Items - Syringes (sharp preferred), Mason jars (1 pint, wide mouth, tapered), high quality stainless steel tweezers, Xacto knife, and a blender.

Optional:   A HEPA filter is very desirable for the cropping area and the work area.  Walmart has a nice quiet little unit (Holmes) which is great for small rooms/closets.  It has an ion generator and it's about $45.  One can stand it up on end to have the output blow across a work area, too,  ... very handy!

 
 
** It is a fact that some of the most advanced mushroom growing techniques for hobbyists are being developed by growers involved in the growing of  psilocybe mushrooms.  While these pages discuss techniques which may apply to some psilocybe species, there are many other species which can be grown with the same procedures.   The content of these pages is not intended to encourage anyone to break the law.

Shroom Glossary