How to grow magic mushrooms

Setup & Hygiene: The First 3 Steps

Step 1 — Start clean: unpack your kit

Wash your hands thoroughly and clean the area where you plan to place the kit. A clean start leads to better results. Gently remove the plastic container from the box, and keep the lid — you’ll need it later if you want to reuse the kit for additional flushes.

Important:

Do not add water to the kit before your first flush. The substrate already contains exactly the right level of moisture for the first round of growth.

Step 2 — Create the right environment: set up the grow bag

Place the grow bag on a flat surface and carefully insert the kit inside. Fold the open end of the bag underneath the container to keep it stable. Make sure the small air holes sit just above the top edge of the kit and are facing upward — this allows the right airflow for healthy growth.

Step 3 — Find the sweet spot: light & temperature

Put your setup in a well-lit room where the temperature stays between 18°C and 28°C (64°F – 82°F). For the best results, aim for a stable range of 20°C – 23°C (68°F – 73°F).

• Avoid direct sunlight — indirect daylight is enough.

• If your room is cooler than 20°C, consider using a heating mat.

• Keep the kit away from drafts, heaters, or sudden temperature changes.

With these three steps, your kit is ready to deliver strong, consistent harvests.

Step 4 — Watching Progress & Making Adjustments

After about 7–12 days, you’ll usually spot the very first tiny mushrooms (known as pins). Before that stage, the surface of the kit may appear whiter — this is the mycelium expanding. That’s perfectly normal and not mould.

You might also notice small blue spots on the mycelium. This is harmless bruising, often caused by touching, moving, or a lack of moisture. It’s nothing to worry about.

Warning:

If you see gray or green patches, that usually means contamination (mould). In this case, it’s safest to stop using the kit and dispose of it. Mould can spread fast and makes the mushrooms unsafe to consume.

Grow Kit Colour Guide: Normal or Not?

Use this guide to identify what’s happening in your grow kit. If you’re still uncertain after checking, share a clear photo in our Mindrush Support Community so others can help you confirm — the visual chart in the PDF makes this even easier.

✅ Healthy signs

• White (thick, woolly layer): Mycelium growth — completely normal.
• White-blue (small spots, not fluffy or spreading): Innocent bruising of mycelium, caused by touch or dryness.

❌ Warning signs — dispose of the kit

• Gray (fluffy, spreads quickly): Mould. Throw away the kit — unsafe.
• Green (powdery or fluffy spots): Trichoderma (green mould). Throw away immediately.
• Black (dark, wet or slimy spots): Rot or heavy mould. Throw away — work more hygienically next time.

⚠️ Sometimes a problem

• Yellow (yellow edges or spots): Often dried-out or aged mycelium. Often not a problem — pay attention to fluid balance.

For an even deeper breakdown of every problem you might encounter, see our dedicated article on common grow kit mistakes and how to avoid them.

Step 5 — Let Them Develop and Prepare for Harvest

Your Mindrush kit already contains the right level of moisture for the first flush — there’s no need to spray or add extra water. Keep the grow bag slightly open once the first pins begin to show. This lets excess moisture escape.

Too much humidity inside the bag can slow down growth or even create mould. If you notice heavy condensation on the inside of the bag, that’s a sign the kit needs more airflow.

Rapid Growth Phase

Once the mushrooms start to grow, they’ll speed up quickly — often doubling in size overnight. From the moment you see the first small mushrooms breaking through the surface, check your kit at least once or twice daily. This way you’ll be ready to harvest at the right moment.

Pro tip: If mushrooms are forming mostly along the sides of the block, gently turn the block upright inside the plastic container. This provides more vertical space, improves airflow, and gives side mushrooms room to grow. After repositioning, place the grow bag back over the container to keep the humidity balanced.

Step 6 — Knowing When to Harvest

Mushrooms are typically ready to harvest 5–7 days after the first pins appear, though timing can vary depending on temperature and airflow. They grow very fast — check your kit at least once daily.

How to recognise the right moment

Harvest your mushrooms just before the cap fully opens. Waiting too long allows the mushroom to release dark spores, which reduces quality and may affect future flushes.

Note: Mushrooms that have already dropped spores are still safe to consume, but their taste can be slightly different and they are less ideal for drying or storing.

Signs they’re ready

• The cap is round and starting to flatten.

• The thin veil (skin under the cap) begins to tear.

• No black dust (spores) is visible yet.

• ⚠️ If you spot black spores, harvest immediately.

Tip: Once mushrooms look fully developed — don’t wait, harvest them.

How to harvest

• Wash your hands or wear clean gloves.

• Gently take hold of the mushroom at its base.

• Use a light twist-and-pull motion.

• Avoid damaging the white mycelium so it can support future flushes.

What about the small ones? Leave the small mushrooms alone — they’ll keep growing and can be harvested later.

Step 7 — Drying Your Mushrooms (Recommended)

• Spread them out: Place freshly harvested mushrooms on clean paper, cardboard, or kitchen paper in a dry, well-ventilated area.
• Natural drying: Let them air-dry for at least 7 days.
• Turn daily: Flip them once a day to avoid hidden moisture underneath.
• Ready check: They should feel completely dry and snap when bent — also known as “cracker dry.”
• Faster option: A fan can speed things up. Avoid ovens or heaters, as high heat can damage potency.

Storage

Once fully dry, store your mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Properly stored, dried mushrooms can stay potent for a year or longer.

Getting Multiple Flushes from One Kit

Your Mindrush grow kit is designed for multiple flushes. After your first harvest, follow this simple refresh cycle:

1. Fill the kit with clean, cold tap water.
2. Let it soak for 12 hours (this is called a “cold shock”).
3. Drain excess water by slightly opening the lid.
4. Restart the process from Step 1 of this guide.

This refresh cycle can be repeated several times, giving you multiple rounds of harvests from a single kit.

Which Strain Should You Grow First?

If you haven’t bought a kit yet, choosing the right strain matters more than most beginners realise. Two strains stand out as the best starter choices:

Golden Teacher is the universal beginner strain — forgiving, photogenic, and produces a gentle introspective experience. Read the full Golden Teacher complete guide for a deep dive.

Colombian is a slightly faster-growing alternative with a more energetic, social trip character. Compare the two side by side in our Golden Teacher vs Colombian comparison.

A Quick Note on Legality

Mushroom grow kits are legal under Dutch law because they contain only mycelium and substrate at the point of sale — not psilocybin. Mindrush ships across most EU countries under EU Regulation 2019/515 on mutual recognition of goods.

However, the legal status of cultivating psilocybin mushrooms varies significantly by country. Always verify the rules where you live before ordering or starting a grow. See our legal overview for the framework Mindrush operates under, and check Wikipedia’s legal status of psilocybin mushrooms for a country-by-country overview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Growing your own magic mushrooms with a kit is genuinely one of the most rewarding small projects you can take on at home. There’s something quietly profound about watching a living organism go through its whole life cycle on your kitchen counter, especially one as historically and culturally significant as Psilocybe cubensis.

If you have questions during your grow, our Discord community is the fastest place to get help — our team and experienced growers are usually online and happy to troubleshoot. You can also reach us directly via WhatsApp on +31 657443544 or email at support@mindrush.eu. Good luck with your grow.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. Mindrush only sells products that are legal under Dutch law and intended for adult customers (18+). The legal status of cultivating psilocybin mushrooms varies by country; readers are responsible for verifying the laws that apply to them.