Growing magic mushrooms indoors can be an exciting yet delicate process.
I remember when my friend first tried it—he was curious but a bit nervous, as it’s a careful balance of patience and technique.
After a bit of trial and error, he managed to get a successful grow.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this guide will walk you through the process step by step, just like I watched my friend do.
Why Grow Magic Mushrooms Indoors?
For my friend, growing magic mushrooms indoors was all about having control over the environment.
Unlike outdoor growing, where weather and pests can complicate things, indoor cultivation allows you to manage every aspect, from humidity to temperature.
Plus, there’s the added privacy and security of growing indoors, which was a big draw for him.
Another reason he loved this method was the ability to grow year-round.
Instead of waiting for the right season, setting up a controlled indoor space meant his mushrooms could thrive anytime, with the right care.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before diving into the steps, make sure you have the right tools. Here’s what my friend used to successfully grow magic mushrooms indoors:
- Mushroom spores (Psilocybe cubensis is a popular strain for beginners)
- Sterile substrate (brown rice flour or a pre-made grow kit works well)
- Mason jars or grow bags (for colonizing the substrate)
- Pressure cooker (to sterilize the substrate)
- Perlite (for humidity control in the grow chamber)
- A large plastic container (to serve as your grow chamber)
- Spray bottle (for misting water)
- Gloves and a face mask (to maintain sterility and avoid contamination)
Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Magic Mushrooms Indoors
Step 1: Preparing the Substrate
The substrate is where your mushrooms will grow, so it’s crucial to get this part right.
My friend used a mixture of brown rice flour, vermiculite, and water in Mason jars.
He carefully loaded the mixture into the jars, then covered it with a layer of dry vermiculite to prevent contamination.
He was extra cautious during this step—contamination is a common mistake, but taking the time to sterilize everything really paid off for him in the long run.
Step 2: Sterilizing the Substrate
Once the jars were ready, my friend sterilized them in a pressure cooker to kill off any unwanted bacteria or mold spores.
It only took about an hour, and then he let the jars cool completely before moving on.
He told me this part was tedious, but skipping sterilization could almost guarantee contamination. Seeing his jars stay clean and ready made all that extra care worth it.
Step 3: Inoculating the Substrate with Spores
This is where the magic begins.
My friend used a sterilized syringe to inject the mushroom spores into the sterile substrate through small holes in the jar lids.
He made four injection points per jar to ensure even colonization.
One trick he shared with me was flame-sterilizing the needle between jars to prevent cross-contamination. It’s a small step, but it made a big difference in his success.
Step 4: Incubation and Colonization
After inoculating, the jars were placed in a warm, dark space to allow the spores to colonize the substrate.
My friend kept the temperature between 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F) and checked in on them regularly.
After a few weeks, white mycelium began to spread through the jars.
He was thrilled when he first saw that white mycelium appear.
It was a sign that everything was working as planned. Of course, he kept an eye out for any contamination—anything that wasn’t white was a potential issue.
Step 5: Preparing the Grow Chamber
Once the substrate was fully colonized, my friend set up a grow chamber using a large plastic container with a few inches of perlite at the bottom.
This helped maintain the right level of humidity for the mushrooms to start fruiting.
He misted the inside of the chamber with water to keep the humidity around 90%.
He learned early on that high humidity is crucial for good mushroom growth.
Step 6: Fruiting
This is where the magic happens—literally.
Once the mycelium had fully colonized the substrate, my friend removed the cakes from the jars and placed them into the grow chamber.
He misted and fanned the chamber daily to ensure fresh air circulation. After about a week, tiny mushroom pins began to appear, and they quickly grew into full-sized mushrooms.
I remember how excited he was when those first mushrooms popped up.
After weeks of careful work, the payoff was real. Watching the mushrooms grow day by day was an incredible experience for him.
Harvesting Magic Mushrooms
When the mushrooms were fully developed and the veils began to break, my friend harvested them by gently twisting them from the base.
He made sure not to damage the substrate, and after harvesting, he dried the mushrooms for long-term storage.
From his experience, harvesting right before the caps fully open ensures the mushrooms are at their most potent.
He even managed to get multiple flushes from the same substrate, which meant more harvests without needing to start over.
Common Challenges and Solutions
One of the biggest challenges my friend faced was contamination.
The best way he found to avoid this was by keeping everything as clean as possible—he always wore gloves and a face mask when handling anything related to the mushrooms.
Another issue he dealt with was maintaining proper humidity and temperature.
Using a hygrometer and thermometer helped him keep everything within the right range, and he adjusted as needed to keep the mushrooms growing strong.
My Final Thoughts
Watching my friend grow magic mushrooms indoors was fascinating.
It takes patience and attention to detail, but once he got the hang of it, it became second nature to him.
The control you have over the process, along with the privacy of growing at home, makes it a rewarding experience.
If you’re thinking about giving it a try, I’d say go for it!
Just like my friend did, you’ll need to stay patient, keep things clean, and enjoy the process.
Once you see those first mushrooms grow, the sense of accomplishment is unlike anything else.