The Complete Magic Mushroom Grow Kit Guide

A magic mushroom grow kit contains everything you need to grow psilocybin mushrooms yourself. With our grow kits it’s incredibly easy: thanks to a special formula and over 30 years of experience, you hardly need to do anything for your first harvest. This complete guide covers growing, harvesting, extra flushes, drying, storing and using your mushrooms. It’s the same guide every Awake grow kit customer receives.

▶ Watch the how-to video

Why grow your own magic mushrooms?

By growing your own mushrooms you control the entire process and have a reliable, consistent supply. You manage your own stock with care and learn how cultivation works along the way.

Which grow kit do we offer?

Our kits grow Psilocybe cubensis “Golden Teacher”, recognisable by its golden caps. We chose this mushroom for its potential to provide a profound, shamanistic experience: it’s known for its strong intensity and rich visual, creative and philosophical effects.

The total yield depends on your growing conditions. With good care and patience you can get multiple (3+) flushes from one kit, ranging from about 120 to 360+ grams in total.

How to grow magic mushrooms: step by step

Step 1: Preparation

Start growing as soon as you receive the kit. If you have to wait, store it in the refrigerator at 3–5°C in an airtight plastic bag for no longer than 3 to 4 weeks, to prevent contamination. Ready to start?

Wash your hands thoroughly.
Make sure your environment is clean.
Optionally, lay out a towel to work on and protect the surface.

Step 2: Initiation

Take the grow kit (with the substrate), the plastic bag and the paperclip out of the box.
Remove the lid of the grow kit and keep it safe. Rinse the lid under running water; you’ll need it later.
Place the grow kit without the lid in the provided plastic bag.
The side with the micro-perforations (the small holes) and the paperclip should be at the top, for good air circulation.

Important:

Do not water the grow kit.
Place it somewhere with sufficient daylight, but never in direct sunlight (very important).
Keep the temperature between 18°C and 28°C.

Tip: mushrooms can grow at almost any temperature above 15°C, but 23°C is ideal for the best yield. A heating mat keeps the kit at that temperature without heating the whole room.

Step 3 (optional): Stand the substrate upright

Once you see small balls (pins) forming, you can carefully stand the substrate upright and put it back in the plastic bag. This gives it more room to grow mushrooms on every side. The first mushrooms are visible after about 1–1.5 weeks.

Step 4: Harvesting

Mushrooms are ready just before the veils underneath the caps begin to tear. Harvest before the first spores drop.
You can usually harvest 7–10 days after the first balls appear.
Harvest by gently twisting and pulling each mushroom at the base, so you don’t damage the mycelium (the mushroom network).
Be thorough: remove old mushrooms so they don’t rot and contaminate the substrate.

How do you spot the right moment?

The veil sits on the underside of the cap and covers the gills. On a young mushroom the veil is fleshy and light (grey-white). When it’s about to tear, it often darkens and begins to sag. Don’t wait when you see these signs: harvest. Treat every mushroom individually. Until you have some experience, always harvest while the veils are still light; at the first sign of darkening, it’s time.

When is it too late?

Once the veil tears, it drops down the stem and detaches from the cap, revealing a hollow underside and the gills. Often one side tears first and the rest follows quickly. The veil turns black, then the cap and the whole mushroom. Pick these mushrooms as soon as possible and harvest a little earlier next time.

Step 5: Cold shock and start over

The kit produces multiple harvests. After each harvest you fill it with clean tap water. This “cold shock” revitalises the mycelium and gives it enough moisture to grow again.

Wash your hands thoroughly and work in a clean environment (optionally on a towel).
Take the substrate out of the bag.
Pour water (using a glass) into the grow kit until the container is completely full.
Put the lid on and let it soak for 12 hours, preferably somewhere cold like the refrigerator.
Open the lid just a little and let all the water drain into the sink or a bucket. Only a little, so no substrate escapes.
Once all the water is out, remove the lid (keep it!) and go back to step 2.

Do’s and don’ts while growing

Do’s

✔️ Keep your workspace clean and your hands washed to prevent contamination.
✔️ Follow the instructions carefully.
✔️ Keep the kit warm (18–28°C) and in the light, but never in direct sunlight.
✔️ Optional (advanced): keep a log of temperature, humidity and growth.

Don’ts

❌ Don’t add extra water or nutrients beyond the cold shock.
❌ Don’t open the kit more than needed, to prevent contamination.
❌ Don’t place the kit in a draughty or cold spot; this slows growth.

Drying your magic mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms keep only for a few days and then start to age and mould. With a good harvest you won’t use everything within a week, so it’s time to preserve them.

	Shelf life
Fresh mushrooms	3–4 days (like regular mushrooms)
Dried mushrooms	2–3 months, up to years

Mushrooms can be up to 90% water, and the more moisture, the greater the risk of mould. So dry them properly: even a little remaining moisture can cause mould. Done right, they keep for months or even years.

Option 1: Air drying (simplest)

No special equipment needed. Place the mushrooms on a clean, dry surface, for example a tray with two layers of kitchen paper, making sure they don’t touch. Put them somewhere warm: in the sun, near a heater or fireplace. Cover them with a dark towel to attract more heat and speed up drying. Replace the kitchen paper daily, as it absorbs moisture. This method may not remove all moisture.

Option 2: Drying with Epsom salt

Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) can also dry mushrooms, but first you must bake it to remove its own moisture.

Set the oven to 250°C and place a baking tray with a 1 cm layer of Epsom salt in the middle.
Bake the salt for 2 hours; it forms a solid layer.
Take it out of the oven and work quickly, so the salt doesn’t absorb moisture from the air again.
Break the slab into pieces with a hammer.
Place the pieces in a container (this can be done while still hot), put a rack over them and lay the mushrooms on top.
Close the container immediately and let the salt do its work.

Storing magic mushrooms

Store dried mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place. A zip-lock bag works; vacuum sealing is even better.

Using magic mushrooms

Taking magic mushrooms requires careful attention to dose, setting and mental preparation for a safe and potentially beneficial experience.

Setting

Environment: a calm, comfortable and safe place where you feel secure and won’t be disturbed, such as a quiet room at home or a secluded spot in nature.
Company: trusted friends or a sober guide who is experienced with psychedelics can reassure you and help with challenging moments.

What to look out for

Mental state: approach mushrooms when you feel relatively stable and open.
Physical health: make sure you feel well. Avoid mushrooms if you’re under the weather or have serious health issues.
Effects: from visual and sensory changes to deep emotional insights and sometimes challenging experiences. Effects usually begin 20–40 minutes after eating and can last up to 6 hours, depending on the dose.
Integration: afterwards, take time to understand the insights and emotions that came up.

Safety tips

Don’t mix magic mushrooms with alcohol, prescription medication or other drugs.
Stay hydrated, but avoid eating a lot beforehand to prevent nausea.
Plan activities that help guide the experience, like music, drawing or journaling.

Finding your dose

Magic mushrooms are stronger per gram than truffles, and dried mushrooms much stronger than fresh ones. Dose by body weight and use the right table:

Fresh magic mushrooms

Body weight	Microdose	Small dose	Mid dose	High dose
50 kg	1.4 g	12.5 g	17.4 g	27.5 g
60 kg	1.5 g	13 g	19 g	30 g
70 kg	1.6 g	14.5 g	20.5 g	32 g
80 kg	1.75 g	15.5 g	22 g	35 g
90 kg	1.9 g	16.5 g	23.5 g	37 g
100 kg	2 g	17.4 g	24.6 g	39 g

Dried magic mushrooms

Body weight	Microdose	Small dose	Mid dose	High dose
60 kg	0.23 g	1.9 g	2.7 g	4.2 g
70 kg	0.23 g	2 g	2.9 g	4.6 g
80 kg	0.25 g	2.2 g	3.1 g	4.9 g
90 kg	0.27 g	2.3 g	3.3 g	5.2 g
100 kg	0.28 g	2.46 g	3.5 g	5.5 g

These are guidelines. Potency varies per harvest, so if in doubt, start lower. See also our calculators.

Do’s and don’ts when using mushrooms

✔️ Do your own research, start with a low dose (also with a new batch), set an intention and prepare a relaxing space.
✔️ Stay hydrated, keep light snacks at hand and avoid heavy meals before or during.
✔️ Have a trip sitter, especially if you’re inexperienced or take a higher dose.
✔️ Mask the taste with dark chocolate, journal if you like, and take time to integrate afterwards.
❌ Don’t skip preparation or rush the dose.
❌ Don’t mix with alcohol, other drugs or medication such as SSRIs.
❌ Not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, not under 18, and be careful with (a history of) serious mental health problems: consult a medical professional first.

What to expect from magic mushrooms

People use magic mushrooms to lift their mood, experience an altered perception or gain profound insights; recreationally, spiritually and, increasingly, therapeutically. Commonly reported effects are enhanced colours and patterns, intensified emotions, a different sense of time and space, a sense of wonder and connection, bursts of creativity, and unusual physical sensations such as feeling light or floating.

Rather not grow yourself?

No time or space to grow? Our ready-to-use magic truffles and microdosing strips give you a reliable experience without the effort. Truffles (sclerotia, which grow underground) and mushrooms (the fruiting bodies, which grow above ground) are parts of the same organism and contain the same active compounds, but truffles are usually milder per gram. Read magic truffles vs magic mushrooms.

→ View the PureMycelia™ grow kit

📚 Explore all Awake guides · 🌱 Our story: grown in the Netherlands by a master grower

Questions?

Check our FAQ or email us at info@awake-shop.com. We’re happy to help.

Medical disclaimer: this guide is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any changes to your diet, exercise routine or medication, and never disregard professional medical advice because of something you read here. Do not use psilocybin if you are under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication such as SSRIs or other antidepressants, or have (a history of) serious mental health conditions. Effects differ per person; we don’t promise specific results.