Large healthy mushrooms fruiting from a grow bag.

Getting Started in Mushroom Cultivation: A Beginner’s Guide

Mushroom cultivation is one of the most rewarding hobbies (or side hustles) you can dive into. It’s part science, part art, and all about working with nature instead of against it.

If you’re just getting started, it can feel like a strange new world — with confusing terms, lab-sounding techniques, and conflicting advice. Don’t worry. This guide will walk you through what you actually need to know to get started growing mushrooms at home — no lab coat required.

Why Grow Mushrooms?

  • Fresh, potent, and delicious results
    Homegrown mushrooms taste better, are more affordable, and can be more potent than store-bought (depending on species).
  • Learn a fascinating biological process
    Watching mycelium colonize and fruit is like watching life evolve in fast-forward.
  • Self-reliance and sustainability
    Mushrooms grow on waste, require little space, and can thrive without soil, sunlight, or chemical fertilizers.
  • Grow your own Medicine
    Many people find relief from PTSD, anxiety, depression, addictions, and more with entheogens.  If you do, make sure you always have a reliable and affordable source for you medicine.

What You Need to Get Started

1. The Right Supplies (and the Right TEK)

There are many ways to grow mushrooms, but for beginners, we recommend starting with a monotub kit or a simple grow bag method using a proven TEK (technique).

Here’s what you’ll need at minimum:

  • Sterilized grain spawn
  • Pasteurized substrate (CVG: coco coir, vermiculite, gypsum)
  • Spore syringe or liquid culture
  • Grow container (monotub, bag, or greenhouse)
  • Clean work area (gloves, alcohol wipes, minimal airflow)
Tip: Contamination is the #1 beginner frustration. Use gloves, alcohol wipes, and clean surfaces every time you inoculate or transfer material.

2. Choose Your Mushroom Wisely

Some mushrooms are easier for beginners than others. We recommend starting with:

  • Cubensis mushrooms – Fast, forgiving, and great for food
  • Golden Teachers – Popular for beginners in the psilocybe world
  • Natalensis – These are a more recent discovery from Africa but are quickly becoming a fan favorite because of their potency and ease of growth.

3. Understand the Lifecycle

Knowing what your mushrooms are doing at each stage helps you troubleshoot problems early:

  1. Inoculation – Add spores or culture to grain
  2. Colonization – Mycelium spreads through grain
  3. Bulk Spawn – Grain is mixed with substrate
  4. Fruiting – Mushrooms form under the right conditions
  5. Harvest – Right before or just after the veil breaks

Note: Most species prefer 68–75°F and 85–95% humidity.

4. Start Small. Learn Fast.

You don’t need a full lab. Try a single grow kit, or prep your own monotub with just a few bags of spawn and substrate. Once you get a feel for it, you can clone fruits, prep agar plates, and scale up.

5. Use Trusted Sources

There’s a lot of outdated and bad advice online. Stick to proven TEKs and curated kits. You can also check out our Guides & TEKs section for step-by-step instructions.

Ready to Start?

If you’re holding back because it looks complicated — don’t.

We’ve helped hundreds of first-time cultivators grow their first flush. With the right supplies, the right information, and a little patience, you’ll be surprised how easy (and addictive) it becomes.

Try Our Grow Kit

Our all-in-one-bags includes everything you need to get started:

  • Sterilized grain
  • CVG substrate
  • Gloves, wipes, and instructions
  • Just add spores!

Got Questions?

We’re cultivators ourselves — reach out anytime via our contact page and we’ll help you get started the right way.

Getting started is the hardest part. Let us make it easier.

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