Growkit – poradnik mykologa

Important Information: Please remember that in Poland, growing psilocybin mushrooms is illegal, and growkits are sold only for educational and research purposes. This manual is intended for observing the mycelium.

Basic Steps for Growkit Operation (Without Pre-Rehydration)
1. Hygiene and Site Preparation – The Key to Success
Mycelium is very sensitive to infection, so cleanliness is absolutely essential.
Wash your hands and forearms (preferably with antibacterial soap) before each contact with the kit.
Clean and disinfect the work surface (e.g., with isopropyl alcohol).
Use disposable gloves and a mask for additional protection.
Do not touch the mycelium with your bare hands!

2. Grow Bag Placement
Place the container with the mycelium (remove and keep the plastic lid) into the bag, being careful not to touch the substrate in the container.
Fold the top of the bag and secure it with paper clips to keep dust and insects out.
Pull the excess bag lower onto the box – the ventilation filter should be just above the surface of the grow kit, which will improve initial air exchange.
In the later stages of observation, as the mycelium grows, you can extend the bag to its full length to create more space.

3. Optimal Environmental Conditions
Maintaining stable and appropriate conditions is essential for observation.
Temperature: Maintain a stable temperature between 20°C and 25°C (ideally 23°C). Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations.
Light: Place the kit in a location with access to diffused daylight. Direct sunlight is not recommended. Complete darkness is also not necessary – minimal light is sufficient. (Do not place it on a windowsill; these are not plants.)
Peace of Mind: Place the grow kit in a location where it will not be moved or touched frequently.

4. Growth and Observation Phase
Be patient – this process can take several to several days.
First 10-20 days: Keep the bag tightly closed to maintain the high humidity necessary for initiating growth. Observe the clear bag.
Pins Appearance: When you observe the mycelium condensing into tiny balls („pins” or „pinheads”), it’s a sign that you should start airing the bag once – twice a day to let in fresh air.

5. Harvesting and Preparing for the Next Cycle (Flush)
This step is for observation/research purposes only and for mushroom species that are legal to cultivate.
Harvesting: When the fruiting bodies are ripe, harvest them with disinfected/gloved hands, gently twisting them carefully from the substrate (do not yank to avoid damaging the mycelium). Remove all fruiting bodies, large and small.
Restarting the Growkit (Rehydration): After completing the observation of a given cycle (after harvesting, if fruiting has occurred), if you wish to resume observation:
Fill the container with lukewarm mineral water from a bottle (20°C) to the brim.
Cover with the lid (the one you saved) and leave for 1-1.5 hours.
Drain off excess water – the container should be damp, but there should be no water remaining inside.
Return to step 2 (Placing in the Bag).

Important Final Tips
Humidity: Never allow the mycelium to dry out. If the bag walls are dry, you can spray them with water (but not directly on the mycelium!).
Disposal: If you notice mold (e.g., green or black growth), this indicates contamination. The entire kit should be disposed of immediately and safely (e.g., bury it in the garden or throw it in the trash, tightly packaging it) to avoid contaminating the surrounding area.