The Best Panaeolus Varieties for Beginners
One of the most common questions I get asked is which Panaeolus varieties are easiest to work with if you’re new to Pans? In general, I’ve noticed that varieties collected near volcanoes or from areas with volatile weather patterns, such as South Africa, Texas, and Queensland, tend to have more aggressive genetics than varieties collected […]
The Best Agar Recipe for Growing Panaeolus Cyanescens
There are several popular recipes out there for growing mushrooms but most of them are designed for Psilocybe and gourmet species, not Panaeolus. The best recipe I’ve ever used for Panaeolus species was shared with me by a friend and it completely transformed my experience with agar work. It only uses three ingredients, all of […]
How to Prevent Mushroom Aborts in Cultivation: A Complete Guide
If you’ve ever watched your mushrooms start aborting for no clear reason, you know how frustrating it is. Everything looks fine: clean substrate, healthy mycelium, correct temp and RH… but they keep stalling out and aborting before maturity. Why?! It can be hard to tell, especially if you’re new to mushroom cultivation. There’s always a […]
How to Prevent Trichoderma in Mushroom Cultivation
If you’ve ever posted in a forum or Facebook group asking why you keep getting trich, chances are most of the responses you got were a variation of “your spawn is dirty.” And sure, sometimes that’s true. But in my experience, it’s not the only reason… and honestly, it’s not even the most likely reason. […]
The Best Grains for Growing Panaeolus Cyanescens
I see the question “What’s the best grain for Panaeolus cyanescens?” get asked a lot so I wanted to share my experience with y’all. In this post, I’ll break down what pans are looking for in a grain, which grains work best and which ones to avoid, plus I’ll go over how prepare your grains […]
How to Store Spore Prints, Swab Sets and Syringes
How long do mushroom spores last? Great question, and like most things in mycology, the answer is “it depends.” Different species vary a bit, but in general, spores can remain viable for years if stored properly. That means keeping them sealed, in a dark, dry, cool location such as your fridge. Spore syringes don’t last […]
The Best Substrate for Growing Panaeolus Cyanescens
When it comes to growing Panaeolus cyanescens, you’ve probably come across a lot of conflicting advice online about which substrate is best. From fully composted manure is the gold standard, to coir/verm plus liquid nutrients works great, to Pans don’t need manure at all. With people claiming success from all directions, it can be hard […]
Panaeolus cyanescens: The Magic Mushroom Formerly Known as Copelandia
Panaeolus cyanescens, often referred to as Copelandia cyanescens or just Pan cyan, is a small but incredibly potent mushroom found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. While it shares the nickname “Blue Meanies” with some Psilocybe cubensis strains, Panaeolus cyanescens is in a league of its own when it comes to potency and […]