Growkit Pluto: the outpost of the Space Shrooms range
The Growkit Pluto closes the row of planet kits and carries the name of the body furthest out. In practice it works like the rest of the series: a transparent inner tray with colonised substrate, a cover with ventilation holes and a cloth that lets you regulate airflow. The base is Psilocybe cubensis.
Why a ready made kit
Preparing and inoculating substrate yourself is possible, but it asks for a clean workspace and a fair amount of practice. With this kit that work was done in a sterile room, which considerably reduces the risk of contamination before you even start. That makes it a sensible choice for a first attempt, while leaving little to tinker with: moisture, temperature and ventilation are the only controls.
From box to first flush
- Take the lid off the inner tray and mist water over the substrate.
- Spray once or twice against the inside of the cover and put the cover back without the loose lid.
- Lay the cloth over the holes of the kit and keep only the top hole open.
- Once caps become visible, stop watering and slide the cloth back further every day.
The kit works between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius, with roughly 23 as the best figure. Give it a bright place out of direct sunlight. Under normal conditions the first flush shows after about ten days. If the inside of the cover has gone dry, spray it again; leave the substrate itself alone.
Harvesting and starting over
Wash your hands, take each mushroom at the base and twist it loose. Touch the white mycelium as little as possible and use sterilised tweezers rather than your fingers for stragglers. Keep the harvest cool and dark, ideally in the fridge; drying extends its life considerably. After that you simply start again at step one for the second and third flush.
Besides Pluto, Avalon Magic Plants carries the Space Shrooms kits Jupiter, Mars, Neptune and Venus, and for those who want to go further, vermiculite, perlite and alcohol wipes. All parcels are shipped discreetly.
