Spore Syringes - The Basics
What is a spore syringe - a syringe containing mushroom reproductive material (spores) in a solution of sterilized water.
How to use a spore syringe - inject the solution onto a viable substrate. After that, the mycelium will start to grow and colonize the substrate (a process that can take from several weeks to a few months). Spore syringes also tend to contain a great degree of genetic variability.
Features of spore syringes:
- low contamination rates
- high degree of genetic variability
- easy to use
- long shelf-life (ideally stored in a fridge)
Liquid Cultures - The Basics
What is liquid culture - a nutrient-rich sugar/honey solution that contains living mycelium. Whereas spore syringes need to first be injected onto the substrate to start mycelium growth, liquid cultures are the next step in the process, as germination and isolation have already taken place.
How to use liquid culture - same as spore syringe, simply add it onto a viable substrate. Liquid culture takes significantly less time to colonize, speeding up the growth process.
Liquid cultures tend to contain monocultures rather than varied strains. Poses risks of species misidentification.
Features of liquid cultures:
- very low contamination rate
- shorter shelf life (ideally stored in the fridge)
- very fast colonization (1-3 weeks)
- contains a single mushroom variety
- may be difficult to access
Spore Cultures vs. Liquid Cultures - Key Differences
Speed of Colonization
The spores in a syringe have to germinate and create a mycelial network before substrate gets colonized. This process may take months.
Liquid culture contains live mycelium, which can help mycelium colonize in as little as 1-3 weeks.
Genetic Variability
Generally, liquid cultures should contain a single, pure strain of a single mushroom variety. This can increase fruit size and harvest yield, and you will always know what your final result will look like
With spore syringes, you might not always get the expected result, as they contain up to thousands of different varieties competing for resources.
Contamination Rates
Both should display low rates of contamination if prepared correctly.
For spore syringes, we recommend first germinating on agar to check for signs of contamination.
Legality
Spore syringes have not yet germinated into mycelium, and it is also difficult to isolate a specific strain, which is why they are considered legal in most places.
On the other hand, liquid culture legality will vary from state to state, especially if it contains a particularly controversial strain like Psilocybe cubensis.
Always make sure to check your state's legislation before purchasing Psilocybe cubensis liquid cultures.
Shelf-Life
Spore syringes can last up to 6 months, and can be stored in an airtight container as well as in the fridge. Liquid cultures must be stored in the fridge as they can spoil quickly otherwise. If stored correctly, liquid cultures remain viable for about 2 months.
Can You Make Liquid Culture Using A Spore Syringe?
Spore syringes can be converted into liquid cultures with the right tools and procedures.
Step-by-Step Conversion Process
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Collect Spores: Cut the cap off your mushroom of choice. Get tinfoil, place the cap gill-side down on it, and cover it with a cup. Give it time, 24 to 48 hours is standard to allow the cap to drop spores freely.
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Retrieve the Spore Print: Upon your return, be careful when removing the cap; you don’t want any damage to your coveted spore print.
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Prepare the Solution: Now comes the interesting part. Scrape off a small portion of the spore print into a sterile distilled water jar. Remember, even a dime-sized spore print houses millions of spores.
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Transfer to Syringe: Carefully draw this spore-water solution into syringes; your spore syringe is ready. Be mindful to carry out these activities under a flow hood or still air box (SAB) to limit contamination.
Spore Cultures vs. Liquid Cultures - Which Is The Best Choice For Beginners
Both are effective and can lead to favorable outcomes.
Many experienced mycologists prefer liquid cultures due to the low genetic variability and increased speed of colonization. However, spore syringes are much more easily accessible for beginners and hobbyists, have a higher shelf life, and can lead to just as good results if you have the patience for it.
