Mushroom Magic - Mushroom Kits and Supplies

Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding the products and services offered by The SporeBank. Clicking on each question will direct you to the answer. If your question is not answered in the below list, please contact us and we will do our best to answer your inquiry.

1.How do I place an order through the mail?
2.The online shopping cart isn't working for me, do I have other options?
3.Do you have a phone number I can call to place my order?
4.How soon are orders shipped and what are typical delivery times?
5.What sort of packaging do you use and how is it labeled shipped?
6.What delivery options do I have and will I receive multiple packages?
7.How do I know if my order has been shipped?
8.I am under 18, can I still order from you?
9.Do you ship to countries outside the USA?
10.What is your return policy?
11.Can I have my order shipped as a gift to someone else?
12.Do you include an invoice with my order?
13.How safe is my credit card information?
14.I want to purchase spores to grow illegal mushrooms, can you help me?
15.Why are Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores sold for microscopy only?
16.What is the best way to view my spores under a microscope?
17.What is the difference between a spore print and a spore syringe?
18.How should I store my spores and how long will they last?
19.How can I start growing my edible and legal spores or cultures?
20.Where do you get your spores from?
21.How are spores handled before I receive them?
22.Are these spores dangerous?
23.My spores appear to be unviable or contaminated, now what?
24.What is the shelf life of my Mushroom Grow Bag?
25.What is the Mushroom Grow Bag made from?
26.I am a novice and don't have much equipment, will using the Mushroom Grow Bag require much time or effort?
27.What kind of mushrooms can I grow in my Mushroom Grow Bag?
28.I got my Mushroom Grow Bag today, now what?
29.I do not see anything growing, is my Mushroom Grow Bag defective?
30.Does my Mushroom Grow Bag need to be cased?
31.My Mushroom Grow Bag has finished fruiting, is there something else I can do?

1.How do I place an order through the mail?

Browse our selection and write down the names and quantities of the items you wish to purchase on a piece of paper. Excel/Spreadsheet print-outs are welcomed. Include your full address and any other contact information. For credit card orders by mail, include your card information such as the type, name on card, expiration, and card number along with the corresponding billing address. Make checks and money orders payable to "SporeBank". AND be sure to include an additional $6.99 US DOLLARS for shipping and handling to any address in the USA or an additional $14.99 US DOLLARS for shipping and handling to anywhere in the WORLD. Mail it along with payment to the address shown here. Make money orders payable to "SporeBank."
Please Remember: We refuse to ship to CA or GA without proper permissions from your respective state's agriculture department.

2 .The online shopping cart isn't working for me, do I have other options?

If you are having difficulties with our shopping cart system please Contact Us and we will make arrangements for you.

3 .Do you have a phone number I can call to place my order?

Unfortunately we are not currently setup to process orders over the phone. Should you experience any complications with your order while attempting to use the online shopping cart feel free to contact us with your problem. We will do whatever is in our power to make sure you can successfully place your order and receive your items in a timely manner.

4 .How soon are orders shipped and what are typical delivery times?

Orders are typically shipped within 1-2 days of payment receipt (either through online credit card transaction or mail in order forms). Transit time depends on the delivery method. US Priority Mail will have items to most locations within the US in 2-3 days. Some addresses may take longer if located remotely or if bad weather delays shipping. Orders send via UPS Ground will arrive in 2-6 days depending on location.

5 .What sort of packaging do you use and how is it labeled shipped?

Packaging will depend on the items ordered. Orders for spore prints are shipped in small 4 x 8 inch padded bubble mailers. Spore syringes are mailed in small white cardboard boxes measuring 10 x 2 x 2 inches (larger for big orders). Supplies will be packaged in different sized boxes depending on the weight and bulk of the items ordered. Domestic packages will only contain the needed labels for shipping and will not display outside descriptions of the packaged contents. International orders requiring boxes for shipping (not spore prints) will be labeled with a customs claim ticket describing the contents of the package. The return address label will be marked as "The Bank" on all orders.

6 .What delivery options do I have and will I receive multiple packages?

The SporeBank currently offers two delivery options: UPS Ground and US Priority Mail w/delivery confirmation. These methods are the most reliable and cost efficient available. Each will allow you to track your package to some degree (protecting them from loss in shipment). Our items may be mailed from multiple locations so you may receive multiple packages for one order. Spore products are shipped from our USA location. There may be a slight difference in the days your orders arrive depending on the shipping method selected and the distance from either location. Spores ordered along with supplies will be mailed via First Class mail while the supply products will be delivered via the selected delivery method (unless otherwise arrange prior to order placement by contacting us).

7 .How do I know if my order has been shipped?

When placing your order be sure to include a valid email address we can use to contact you for order delivery confirmation and if any problems arise in processing your order. As soon as your order is processed and shipped a confirmation email will be sent to the provided email and include your UPS tracking number or Priority Mail delivery confirmation number. UPS tracking numbers can be used to track the progress of your order. Delivery confirmation from the US mail will only tell if and when you have successfully received your package .

8.I am under 18, can I still order from you?

The only items offered on our site restricted to those 18 and over are Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores. Ordering Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores indicates that the buyer is over the age of 18 and legally able to do so. Any other item may be ordered with your parent's permission if you are under 18. This includes any items from our supplies section and any available edible or medicinal cultures/spores.

9.Do you ship to countries outside the USA?

Yes we do ship to countries outside the USA. Our shopping cart system is now setup to accept international orders and delivery options are now available for international customers. When placing your order please select the appropriate International: Air-Mail delivery method. This will automatically calculate the shipping charge to deliver your order via standard Air-Mail (7-10 days). Please understand that some items are bulky and weigh a considerable amount and therefore international delivery may be impractical or very expensive.
Please Remember: We refuse to ship to CA or GA without proper permissions from your respective state's agriculture department.

10.What is your return policy?

All sales are final on pre-sterilized items. We do offer a sterility guarantee on these items for 30 days after purchase. A 20% restocking fee will be charged on all returned items. Items must be in original unused condition. No returns without written authorization. No returns after 30 days. Shipping charges are not refundable. Checks may take time to clear, for fastest service use credit card, cashiers check, or US Postal money order. If the shipper for any reason returns orders to us you will be billed for additional shipping charges. $20.00 service charge will be charged on all returned checks. Spores and cultures are sold with cleanliness and viability guarantee, should you find your spores or cultures to be unviable or contaminated please contact us and we will make arrangements for replacement.

11.Can I have my order shipped as a gift to someone else?

Yes, you may have your order shipped as a gift to someone else. Simply provide an alternative shipping address when Checking out. In the "Additional Comments" field you can include a note to notify us if the order or items in the order are a gift and being mailed to someone other than the purchaser. Alerting us of this may help in quickly processing your order and save us from making any mistakes in shipping when processing the order.

12.Do you include an invoice with my order?

The SporeBank will not include an invoice with your order unless specifically requested during the order checkout. Having an invoice included with your order can help in tracking potential sterility or cleanliness problems (in the case of contaminated spores or dirty spore syringes/cultures) and can speed up the replacement process by having the original order information on hand when you contact us.

13.How safe is my credit card information?

Your credit card information is safe with our SSL certification protecting the checkout process and Authorize.net protecting the credit card processing and transmission. Our new system allows us to process your credit cards using the verified, protected servers of 3rd party processors such as PayPal.

14.I want to purchase spores to grow illegal mushrooms, can you help me?

The SporeBank offers Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores for microscopy purposes only. The cultivation of many of these species will result in mushrooms that posses the chemical Psilocybin. This chemical is currently regulated as a Schedule 1 narcotic in the US. Production of these mushrooms is illegal in the US. It is not the intention of The SporeBank to encourage people to break the law or to promote the use of illicit drugs. We cannot offer any advice explicitly directed towards the cultivation of these mushrooms. We can, however, answer all your questions regarding legal edible and medicinal mushroom cultivation and culturing.

15.Why are Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores sold for microscopy only?

Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores are sold for microscopy purposes only because many of these species will produce mushrooms containing the controlled substance Psilocybin. Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores are legal for sale because the actual spores contain no detectable amount of Psilocybin and therefore are not subject to regulation or control.

16.What is the best way to view my spores under a microscope?

Spores are best viewed at 400x or higher magnification. Place a small amount of dried spores into a small amount of water and then place a small drop of the resulting solution on a glass slide and cover with a glass cover slip. Excess water can be absorbed with the corner of a paper towel to prevent the cover slip from floating and drifting. Pre-made spore solutions in hypodermic syringes can be conveniently dispensed directly onto the slide. Spores can be accurately measured with a stage micrometer (a glass slide with a tiny engraved ruler).

17.What is the difference between a spore print and a spore syringe?

Spore prints are collections of spores taken on a sterile medium under sterile conditions. The spores are collected by placing a mature mushroom cap on the medium and allowing the cap to release spores. The spores then adhere to the surface of the medium after drying and form a "print." Prints are often used directly to observe spores under a microscope or in agar applications (for edibles and medicinals). Spore syringes are simply a mixture of clean spores in a sterile solution. This allows for direct microscopic examination of hydrated spores or the application of spores directly to substrate material.

18.How should I store my spores and how long will they last?

Spore prints should be stored in the clean ziplock baggie in which they are packaged. It is best to store this baggie in a cool, draft-free location with low humidity. Spore prints can remain healthy and viable for many years if cared for properly. Spore syringes should be stored in a clean ziplock baggie (like the one used in shipping) and placed in a refrigerator. Refrigerating the syringes increases the length of time the spores will remain healthy and viable (up to 4-5 months).

19.How can I start growing my edible and legal spores or cultures?

It depends on the species you are attempting to grow and the skill level of the cultivator. We have prepared several cultures in convenient syringes that can be injected into presterilized substrates for practically foolproof cultivation. Spore prints are for more advanced cultivators and are best used in combination with agar media, but good results can had by placing the spores directly onto the recommended substrate. Each species has its own requirements and should be well researched before ordering.

20.Where do you get your spores from?

Edible and medicinal spores and cultures are maintained by our skilled and qualified employees in our US lab. Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores are collected from wild specimens or purchased from our qualified and long tested European research associates.

21.How are spores handled before I receive them?

Spore prints are taken under sterile conditions are packaged in sterile zip-lock bags. The spores are never removed from their bag following printing. Spore syringes are created from clean prints under extremely sterile conditions and are shipped with the needle sterile.

22.Are these spores dangerous?

None of the spores sold by our company are dangerous. Some, like many Psilocybes and Panaeolus, will produce mushrooms containing the controlled substance psilocybin. These mushrooms can produce hallucinogenic effects and it should be noted that production of psilocybin and psilocin is illegal within the US. Spores from these species are offered for microscopy purposes only.

23.My spores appear to be unviable or contaminated, now what?

All spores/cultures and pre-sterilized items are supplied with a cleanliness guarantee. Should you find any of our spore or culture products be contaminated with mold or bacteria please contact us with your original purchase information and we will make arrangements to replace your spores/cultures as per our sterility guarantee. If you have ordered pre-sterilized supplies and found them to arrive contaminated with molds or bacteria please contact us and we will make arrangements for replacements to be sent.

24.What is the shelf life of my Mushroom Grow Bag?

Our tests have proven the shelf life of the Mushroom Grow Bag to be at least 4 months from the time of product arrival before possible expiration. If the bag is stored in a relatively stable environment with normal humidity (dry air could dry out the substrate mixture) then there is reason to believe the bag could store as long as 6 months. All bags shipped from our store are from recently sterilized batches, so you can be guaranteed to receive a fresh product with a full shelf life expectancy.

25.What is the Mushroom Grow Bag made from?

The substrate included pre-mixed and sterilized inside the Mushroom Grow Bag has been specially prepared for optimal growing of grain loving mushrooms. It consists of a mixture of grains, flours, water and vermiculite to provide an easy to maintain environment for the fruiting of your grain loving mushrooms.

26.I am a novice and don't have much equipment, will using the Mushroom Grow Bag require much time or effort?

The Mushroom Grow Bag was designed with the novice in mind. As such, all you need to successfully enjoy the experience of mushroom cultivation is a viable and healthy spore or culture syringe of the desired grain loving fungus. The bags come pre-mixed and sterilized and require no addition equipment for production.

27.What kind of mushrooms can I grow in my Mushroom Grow Bag?

The Mushroom Grow Bag has been constructed with a substrate mixture specifically formulated for the production of grain loving mushrooms. Any species of mushroom requiring low gas exchange and grain based substrates (various grains) will perform as designed in the bags. The bag can be used to generate spawn for any sort of mushroom, however some species (those requiring other substrate materials for fruiting or higher gas exchange rates) may not fruit inside the bags.

28.I got my Mushroom Grow Bag today, now what?

Once your Mushroom Grow Bag arrives there are only a few steps before you can begin to enjoy the wonders of mycological study. Simply follow the directions outlined on the Mushroom Grow Bag description page. Once your bags have been properly inoculated simply wait until they become fully colonized with mycelium before exposing them to indirect light on a daily basis. Once fully colonized, exposure to indirect light for 12 hours a day is best to initiate pinning.

29.I do not see anything growing, is my Mushroom Grow Bag defective?

The Mushroom Grow Bag has been extensively tested and is prepared using very strict quality control guidelines. As such, we do not expect many of our customers to have problems with this product. If nothing appears to be growing in your bag (i.e. it looks just as it did the day it arrived, even after inoculation) then chances are the spores or culture used to inoculate the bag have become unviable. If your spores have been purchased through our site we can offer to replace any defective or contaminated Mushroom Grow Bag. However, we cannot extend this guarantee to spores purchased through other vendors and used in our bags. If you find your Mushroom Grow Bag to be unproductive then please Contact Us to make arrangements to receive either replacement bags or replacement spores/cultures. If no growth is apparent in the bag then chances are you just need a fresh syringes to start growth.

30.Does my Mushroom Grow Bag need to be cased?

The Mushroom Grow Bag is designed to work without any additional casing procedures or removal of the substrate from the bag. However, many customers have noted success in removing the colonized substrate from the bag, placing it in fruiting trays and applying traditional casing mixtures. Doing this will undoubtedly increase the productivity of the bag substrate and may allow you to successfully grow species unsuited for the traditional Mushroom Grow Bag grow procedure.

31.My Mushroom Grow Bag has finished fruiting, is there something else I can do?

Once the substrate contained in the Mushroom Grow Bag is exhausted and finished producing fruits inside the bag there are several options you can explore. Many customers have noted success by injecting sterilized or distilled water into the substrate through the injection port. Recharging the bags in this manner may allow more flushes to develop. Other customers have noted further success by removing the spent substrate from the bag and placing in traditional fruiting chambers and supplying supplemental humidity and air exchange. The spent substrate may also be used to spawn bulk mediums given the myco bag substrate has been handled in fairly sterile surroundings when opened for harvest.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this web site is to provide information. The authors provide the information "as is" and cannot be held responsible for errors in the content of this site. It is not the intention of the authors to encourage people to break the law or to promote the use of illicit drugs. Purchasing our products indicates that the buyer is legally able to do so and is over 18 years of age. Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores and spore products are intended for microscopy use only. Psilocybe and Panaeolus spores may be illegal to possess in California or Georgia without the proper permissions.