Growing supplies
Everything you need for a sterile and successful grow can be found here: from heating mats and thermostat controllers to substrate, Liquid Culture vials, and sterile supplies such as gloves, alcohol wipes, and scalpels. Working with magic mushrooms requires hygienic conditions, as contamination is the main cause of a failed grow. The individual items on this page are suitable as additions to your grow kit or as building blocks for a completely custom substrate grow. Everything is delivered within 1–3 business days via PostNL.
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Everything You Need to Know About Mushroom Growing Supplies
Do you want to go beyond a standard grow kit, or do you want more control over the growing temperature and hygiene? Then Dutch-Smart’s individual growing supplies are the right choice. Below, we explain for each product group what they’re used for and what specific benefits they offer.
Temperature control: heating mats and thermostat
Mushroom mycelium colonizes fastest at a substrate temperature of 23–26 °C. A 5- or 7-watt heating mat heats the substrate evenly across the entire surface, which is especially useful in winter when the room temperature drops. The 5W mat is suitable for small grow kits or truffle trays; the 7W version has a bit more power for larger setups. Combining a heating mat with the thermostat (adjustable from 16 to 40 °C) prevents overheating and keeps the temperature constant at the desired level.
Liquid Culture vials: faster colonization
The Liquid Culture vials are available in 5 ml and 10 ml sizes and come with an empty syringe and alcohol wipes. Liquid culture contains active mycelium in a nutrient solution, allowing spores to germinate faster and the substrate to become fully colonized significantly faster than with spore syringes. This shortens the cultivation period and reduces the risk of contamination due to the shorter open phase. The 10 ml vial is more efficient for larger substrate bags or multiple inoculations.
Substrate: vermiculite, perlite, and rice flour
For a BRF (Brown Rice Flour) cake, you need rice flour and vermiculite. Rice flour (250 g) serves as a growth medium for the mycelium; vermiculite (1 liter) ensures air circulation and moisture retention in the substrate. Perlite (1 liter) is used in the outer layer of a Martha tent or shotgun terrarium as a moisture buffer: it retains moisture and releases it slowly, which maintains the humidity at the required level of 85–95% during the pinning phase.
Sterile equipment: essential for every grow
Contamination by bacteria or fungi almost always starts with poor hygiene. Use sterile gloves and alcohol wipes to clean your hands and work surfaces during every inoculation. A sterile scalpel is indispensable when working with spore prints or inoculating agar. Petri dishes (90 × 16 mm, 10 pieces) are the standard for agar work: they allow you to isolate healthy mycelium sections and identify contaminants early on. For substrate bags, use microfilter bags or filter boxes, which allow gas exchange while keeping microorganisms out.
Grow kits as a complete alternative
Individual supplies are ideal if you want to create your own substrate recipe or expand an existing setup. Would you rather have everything in one package? Then check out our 100% mycelium grow kits or the XL grow kits, where the substrate and mycelium are already fully prepared.
Frequently asked questions about growing supplies
Which heating mat do I need: 5W or 7W?
For a standard grow kit (500–1200 ml), the 5W mat is sufficient. The 7W version is better suited if you place multiple grow kits side by side, use a larger substrate tray, or work in a space that consistently stays below 18 °C. Always use it in combination with the thermostat to prevent overheating; mycelium dies at temperatures above 30 °C.
Can I also use Liquid Culture with an existing spore syringe?
Yes. You use the included syringe to inject the Liquid Culture into your substrate, just like a regular spore syringe. The difference is that Liquid Culture already contains active mycelium instead of loose spores, resulting in a shorter colonization time and a higher germination success rate.
How much vermiculite and rice flour do I need per grow kit?
For a standard 250 ml BRF cake, you typically use 2 parts rice flour to 1 part vermiculite plus water. With 250 g of rice flour and 1 liter of vermiculite, you can easily make 4–6 half-liter pots. You don’t use perlite in the substrate itself, but as a layer (2–5 cm) on the bottom of your fruiting chamber to increase humidity.
About the author
Editor
Derek writes for Dutch Smart about smart shop products, cultivation techniques, and harm reduction. He combines practical experience with factual, well-researched information, without hype or vague promises.
