Strain Guide

All 28 built-in strain profiles with difficulty ratings, growing parameters, substrate recommendations, and tips.

Tip: Every strain listed here has a built-in profile on the SH-Room controller. Select your strain during the Setup Wizard and the controller will automatically configure temperature, humidity, CO2, FAE (Fresh Air Exchange), and lighting for each growth phase.

Strains are grouped into four categories: Psychoactive (P. cubensis), Psychoactive (Other Species), Gourmet, and Medicinal. Each entry includes the parameters the controller uses to manage your grow.

Psychoactive — Psilocybe cubensis

P. cubensis is the most widely cultivated psychoactive mushroom species. All cubensis strains share the same basic growing technique but differ in speed, yield, potency, and how forgiving they are of mistakes.

Golden Teacher

Difficulty: Easy

The gold standard for beginners. Golden Teacher is forgiving of imperfect conditions, colonises quickly, and produces reliable flushes of medium-to-large golden-capped fruits. If this is your first grow, start here.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	4–7 days
Fruiting	21–24 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%) or straight coco coir.
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3 (spawn to substrate).
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours after full colonisation.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes over 4–6 weeks.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain, 7–10 days in substrate.

Tip: Golden Teachers often show pins within 5–7 days of opening the tub to fruiting conditions. If nothing appears after 10 days, check your FAE — CO2 buildup is the most common reason for delayed pinning.

B+

Difficulty: Easy

A heavy-fruiting strain known for producing large individual mushrooms. B+ tolerates a wider temperature range than most cubensis varieties, making it ideal for growers without perfect climate control. Extremely contamination-resistant.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–25 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	4–7 days
Fruiting	21–27 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Tip: B+ can fruit at temperatures up to 27 °C, which makes it a great choice if your grow space runs warm. The fruits may be slightly smaller at higher temps but will still be plentiful.

Penis Envy

Difficulty: Advanced

The slowest-colonising cubensis strain with the highest potency. PE requires very precise humidity control (92–98%) and is far less forgiving than beginner strains. Not recommended for first-time growers. Fruits are dense, thick-stemmed, and do not fully open their caps.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	92–98%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	17–19 °C	92–98%	—	18–24 hours
Pinning	22–24 °C	92–98%	< 700 ppm	7–14 days
Fruiting	22–24 °C	92–95%	< 700 ppm	7–14 days

Substrate: CVG with added gypsum (coco coir 45%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 10%, water 15%). A casing layer is highly recommended.
Spawn ratio: 1:1 to 1:2 (higher spawn ratio helps compensate for slow colonisation).
Cold shock: Drop to 17–19 °C for 18–24 hours. PE benefits from a stronger cold shock.
Expected flushes: 2–4 flushes (smaller yields per flush than beginner strains).
Colonisation time: 14–21 days on grain, 10–14 days in substrate.

Warning: Penis Envy is extremely sensitive to humidity drops. Even brief periods below 90% can cause aborts. The controller's humidity PID must be well-tuned — always run Auto-Tune before growing PE.

Danger: PE's slow colonisation makes it highly vulnerable to contamination. Impeccable sterile technique during inoculation and spawning is non-negotiable.

Blue Meanie (P. cyanescens)

Difficulty: Advanced

Not to be confused with Panaeolus cyanescens (also called Blue Meanie), this is the cubensis variety marketed under the same name. Produces potent, heavily-bruising fruits. Prefers warmer temperatures and high humidity.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	25–28 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	19–21 °C	90–95%	—	12–18 hours
Pinning	23–26 °C	92–98%	< 700 ppm	5–10 days
Fruiting	23–26 °C	90–95%	< 700 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2.
Cold shock: Drop to 19–21 °C for 12–18 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–4 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Tip: Blue Meanies bruise dark blue very easily. This is normal oxidation of psilocybin, not contamination. If you see blue-green colours, do a swab test to distinguish bruising from mould.

Amazonian

Difficulty: Easy

A warm-climate strain that produces larger-than-average fruits. Amazonian is nearly as forgiving as Golden Teacher and does well in grow spaces that run slightly warmer. Good yields with minimal fuss.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	25–28 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	19–21 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	22–25 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	4–7 days
Fruiting	22–26 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 19–21 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Ecuadorian

Difficulty: Easy

A high-altitude strain adapted to cooler temperatures. Ecuadorian is an excellent choice if your grow space sits below 24 °C. Produces medium-sized fruits with good potency and is very contamination-resistant.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	22–25 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	16–18 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	20–23 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	4–7 days
Fruiting	20–24 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 16–18 °C for 12–24 hours. Ecuadorian responds well to stronger cold shocks.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Tip: Ecuadorian is ideal for unheated grow spaces in cooler climates. The controller's heater can handle the colonisation warmth while fruiting temperatures often match the ambient room.

Mazatapec

Difficulty: Moderate

A traditional Oaxacan strain used in indigenous Mexican ceremonies. Mazatapec is notably contamination-resistant but colonises more slowly than other cubensis strains. Produces elegant, slender fruits with a spiritual reputation.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days
Fruiting	21–25 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	7–12 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–4 flushes.
Colonisation time: 14–21 days on grain (slower than average).

Warning: Mazatapec's slower colonisation means patience is required. Do not open the tub or introduce fruiting conditions early — wait for at least 80% visible colonisation before transitioning.

Thai

Difficulty: Easy

A tropical strain that colonises fast and produces abundant small-to-medium fruits. Thai loves warmth and performs best in grow spaces above 24 °C. One of the fastest cubensis strains from inoculation to harvest.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	25–28 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	8–12 days
Cold Shock	19–21 °C	90–95%	—	12–18 hours
Pinning	23–26 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	3–6 days
Fruiting	23–27 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 19–21 °C for 12–18 hours.
Expected flushes: 4–6 flushes.
Colonisation time: 8–12 days on grain (fast coloniser).

Tip: Thai's fast colonisation speed gives contamination less time to take hold. This makes it a great choice for growers still perfecting their sterile technique.

Albino A+

Difficulty: Moderate

A leucistic (pale, not true albino) variant that produces ghostly white fruits. AA+ requires slightly higher humidity than standard cubensis and colonises at a moderate pace. The visual appeal makes it a popular second grow.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	92–97%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	12–16 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	92–97%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	92–97%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days
Fruiting	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–4 flushes.
Colonisation time: 12–16 days on grain.

Warning: Leucistic strains like AA+ make it harder to visually detect contamination early since the mycelium contrast against mould is less obvious. Inspect your tubs carefully and regularly.

Z-Strain

Difficulty: Easy

The fastest-colonising cubensis strain available. Z-Strain is aggressive, contamination-resistant, and produces dense canopies of medium-sized fruits. Excellent for growers who want quick turnaround times.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	25–28 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	7–10 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–18 hours
Pinning	22–25 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	3–5 days
Fruiting	22–25 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:4 (can stretch further due to aggressive colonisation).
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–18 hours.
Expected flushes: 4–6 flushes.
Colonisation time: 7–10 days on grain (fastest cubensis).

Tip: Z-Strain's aggressive mycelium can sometimes climb the walls of the tub. This is normal — it is just looking for more substrate to colonise. It does not affect the grow.

Cambodian

Difficulty: Easy

A fast-growing warm-climate strain from Southeast Asia. Cambodian produces abundant small-to-medium fruits and is very resistant to contamination. Similar to Thai but with slightly smaller, more numerous fruits.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	25–28 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	8–12 days
Cold Shock	19–21 °C	90–95%	—	12–18 hours
Pinning	23–26 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	3–6 days
Fruiting	23–27 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 19–21 °C for 12–18 hours.
Expected flushes: 4–6 flushes.
Colonisation time: 8–12 days on grain.

Treasure Coast

Difficulty: Easy

Originally found on Florida's Treasure Coast. A reliable beginner strain that sometimes produces albino or leucistic fruits alongside normal ones — a fun surprise. Good yields and easy to grow.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	4–7 days
Fruiting	21–25 °C	85–92%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2 to 1:3.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Tip: If your Treasure Coast produces albino fruits, consider cloning them to agar. Albino genetics from TC can be isolated into a consistently leucistic culture.

APE (Albino Penis Envy)

Difficulty: Advanced

The most difficult and slowest cubensis strain, but also considered the most potent. APE combines the challenges of Penis Envy with albino genetics that make contamination even harder to spot. Expert growers only.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	95–98%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	21–30 days
Cold Shock	17–19 °C	95–98%	—	18–24 hours
Pinning	22–24 °C	95–98%	< 700 ppm	10–21 days
Fruiting	22–24 °C	92–97%	< 700 ppm	10–21 days

Substrate: CVG with extra gypsum and a casing layer (coco coir 45%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 10%, water 15%). A casing layer of peat moss and vermiculite is essential.
Spawn ratio: 1:1 (high spawn ratio is critical for APE).
Cold shock: Drop to 17–19 °C for 18–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 2–3 flushes (lower yields than standard cubensis).
Colonisation time: 21–30 days on grain (the slowest cubensis).

Danger: APE's extremely slow colonisation (up to 30 days on grain) creates a massive contamination window. Use liquid culture rather than spore syringes, and ensure your grain prep and sterile technique are flawless.

Tidal Wave

Difficulty: Moderate

A cross between B+ and Penis Envy that holds the Psilocybin Cup record for highest potency. Tidal Wave is easier to grow than pure PE while retaining much of the potency. Produces dense, meaty fruits.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	12–18 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	92–96%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days
Fruiting	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	7–12 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%). A casing layer is recommended but not required.
Spawn ratio: 1:1 to 1:2.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–4 flushes.
Colonisation time: 12–18 days on grain.

Tip: Tidal Wave is a great stepping stone if you want PE-level potency without PE-level difficulty. It inherits B+'s resilience while keeping much of PE's density and strength.

Jedi Mind Fuck

Difficulty: Moderate

A reliable strain known for producing dense, solid fruits with good potency. JMF is consistent across flushes and does not demand the extreme humidity of PE varieties. A good choice for intermediate growers looking for above-average potency.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–27 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	12–16 days
Cold Shock	18–20 °C	90–95%	—	12–24 hours
Pinning	21–24 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	5–8 days
Fruiting	21–25 °C	88–93%	< 800 ppm	6–10 days

Substrate: CVG (coco coir 50%, vermiculite 30%, gypsum 5%, water 15%).
Spawn ratio: 1:2.
Cold shock: Drop to 18–20 °C for 12–24 hours.
Expected flushes: 3–5 flushes.
Colonisation time: 12–16 days on grain.

Psychoactive — Other Species

These psychoactive species are not P. cubensis and have significantly different growing requirements.

Wavy Caps (Psilocybe cyanescens)

Difficulty: Advanced

A wood-loving species that fruits at very cold temperatures (2–13 °C). Wavy Caps are not a typical indoor monotub species — they naturally fruit outdoors in autumn on wood chip beds. Indoor cultivation requires a dedicated cold-fruiting setup. The controller's cooler output is essential for this strain.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	18–22 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	30–60 days
Cold Shock	2–5 °C	90–95%	—	24–48 hours
Pinning	5–10 °C	95–99%	< 600 ppm	7–14 days
Fruiting	7–13 °C	95–99%	< 600 ppm	7–14 days

Substrate: Hardwood chips (alder, beech, or oak) — 100%. Do not use coco coir or CVG. Soak chips in water for 24 hours, drain to field capacity.
Spawn ratio: 1:3 to 1:5 (spawn to wood chips).
Cold shock: Dramatic drop to 2–5 °C for 24–48 hours. This simulates autumn frost.
Expected flushes: 1–3 flushes indoors (more outdoors over years).
Colonisation time: 30–60 days (very slow on wood substrate).

Danger: Wavy Caps require the controller's cooler to maintain fruiting temperatures of 5–13 °C. Without active cooling, indoor cultivation is not feasible in most climates. Ensure your cooler is properly sized for your tub volume.

Warning: P. cyanescens look similar to several toxic Galerina species. If foraging, always get a positive spore print (lilac-brown) and confirm identification with multiple features.

Psychoactive — Truffle (Sclerotia) Producers

These species produce sclerotia (magic truffles) — dense underground masses of hardened mycelium containing psilocybin. Unlike all other profiles, truffle species do not use a monotub. They grow in sealed grain jars incubated in darkness. The controller is used solely for heat mat temperature control. See the Psilocybin Truffles guide for the full growing process.

Tip: When using a truffle profile, the controller only manages temperature via the heat mat. Humidity, FAE, and lighting are automatically disabled as they are not needed for sealed jar incubation.

Tampanensis Truffles (Psilocybe tampanensis)

Difficulty: Easy

The most popular and reliable truffle producer. Originally discovered in Tampa, Florida in 1977, tampanensis is the gold standard for sclerotia cultivation. Produces dense, medium-potency truffles commercially known as "Philosopher's Stones." Very forgiving — the best choice for your first truffle grow.

Parameter	Value	Notes
Incubation temp	21–25 °C	Controller maintains via heat mat
Humidity	N/A	Jars are sealed — no humidity control needed
Light	None	Complete darkness promotes sclerotia formation
Duration	8–12 weeks	Longer = larger, denser truffles
Expected yield	50–150g fresh per litre jar	15–50g dried
Potency	Moderate (0.6–1.0% psilocybin dry)	Lower than fruit bodies

Substrate: Whole rye berries. Soak 12–24h, simmer 10–15 min, drain well. Fill jars 2/3 full. Sterilise 90 min at 15 PSI.
Growing tip: Do not shake jars once sclerotia start forming (around week 3–4). Shaking breaks developing truffles apart.

Mexicana Truffles (Psilocybe mexicana)

Difficulty: Easy

One of the most historically significant psychoactive species, used ceremonially in Mesoamerica for centuries. Produces smaller truffles than tampanensis but with slightly higher potency. Often reported as producing a warmer, more euphoric experience.

Parameter	Value	Notes
Incubation temp	21–25 °C	Controller maintains via heat mat
Humidity	N/A	Jars are sealed
Light	None	Complete darkness
Duration	10–14 weeks	Slower coloniser than tampanensis
Expected yield	30–100g fresh per litre jar	10–35g dried
Potency	Moderate–High (0.8–1.2% psilocybin dry)	Higher than tampanensis

Substrate: Whole rye berries. Soak 12–24h, simmer 10–15 min, drain well. Fill jars 2/3 full. Sterilise 90 min at 15 PSI.
Growing tip: Patience is key — mexicana takes longer but the wait is worthwhile for the higher potency.

Galindoi Truffles (Psilocybe galindoi / ATL#7)

Difficulty: Easy

The highest-yielding truffle species. Also known as ATL#7 or "Mushrocks." Sometimes classified as a variety of P. mexicana. Extremely forgiving and prolific — the best choice if you want maximum truffle mass from each jar.

Parameter	Value	Notes
Incubation temp	21–25 °C	Controller maintains via heat mat
Humidity	N/A	Jars are sealed
Light	None	Complete darkness
Duration	8–12 weeks	Similar speed to tampanensis
Expected yield	100–200g fresh per litre jar	30–65g dried
Potency	Moderate (similar to tampanensis)	Makes up for it in volume

Substrate: Whole rye berries. Soak 12–24h, simmer 10–15 min, drain well. Fill jars 2/3 full. Sterilise 90 min at 15 PSI.
Growing tip: Top choice for beginners wanting maximum yield. Run multiple jars — galindoi is very consistent across batches.

Atlantis Truffles (Psilocybe atlantis)

Difficulty: Moderate

Discovered in Georgia, USA. Produces very dense, dark-coloured sclerotia with the highest potency of any truffle species. Slower to colonise and more sensitive to conditions than tampanensis or galindoi — worth the extra patience for experienced growers.

Parameter	Value	Notes
Incubation temp	21–25 °C	Temperature stability is critical for this species
Humidity	N/A	Jars are sealed
Light	None	Complete darkness
Duration	10–16 weeks	Slowest truffle species — be patient
Expected yield	50–120g fresh per litre jar	15–40g dried
Potency	High (0.8–1.5% psilocybin dry)	Strongest truffle species

Substrate: Whole rye berries. Soak 12–24h, simmer 10–15 min, drain well. Fill jars 2/3 full. Sterilise 90 min at 15 PSI.
Growing tip: The controller's temperature stability is especially valuable here — atlantis is more sensitive to fluctuations than other truffle species. Use the substrate probe between jars for accurate readings.

Gourmet

Gourmet species are grown for culinary use. They have different substrate and environmental requirements compared to cubensis. The controller profiles handle these differences automatically.

Pink Oyster

Difficulty: Easy

The fastest gourmet mushroom to grow. Pink Oyster goes from inoculation to harvest in as little as 3 weeks. It produces vibrant pink clusters with a meaty texture and mild seafood flavour. Thrives in warm conditions.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–30 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	7–10 days
Cold Shock	Not required	—	—	—
Pinning	20–28 °C	90–95%	< 600 ppm	2–4 days
Fruiting	20–28 °C	85–95%	< 600 ppm	3–5 days

Substrate: Pasteurised straw (100%) or supplemented straw (straw 80%, soy hulls 20%). Cut straw to 5–10 cm lengths.
Spawn ratio: 1:3 to 1:5 (spawn to straw by weight).
Cold shock: Not required. Pink Oyster fruits readily without cold shock.
Expected flushes: 2–3 flushes.
Colonisation time: 7–10 days on grain, 5–7 days through straw.

Tip: Pink Oyster needs very high FAE — more than any cubensis strain. The controller will run fans at higher speeds during fruiting. If you see long, thin stems with tiny caps, increase the FAE setting further.

Warning: Pink Oyster is a tropical species and will die if exposed to temperatures below 4 °C. Do not cold-store spawn or substrate.

Blue Oyster

Difficulty: Moderate

A cooler-climate oyster that produces beautiful blue-grey clusters. Blue Oyster requires a cold shock to initiate fruiting and needs very high fresh air exchange. The cold-fruiting temperatures make it ideal for unheated spaces.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	20–24 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	10–14 days
Cold Shock	5–10 °C	85–95%	—	24–48 hours
Pinning	10–18 °C	90–95%	< 500 ppm	3–5 days
Fruiting	12–20 °C	85–95%	< 500 ppm	4–7 days

Substrate: Pasteurised straw (100%) or masters mix (hardwood sawdust 50%, soy hulls 50%).
Spawn ratio: 1:3 to 1:5.
Cold shock: Drop to 5–10 °C for 24–48 hours. This is essential — Blue Oyster will not fruit without it.
Expected flushes: 2–4 flushes.
Colonisation time: 10–14 days on grain.

Warning: Blue Oyster produces enormous quantities of spores during fruiting. Harvest promptly when cap edges begin to flatten. Spore loads can cause respiratory irritation in enclosed spaces.

Lion's Mane

Difficulty: Moderate

A striking white, icicle-like medicinal and gourmet mushroom. Lion's Mane colonises slowly and demands consistent humidity without fluctuation. The reward is a unique mushroom with a lobster-like flavour and well-documented cognitive health benefits.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	21–24 °C	90–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	12–15 °C	90–95%	—	24 hours
Pinning	16–20 °C	92–98%	< 600 ppm	5–7 days
Fruiting	18–22 °C	90–95%	< 600 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: Masters mix (hardwood sawdust 50%, soy hulls 50%) — sterilised, not pasteurised. Alternatively, supplemented hardwood sawdust (sawdust 80%, wheat bran 20%).
Spawn ratio: 1:3 to 1:5.
Cold shock: Drop to 12–15 °C for 24 hours.
Expected flushes: 2–3 flushes.
Colonisation time: 14–21 days on grain (slow coloniser).

Tip: Lion's Mane is best grown in bags with a small X cut for the fruit to emerge through, rather than open-tub style. You can place the bag inside your monotub so the controller still manages the environment.

Warning: Humidity fluctuations cause Lion's Mane to develop a yellow tinge and the icicle-like teeth to stop growing. The controller's consistent humidity management is critical for this strain.

Shiitake

Difficulty: Advanced

One of the world's most popular culinary mushrooms, but one of the most demanding to grow indoors. Shiitake requires a very long colonisation period on supplemented hardwood sawdust and benefits from a dramatic cold shock.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	21–25 °C	85–90%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	30–60 days
Cold Shock	5–10 °C	85–90%	—	24–48 hours
Pinning	14–18 °C	85–95%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days
Fruiting	14–20 °C	80–90%	< 800 ppm	5–10 days

Substrate: Supplemented hardwood sawdust (oak or beech sawdust 80%, wheat bran 15%, gypsum 5%) — must be sterilised at 15 PSI for 2.5 hours.
Spawn ratio: 1:5 to 1:10.
Cold shock: Drop to 5–10 °C for 24–48 hours. Some growers soak the block in cold water for added effect.
Expected flushes: 3–6 flushes over several months.
Colonisation time: 30–60 days (the block must turn fully brown before fruiting).

Warning: Shiitake blocks must complete a browning phase after white colonisation. The surface turns brown and leathery. Do not attempt to fruit before browning is complete — it will fail.

King Oyster

Difficulty: Advanced

The king of oyster mushrooms, prized for thick, meaty stems. King Oyster requires cold fruiting temperatures and very high FAE. It is slower and more demanding than other oyster species but produces premium culinary mushrooms.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	21–24 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	5–10 °C	85–95%	—	24–48 hours
Pinning	10–16 °C	90–95%	< 500 ppm	5–10 days
Fruiting	12–18 °C	85–95%	< 500 ppm	7–14 days

Substrate: Masters mix (hardwood sawdust 50%, soy hulls 50%) — sterilised. Alternatively, supplemented hardwood sawdust (sawdust 80%, wheat bran 20%).
Spawn ratio: 1:3 to 1:5.
Cold shock: Drop to 5–10 °C for 24–48 hours. Essential for pinning.
Expected flushes: 2–3 flushes.
Colonisation time: 14–21 days on grain.

Tip: To get the thick, stubby stems that King Oyster is famous for, keep CO2 slightly elevated during early fruiting (800–1200 ppm) then drop to < 500 ppm as caps begin to form. The controller can automate this with a custom phase schedule.

Reishi

Difficulty: Advanced

The "mushroom of immortality" — a prized medicinal fungus grown for health supplements rather than culinary use. Reishi has a very long fruiting cycle and produces hard, shelf-like conks with a distinctive lacquered appearance.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	24–28 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	Not required	—	—	—
Pinning	22–28 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	7–14 days
Fruiting	22–28 °C	85–95%	< 800 ppm	30–60 days

Substrate: Supplemented hardwood sawdust (oak or maple sawdust 80%, wheat bran 15%, gypsum 5%) — sterilised. Alternatively, masters mix.
Spawn ratio: 1:5.
Cold shock: Not required. Reishi does not need a cold shock trigger.
Expected flushes: 1–2 (Reishi conks grow slowly over weeks rather than producing discrete flushes).
Colonisation time: 14–21 days on grain.

Tip: Reishi grown with high CO2 produces antler-like formations instead of flat conks. If you want antlers (popular for tinctures), let CO2 stay elevated. For traditional flat conks, keep CO2 below 800 ppm.

Warning: Reishi fruiting takes 30–60 days. This is the longest fruiting cycle of any strain in the controller. Plan accordingly — your tub will be occupied for 2–3 months per flush.

Medicinal

Medicinal species are grown primarily for their health-promoting compounds. They often have unique substrate requirements and longer growing cycles.

Turkey Tail

Difficulty: Moderate

One of the most researched medicinal mushrooms, valued for its immune-supporting polysaccharides (PSK and PSP). Turkey Tail grows as thin, colourful bracket-like fans. It requires very high FAE and grows slowly.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	21–24 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–28 days
Cold Shock	10–15 °C	85–95%	—	24 hours
Pinning	16–22 °C	90–95%	< 500 ppm	7–14 days
Fruiting	18–24 °C	85–95%	< 500 ppm	14–30 days

Substrate: Hardwood sawdust supplemented with wheat bran (sawdust 80%, wheat bran 15%, gypsum 5%) — sterilised. Oak is preferred.
Spawn ratio: 1:5.
Cold shock: Drop to 10–15 °C for 24 hours.
Expected flushes: 2–4 flushes over several months.
Colonisation time: 14–28 days on grain (slow grower).

Tip: Turkey Tail demands the highest FAE of any strain in the controller. If you see elongated, pale growth instead of the characteristic colourful banding, CO2 is too high. The controller will run fans at near-maximum during fruiting for this profile.

Cordyceps

Difficulty: Advanced

Cordyceps militaris (the cultivated species) grows on a unique rice-based substrate and produces bright orange finger-like fruiting bodies valued for their cordycepin content. Unusually, Cordyceps needs light during colonisation — the controller's light schedule handles this automatically.

Phase	Temperature	Humidity	CO2	Duration
Colonisation	20–24 °C	85–95%	> 5000 ppm (closed)	14–21 days
Cold Shock	10–15 °C	85–95%	—	24–48 hours
Pinning	16–20 °C	90–95%	< 800 ppm	7–14 days
Fruiting	18–22 °C	85–95%	< 800 ppm	21–40 days

Substrate: Brown rice (70%) and silkworm pupae powder or nutritional yeast (30%), hydrated to field capacity — sterilised. Grown in jars or culture vessels, not bulk substrate.
Spawn ratio: Liquid culture inoculation directly onto rice substrate (5–10 mL per jar).
Cold shock: Drop to 10–15 °C for 24–48 hours after colonisation is complete.
Expected flushes: 1–2 flushes per jar.
Colonisation time: 14–21 days.

Warning: Unlike every other strain in the controller, Cordyceps needs 12/12 light during colonisation. The SH-Room Cordyceps profile configures this automatically, but be aware if you are setting up a custom profile.

Tip: Cordyceps is best grown in glass jars with filtered lids placed inside the monotub. The controller manages the macro environment while the jars maintain their own micro-humidity. This works well for small-batch medicinal grows.

Quick Reference — All 28 Strains

Use this table for a quick comparison. Tap any strain name to jump to full details.

Strain	Category	Difficulty	Colonisation	Fruiting Temp	Substrate
Golden Teacher	Psychoactive	Easy	10–14 days	21–24 °C	CVG
B+	Psychoactive	Easy	10–14 days	21–27 °C	CVG
Penis Envy	Psychoactive	Advanced	14–21 days	22–24 °C	CVG + casing
Blue Meanie	Psychoactive	Advanced	10–14 days	23–26 °C	CVG
Amazonian	Psychoactive	Easy	10–14 days	22–26 °C	CVG
Ecuadorian	Psychoactive	Easy	10–14 days	20–24 °C	CVG
Mazatapec	Psychoactive	Moderate	14–21 days	21–25 °C	CVG
Thai	Psychoactive	Easy	8–12 days	23–27 °C	CVG
Albino A+	Psychoactive	Moderate	12–16 days	21–24 °C	CVG
Z-Strain	Psychoactive	Easy	7–10 days	22–25 °C	CVG
Cambodian	Psychoactive	Easy	8–12 days	23–27 °C	CVG
Treasure Coast	Psychoactive	Easy	10–14 days	21–25 °C	CVG
APE	Psychoactive	Advanced	21–30 days	22–24 °C	CVG + casing
Tidal Wave	Psychoactive	Moderate	12–18 days	21–24 °C	CVG
Jedi Mind Fuck	Psychoactive	Moderate	12–16 days	21–25 °C	CVG
Wavy Caps	Psychoactive	Advanced	30–60 days	7–13 °C	Hardwood chips
Tampanensis Truffles	Truffle	Easy	8–12 weeks	21–25 °C	Rye berries
Mexicana Truffles	Truffle	Easy	10–14 weeks	21–25 °C	Rye berries
Galindoi Truffles	Truffle	Easy	8–12 weeks	21–25 °C	Rye berries
Atlantis Truffles	Truffle	Moderate	10–16 weeks	21–25 °C	Rye berries
Pink Oyster	Gourmet	Easy	7–10 days	20–28 °C	Straw
Blue Oyster	Gourmet	Moderate	10–14 days	12–20 °C	Straw / masters mix
Lion's Mane	Gourmet	Moderate	14–21 days	18–22 °C	Masters mix
Shiitake	Gourmet	Advanced	30–60 days	14–20 °C	Hardwood sawdust
King Oyster	Gourmet	Advanced	14–21 days	12–18 °C	Masters mix
Reishi	Gourmet	Advanced	14–21 days	22–28 °C	Hardwood sawdust
Turkey Tail	Medicinal	Moderate	14–28 days	18–24 °C	Hardwood sawdust
Cordyceps	Medicinal	Advanced	14–21 days	18–22 °C	Rice substrate

Tip: All 28 strain profiles are pre-loaded on your SH-Room controller. Select your strain in the Setup Wizard and the controller configures every parameter automatically. You can fine-tune any value from the dashboard if your specific conditions need adjustment.