After harvest, most cannabis growers focus on traditional drying and curing in jars. However, there is a lesser-known but highly effective method to obtain a purer and smoother smoke: water curing.

This refinement process consists of submerging already trimmed buds in clean water for several days, changing the water daily. In this way, most soluble impurities (chlorophyll, sugars, mineral salts, nutrient residues) responsible for harsh combustion are removed. The result: a smoother herb to smoke, less irritating to the throat and lungs, while preserving all cannabinoids.

Why cure cannabis in water?

Water curing is a post-harvest technique developed as an alternative to classic cannabis curing. Its principle is based on the fact that many substances responsible for the “green” or unpleasant taste are water-soluble. Instead of waiting several weeks for these compounds to naturally degrade inside a jar, the water bath accelerates the process by extracting them directly.

This method is especially useful when the plant was not properly flushed before harvest or when improving flowers that retained a fertilizer taste.

Before performing water curing, keep the following characteristics in mind:

• Process duration: 3 to 10 days.
• Substances removed: chlorophyll, sugars, mineral salts, residual nutrients.
• Cannabinoids: preserved (they are not water-soluble).
• Terpenes: partially lost, especially the most volatile ones.
• Appearance: duller, less aromatic flowers, but with a whiter, more even burn.
• Main advantage: extremely smooth smoke, ideal for sensitive users.
• Drawback: reduced aroma and flavor.
• Caution: dry the flowers thoroughly after the bath to prevent mold.

How to perform proper water curing step by step

1. Harvest and trimming: Once the plants are cut, remove the large leaves and the small resinous leaves if desired.
2. Immersion in water: Place the buds in a clean container filled with water at room temperature (18–24 °C). Use a weight or an inverted lid to keep them fully submerged.
3. Daily water change: Change the water each day to gradually remove dissolved substances. You will often see the water turn cloudy or greenish — a good sign that impurities are being released.
4. Duration: Generally 5 to 7 days is enough, though some extend to 10 days for a “cleaner” result.
5. Drying: After the final day, gently drain the flowers and let them dry in a dark, ventilated, dry place. This step is crucial to avoid mold.
6. Storage: Once fully dry, store the flowers in airtight jars, protected from light and humidity.

Practical tips

• Use very clean or distilled water.
• Do not overload the container: good water circulation improves cleaning.
• Observe the water color: the cloudier it is, the more impurities have been removed.
• The final drying must be slow and well controlled.
• This process is ideal for smoothing out harsh-tasting or poorly flushed herb.

Flavor and effect of water-cured cannabis

Water curing produces noticeably smoother, less irritating smoke because it removes chlorophyll and residues responsible for bitterness. However, this smoothness comes with a loss of aroma: some volatile terpenes dissolve in water, making the smell and flavor more neutral. The flowers therefore lose part of their aromatic appeal, but gain in comfort when smoked or vaporized.

Cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.) are not water-soluble, so they remain intact. The effect stays the same, although some users notice the experience feels more direct, as the absence of aromatic terpenes leaves a “purer” sensation without flavor modulation.

Conclusion: smoother smoke but less aromatic

Water curing is a simple, fast and effective technique to obtain a final product of exceptional smoothness. Although it slightly reduces the natural aroma of cannabis, it compensates with clean, light and pleasant smoke. It is especially recommended for users seeking a more comfortable experience or to improve a harvest with an overly aggressive taste.

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The home cultivation of magic mushrooms is becoming increasingly common due to the rise in their consumption. Being an easy, fast and convenient crop, as well as profitable, more and more people are choosing to grow them at home. While it may sound complex at first, with the right instructions and materials it turns into a rewarding experience that’s within anyone’s reach.

Today we want to make things easy for you with this introductory guide, which covers the basic and most important aspects of cultivation so you can successfully harvest your mushrooms without setbacks or headaches. Let’s go!

General instructions on how to grow hallucinogenic mushrooms

Each brand offers its own instructions to customers on how to achieve abundant harvests of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Although we recommend following each brand’s instructions, there are certain parameters that are generic and can be applied to all grow kits. To begin, we’ll quickly show you how to grow a hallucinogenic mushroom kit or bag, and then we’ll go into detail on each of the points we’re about to discuss:

To grow hallucinogenic mushrooms at home, the first step is obviously to get a grow kit to cultivate. To do so, and especially if you need some extra information before deciding, you can visit our posts on magic mushroom varieties for beginners or magic mushroom varieties for experienced users.

Once the product arrives at home, you should take it to a place that’s as clean and hygienic as possible to open it, unless it’s a grow bag, in which case you shouldn’t open it at all, just leave it in a space with the right temperature, between 23 and 27 ºC.

Going back to the usual mushroom kits: the best option is to put them inside the bag that comes in the package (Mushbag) or in a mini-greenhouse. This will be the space that guarantees the right environmental conditions for fruiting: between 22 and 26 ºC and at least 80% humidity.

If you ensure these conditions and pay close attention to hygiene, in 15 to 35 days (depending on the variety) you’ll be able to collect your first magic mushrooms. These can be eaten fresh or dried for storage.

[productes tipus=”fitxa” cat=”617″ nfitxes=”3″]

So, after this speed-run on how to grow hallucinogenic mushroom kits, let’s go through it step by step and in detail:

Materials needed to start a magic mushroom grow

The materials needed to start this type of mushroom cultivation are:

• The cultivation method (bag or mini-greenhouse)
• A thermo-hygrometer
• Heat source (if necessary): heating mat or tubular heater
• Water
• Sprayer/humidifier

Cultivation method: advantages and benefits of each one

The first step is to determine which cultivation method suits you best. Each has pros and cons, so you should choose the one that best fits your space and its environmental conditions. The most common methods are three: the Mushbag bags that come with mushroom kits, mini-greenhouses and ready-to-grow cultivation bags.

• Mushbag bags: these are breathable bags where you place the cake so that it can fruit. They act as a climate system where humidity and temperature can be easily controlled. They are individual, one per kit, and usually come with the kits you buy.
• Mini-greenhouses: mini-greenhouses are the next step towards a more controlled grow. It’s easier to regulate the climatic conditions and you can also cultivate a greater number of kits in the same place.
• Cultivation bags: these are bags with the mycelium already inside, so you don’t need anything else, just temperature control. An example of this type is the

Recommended climatic conditions for hallucinogenic mushrooms

For growing this type of mushroom, the first step is to know which climatic conditions are required. The three essential parameters are temperature, humidity and ventilation.

• Temperature: between 22 and 26 ºC.
• Humidity: it must stay above 80% at all times. You can spray water on the inner walls of the bag or greenhouse to keep it high, for example when you air the kit daily.
• Ventilation: ideally, open the bag for a few seconds every day to renew the air inside and prevent CO2 from building up.

It’s very important to stress that one of the main points to consider are sudden climatic changes, both in temperature and humidity. Magic mushrooms are quite sensitive to these and their growth can completely stall. Make sure their environment is as stable as possible!

Temperature: how to achieve it at any time of year

To reach the temperature needed to grow hallucinogenic mushrooms, different temperature control methods can be used, depending on the space and the time of year:

• If you grow in summer, you’ll need a cool, well-ventilated space where the temperature never exceeds 27 ºC.
• For winter cultivation, we offer ideal products to increase the heat in your grow space. If you’re working with small mini-greenhouses or bags, a heating mat is the ideal product. It keeps the temperature between 22 and 26 ºC. If you grow in larger mini-greenhouses or propagation tents, a tubular heater can be your best friend. There’s also the option of heated mini-greenhouses, which already include a built-in heating element.

Humidity in the grow space: tips and advice

Psilocybe Cubensis mushrooms require high humidity; as mentioned above, all brands recommend at least 80%. Each grow will need a different method depending on the space.

For Mushbag bags

• Add a finger’s depth of water to the bottom of the bag, making sure the substrate doesn’t come into contact with it.
• Spray water on the inner walls of the bag. It’s important not to spray directly on the kit once the primordia have appeared, as they could rot.
• If the walls of the bag dry quickly, you need to spray more often. You can add more water to the bottom of the bag or close the zipper opening a bit more.

For mini-greenhouses or propagators:

• Pour water into the bottom tray until it’s 3–4 cm deep. The heat from the heating mat will help evaporate this water and raise the relative humidity inside.
• If the mini-greenhouse has ventilation windows, you can adjust their opening to achieve a stable humidity level, ideally around 80%.
• To grow in propagation tents, either place a tray of water inside on which you can put the kit, or add a humidifier.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, keep in mind that sudden changes in temperature or humidity can slow down the development process.

Ventilation: how to keep your space well aired

Good air circulation helps remove accumulated carbon dioxide (CO2). Mushrooms, like other organisms, consume oxygen and produce CO2, and high concentrations of this gas can inhibit their growth. Ensuring proper ventilation is essential to keep a healthy growing environment.

Mushbag grow bags

It’s recommended to leave the bag partially open, about 1/3 of its length, to allow a continuous air exchange.

When you open it to spray water, take the opportunity to renew the air. You can squeeze the bag slightly to expel the “stale” air and let fresh air in before closing it again.

Keep in mind that you’re walking a fine line here: if the bag is too open, the kit can dry out or get contaminated.

Mini-greenhouses or propagators

In this case, the simplest way is to leave the vents open to achieve the desired humidity and ventilation level. As it’s a larger space, the air takes longer to become saturated with CO2, but it’s still recommended to open the mini-greenhouse periodically.

Hallucinogenic mushroom grow bags

This is a special case. Unlike traditional cakes, grow bags such as Mycobag are designed so that the bag itself acts as a controlled environment.

There’s no need to air or open the bag at any time during the grow, only to harvest. These hybrids can grow with high CO2 and barely any O2, which makes cultivation easier and reduces the chances of contamination since you don’t have to open the bag.

Hygiene in hallucinogenic mushroom cultivation

Hygiene in mycological cultivation is a key factor for success, from the very start of the grow to post-harvest handling and preparation for consumption.

A clean, controlled environment significantly reduces the risk of contamination in mushroom kits, as contamination is usually caused by other fungi and bacteria. It can compromise the quality and safety of the mushrooms produced; it’s not advisable to consume them if they are contaminated.

Contaminating microorganisms compete with the mycelium for nutrients and, in most cases, are more aggressive and colonise the substrate more quickly, resulting in the loss of the grow.

Preventive hygiene practices

Personal hygiene

• Wash your hands thoroughly or use disposable gloves before handling the mushrooms or their grow. If you use gloves, disinfect them once they’re on.
• Wear a mask while handling the kit to reduce the chances of contamination.
• Try not to touch the kit or breathe over it.

Work space hygiene

• Keep your grow environment clean and tidy.
• Regularly disinfect the work area and grow facilities with isopropyl alcohol.
• Keep the kits away from drafts.
• Disinfect all tools and equipment used.

During the grow

• It’s important to use gloves and masks every time you open the mini-greenhouse or Mushbag, as this is the riskiest moment in terms of contamination.
• Mushroom grow bags significantly reduce the risk of contamination because you don’t need to open the bag at any time during the grow, only to harvest.

Post grow (harvest, drying and storage)

• During harvest, wash your hands thoroughly or use gloves.
• Handle the mushrooms carefully when picking them so as not to damage the substrate or mycelium, which could impair the following flushes.
• Avoid harvesting too late, as the release of spores could contaminate the kit and make new fruitings more difficult.
• Drying the mushrooms completely is essential to preserve their potency and prevent mould and problems during storage.

Dangers and most common mistakes during magic mushroom cultivation

The most common and significant problems that can arise during magic mushroom cultivation revolve mainly around contamination and control of environmental conditions. These can seriously affect the mushroom cake and reduce production, or in the worst cases kill the mycelium. Below are the most frequent issues and their triggers:

Contamination of the grow

This is the most important and frustrating problem for growers. Contamination is caused by other fungi that compete with the mycelium. These unwanted microorganisms are often more aggressive and colonise the substrate faster than the mushroom mycelium, resulting in the loss of the grow.

Contaminations usually appear as patches of strange colours and textures on the surface of the kit that are not the pure white of healthy mycelium. The patches can be dark, pink, orange, green, etc., and may be accompanied by an unpleasant smell.

It’s important to distinguish these contaminations from the bluish bruising that mycelium or the mushrooms themselves can show due to psilocybin oxidation.

The main cause of contamination in mushroom kits is the lack of hygiene in the space or from the grower: it’s crucial to consider factors such as the grower’s hygiene, the grow space (air and lack of a clean, controlled environment) and the tools used.

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