Blek said:

-How does spores get introduced to an area? Do they carry in the wind or does it have to be bought in by man or animal shit?

Spores are everywhere.  You are breathing them right now.  They are outside your room, in your house, in the woods.. everywhere.  When the right conditions arise the spores will germinate and the mycelial life-cycle starts.


Can cyan's appear in new mulch or does it take a few years?
Cyanescens are one of the most aggressive species of mycelium one can find in the PNW.  However, you can't expect them to go from ungerminated spores to mushrooms in too short of a period of time.  Basically, the spores have to germinate, form hyphae, which form into bigger mycelial networks that expand and colonize a particular food source (woodchips/debris).  When a good healthy mycelial mat has formed and the environmental conditions are right, then they will start producing mushrooms.  As a very vague, general rule of thumb, this process takes about 6 months to 2 years to form a large patch.  Hence, looking in woodchips that were chipped 2 weeks ago will probably not have any mushrooms yet.

-Do they really appear in the Portland metro area? I certainly know they do in Seattle, but I cant find hard evidence of people finding them here.

Although I have never hunted for cyans in the Portland area, I am sure they do grow there.    It is still too dry for most patches to fruit.  Global warming is real and is the cause for such a late season this year.  Next year will probably be even later.  It will be here as soon as the rains come though!

Good vibes en route

Good luck!




When woodland habitats are destroyed by man, saprophytes (primary decomposers) are first on the scene to start cleaning up the debris and recycling it back into the ecosystem.  Psilocybe cyanescens are one of many saprophytes.  Deciduous woodchips are an excellent food source for Ps. cyanescens.

---

nice write up!