Psilocybe cubensis cultivars: know before you grow
All of these are cultivars of Psilocybe cubensis, the species most cultivated by beginners. Educational characteristics only: difficulty, colonisation speed, relative potency and notes. A field guide, not a shopping list.
Golden Teacher (GT)
The classic teaching cultivar. Forgiving, consistent, golden caps. If it is your first grow, it is probably this. Slower than some, but rarely dramatic.
B+ (Be Positive)
Enormous, forgiving fruits and a wide tolerance for less-than-perfect conditions. A beginner favourite for exactly that reason.
Cambodian
A rocket. Colonizes aggressively enough to outrun a lot of beginner mistakes, which is why experienced growers recommend it for a confidence-building first run.
Mazatapec
A traditional lineage with deep cultural roots in Mexico. A little more sensitive to conditions than the true beginner strains, and worth it for the history.
Albino A+ (AA+)
Leucistic and pale, almost ghostly under the light. Photogenic and a touch fussier. Bruises a deep blue, which makes reading its health easy.
Blue Meanie
Heavy blue bruising and a reputation to match. Not to be confused with the Panaeolus of the same nickname. Intermediate hands only.
Z-Strain
An aggressive, rhizomorphic colonizer that races across grain. Fast to the point of impatience, which suits a grower who wants to see progress.
Penis Envy (PE)
Notoriously potent, notoriously slow, and emphatically not a beginner cultivar. Dense, low-sporing, temperamental. Included here as the thing to grow toward, not to start with. Treat its strength with respect.