This 1,200 ml kit is designed for growing mushrooms and comes with a prepared growing medium, a lidded tray, a filter bag and two paperclips. The included instructions explain the process in a few straightforward steps.
Strain Characteristics
| Trait | Description |
|---|
| Growing difficulty | Moderate |
| Cap appearance | Golden to caramel-brown, generally medium-sized |
| Cap development | Convex when young, gradually broadening and flattening with maturity |
| Stem appearance | Pale to cream-coloured, relatively sturdy |
| Gills | Grey when young, darkening to purple-brown as spores mature |
| Spore colour | Dark purple-brown |
| Bruising | Pronounced blue to blue-grey discolouration |
About the Strain
Blue Meanie is a cultivated variety of Psilocybe cubensis, recognised for its caramel-brown caps, pale stems and pronounced blue bruising. The caps broaden as the mushrooms mature, while the gills darken as spores develop.
Its name has an unusual history. In Australia, the nickname blue meanies traditionally referred to Panaeolus cyanescens, a separate mushroom species. The designation later became associated with a cultivated cubensis variety as well. Despite sharing a name and the characteristic blue discolouration, the two belong to different genera.
The name has also entered modern scientific research. In 2025, a study comparing 42 psilocybin-producing fungal strains used DNA analysis to identify a sample labelled Blue Meanies as Psilocybe cubensis. This added a modern scientific record to the history of the cultivated variety.
Product Details
| Specification | Value |
|---|
| Commercial name | Blue Meanie |
| Species | Psilocybe cubensis |
| Tray volume | 1,200 ml |
| Container | Plastic tray with lid |
| Grain | Fully colonised rye |
| Base layer | Perlite |
| Casing layer | Vermiculite |
| Included accessories | Filter bag and two paperclips |
| Instructions | Included |
Is a Heat Mat Really Necessary?
In most homes, it's possible to find a suitable spot with enough light and a reasonably stable temperature, so a heat mat is usually not necessary. If the surroundings are too cool, additional warmth may be helpful. A heat mat can be used on its own, while an optional thermostat offers more precise temperature control when needed.
References
- Table 1 identifies the sample labelled Blue Meanies as Psilocybe cubensis using ITS DNA sequencing.
- The original dossier cites this taxonomic entry for the common-name overlap.
- Studies injury-triggered blueing in Psilocybe mushrooms. It does not establish a unique Blue Meanie phenotype.
– Documents the historical Australian use of the nickname “blue meanies” for Copelandia cyanescens, now generally classified as Panaeolus cyanescens.
