Directions for Spore Syringes

Sterilize your work surface. Mushroom spores are sensitive to competition with other microorganisms, so prevent as much microbial contamination as possible. Wash the work surface with an antibacterial soap, allow it to air dry, and then wipe the surface with 91% alcohol.

Set up your workstation. Once you open the spore syringe, you will work quickly to inoculate the substrate. Place your prepared substrate, cotton balls and tea light in the work area, and light the candle. Set a trash can near you.

Put on rubber gloves. Once on, sterilize them by pouring alcohol into the palm of one hand, and then rubbing the alcohol over the entire surface of both gloves.

Clean the surface of your substrate packaging with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Substrates come packaged in jars with lids or vacuum-sealed plastic bundles. The jars will have holes in the lid to use for injection of the spores, while the plastic bundles will have an injection port.

Open the needle package to have complete access to the needle, but do not remove it from the package.

Open the syringe and remove it from the package. Twist off the cap at the end of the syringe and throw it in the trash can. From this point on, do not set down the syringe until you have completed all inoculations.

Remove the needle from the packaging and push it on to the end of the syringe.

Remove the cap from the needle.

Sterilize the length of the needle with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball.

Pass the length of the needle through the candle flame for five seconds. This will remove any bacteria or spores living inside the needle shaft.

Shake the syringe to distribute the spores throughout the solution, and then immediately inject the spores into a single substrate container. The number of spores depends on the volume and packaging of the substrate. The rule of thumb would be 1 cc for every half pint of substrate. If the substrate has a single injection port, inject the full amount. If the substrate has two or more available injection sites, disperse the amount evenly between them.

Repeat Step 10 after every inoculation and continue injecting until you inoculate all substrate containers.

Cap the needle after inoculation is complete. Place the syringe in a plastic bag and seal it. Throw the empty syringe away or store any leftover solution for up to 60 days from the original receipt date.