Cubensis Ecuador

A proud representative of its namesake country, the Ecuador strain is particularly popular among connoisseurs of exclusive psilocybin genetics for its mesmerizing size of fruiting bodies and profound potency.

Origin

A popular legend has it that the original specimens of the strain were discovered in the highlands of Ecuador at the end of the 20th century by an expedition of dedicated mycologists. This circumstance refers the magnificent Ecuador to strains that derive their genetics from wild-growing mushrooms rather than those obtained through laboratory experiments. However, since no reliable data on the origin of Ecuador has been found, it is not worth considering this fact as an undeniable truth. Despite its obscure origins, Ecuador's reputation as one of the most prominent strains of psilocybin mushrooms is undeniable to its contemporaries.

Appearance

Mature specimens of Ecuador, compared to their congeners, are distinguished by their truly impressive size. The height of the massive stem of some individual specimens occasionally exceeds 20 cm, providing reliable support for a bell-shaped cap up to 12 cm in diameter! When young, its color tends to be dark brown with a reddish tinge, but as it develops, the surface of the cap lightens to an amber-gold or white coffee color. The underside of the caps is covered with a dense veil that covers the spore-bearing surface with dark purple gills.

Growing Peculiarities and Yields

The cultivation of Ecuador requires a fair amount of patience and dedication to the craft, as the strain's mycelium is known for its slow rate of substrate colonization. However, tolerance to non-optimized growing conditions and resistance to contamination compensate for this characteristic. Strict adherence to sterile conditions at all stages of the spawn life cycle is a must. Cultivation with the PF-Tek method is not recommended due to the large size of the fruiting bodies.

Inexperienced growers will benefit from using raw oats, wheat, rye, and barley as components of a substrate. Advanced growers test the performance of the strain using a substrate of hay and straw supplemented with pasteurized manure. The mycelium will completely cover the proposed substrate in 10-21 days when the temperature in the incubation stage is maintained at 26-30 °C.

Keep the temperature in the fruiting chamber within 22-26 °C and the humidity at least 90% for abundant fruiting. To shape the mushrooms and prevent them from mutating, provide a constant supply of fresh air and a dim light source using a simple LED cluster.

The first flush of fruiting will please the relentless mycologist with an abundant yield of up to 300 g of fresh mushrooms from 1 liter of substrate. With proper care of the spawn (rehydration, deoxidation of the substrate block), the following 2-3 flushes will bring 100-150 g each, but the last flushes will not be so generous.

Effects and Dosages

Ecuador is rightly considered one of the most potent and transformative Psilocybe cubensis strains. For beginners, the weight of 1-1.5 g will be enough to touch the mysterious world of magic mushrooms without the risk of side effects. A standard dose of 2-4 g of dried mushrooms produces vivid visions and a psychedelic alteration of consciousness, along with some distortion of the perception of space and time. Thoughts and sensations will be sharpened to the limit, leading to profound psychological transformations and spiritual enlightenment. Some myconauts experience unification with a higher outer-space intelligence or the merging of individual consciousness with the collective unconscious of all humanity.

Please note that doses above 5 g are fraught with unpredictable consequences, including loss of control over your actions and severe disorientation. Therefore, such experiments should be approached with the utmost respect and caution and should only be undertaken if you have a solid background in traveling, given the time required for preparation.

Peak effects of Ecuador mushrooms occur 2-4 hours after ingestion and last for about 4 hours. The total duration of the trip is 6-8 hours.