i recommend sterilizing everything, including your workspace.


it should be sufficient.

probably not, but its best to err on the side of caution. i would take precautions as if it were a real threat, though it most likely isn't

they CAN be, but shrooms do well with balance (as with all things). i believe indirect light is preferable. i try to average out with 12/12, though it is admittedly polyphasic.

i have never measured out any LCs i have prepared (though this may not be something worth bragging about) so you should be fine with guesstimating.

when the outside is fully colonized, it acts as a protective skin against contaminants, which makes it much more resistant to contamination, but still susceptible (semi-sterile conditions should be fine - the cleaner the better)

Regarding PE strain,

Many people will respond to you that a cube is a cube, and to this I agree somewhat. I have grown a few different 'strains' and the largest differences that I can attest to personally are different growth parameters (rate, proliferation, spore depositing, etc) and physical differences of the mushroom itself (color, shape, etc). If you are doing a multispore inoculation, it is kind of a crapshoot anyway.

As far as the experiences themselves go, I have had a wide variety of experiences from the same batch of the same strain. If I gave a blind taste test to my very experienced friends, I doubt any of them would be able to identify one strain vs. another. I have had PE once, and found it to be on par with your average cube, though your mileage may vary. Some people seem to swear that is in a category all its own... I have not found this to be true.

Not that any of this should discourage you... I am a huge fan of cubensis (I havn't grown any other species yet), and in the right setting all of my experiences were absolutely wonderful.

Something you may notice is much denser fruits though less of them. Happy growing!