The growth promotion product line Colorado Cultures stands behind
Colorado Cultures sells primarily its own branded products — Sorghum AIO, Denver Dirt, Magical Gypsum, Fungi Fuel. But certain third-party products are too good to ignore. Dr.Myc Growth Promotion Products are one of those exceptions.
Colorado Cultures is a proud vendor of Dr.Myc products because the line consistently produces the kind of results that justify carrying another brand. Cultivators who try Dr.Myc once tend to incorporate it into their permanent cultivation stack — for growth promotion, substrate vitality, or both, depending on which variant they choose.
The Dr.Myc Growth Promotion Products line comes in three variants, each formulated for specific cultivation needs:
- MGP Plus — Growth promotion + Substrate Vitality
- MGP Pure — Maximum Gourmet/Medicinal Mushroom Growth Promotion
- Just the Trich — Substrate Vitality only (no MGP microbes for growth promotion)
Choose the variant that matches your cultivation priorities.
What "Growth Promotion" actually means
Growth promotion isn't fertilizer. Mushrooms don't take up nutrients the way plants do — they decompose substrate organic matter and absorb the broken-down compounds. Growth promotion supports the decomposition process so mycelium has more bioavailable material to grow with.
The Dr.Myc growth promotion approach typically involves:
- Beneficial microbial strains that pre-digest substrate components
- Enzymatic activity that accelerates substrate breakdown
- Antagonistic activity against contaminants (the good microbes out-compete the bad)
- Trace nutrient supplementation for mycelium cell wall and protein synthesis
The result: faster colonization, larger fruit bodies, more flushes per cycle, reduced contamination.
What "Substrate Vitality" means
Substrate vitality is broader than growth promotion. It refers to the overall health of the substrate microbiome — the community of microorganisms living alongside your mushroom mycelium.
A healthy substrate microbiome:
- Cycles nutrients efficiently between substrate and mycelium
- Resists contamination through diversity
- Maintains pH stability through buffer organisms
- Recovers quickly from disturbances (FAE cycles, humidity changes, etc.)
- Supports multi-flush cultivation by sustaining substrate quality over multiple cycles
Substrate vitality is what separates "OK grows" from "consistently exceptional grows."
The three variants explained
MGP Plus — Growth Promotion + Substrate Vitality
Best for: Cultivators who want the full package — both immediate growth boost AND long-term substrate health.
What it does:
- MGP (Mushroom Growth Promotion) microbes — beneficial strains that directly support mycelium expansion
- Substrate vitality components — broader microbial community for substrate health
- Combined effect: Faster spawn run + healthier multi-flush cycles
Use case: Standard cultivation where you want to optimize both speed AND consistency.
Application:
- Pre-inoculation: Add to substrate hydration water
- Between flushes: Add to dunking water for substrate revival
- Post-spawning: Surface application during early colonization
MGP Pure — Maximum Growth Promotion
Best for: Cultivators focused on rapid, vigorous growth of gourmet and medicinal species — oysters, lion's mane, shiitake, reishi.
What it does:
- High concentration of MGP microbes for maximum growth acceleration
- Streamlined formula focused on growth promotion specifically
- No substrate vitality components (use Just the Trich separately for that)
Use case: When you want maximum mycelium expansion speed — particularly useful for:
- Time-sensitive grows where you need fruits in the minimum cycle time
- Wood-loving species where the substrate has lower baseline biological activity
- Competition-grade cultivation where size and uniformity matter
- High-yield commercial production focused on volume
Application:
- Pre-inoculation: Most effective at this stage
- Heavy dosing for maximum effect
- Pair with Just the Trich for combined growth + vitality benefits
Just the Trich — Substrate Vitality Only
Best for: Cultivators who don't need growth promotion microbes but want substrate health support. Particularly useful when:
- You're already using a different growth-promotion product
- You want substrate vitality without competing microbial communities
- You're doing pre-pasteurized substrate work where growth promotion isn't the priority
- You want to separate the growth promotion variable from the substrate vitality variable in testing
What it does:
- Substrate vitality components only — no MGP microbes
- Supports the broader substrate microbiome without growth promotion microbes
- Compatible with any inoculant or growth promoter
Use case:
- Stack with another growth-promotion product
- Use alone for ongoing substrate maintenance between flushes
- For controlled testing of growth-promotion vs. vitality effects
- For commercial cultivation where the growth-promotion microbes are already established from prior batches
Application:
- Between flushes for substrate revival
- Post-flush re-hydration to support continued substrate productivity
- Stack with other growth promotion products without interaction concerns
How to choose between variants
| Your situation | Recommended variant |
|---|---|
| First-time Dr.Myc user, want full benefits | MGP Plus |
| Focused on fast growth (gourmets) | MGP Pure |
| Already use a different growth promoter, want vitality support | Just the Trich |
| Multi-flush cultivation focused on extended substrate life | MGP Plus |
| Multi-flush cultivation where growth speed is most important | MGP Pure |
| Commercial scale, well-established cultivation | MGP Pure or MGP Plus (depending on focus) |
| Genetics testing or experimentation | Just the Trich (cleanest control) |
| Wood-loving species cultivation | MGP Pure |
| Cubensis cultivation | MGP Plus or MGP Pure (both work) |
| Substrate quality concerns | Just the Trich |
If unsure: MGP Plus is the safe default for most home cultivators.
How Dr.Myc compares to other growth promotion approaches
| Approach | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Dr.Myc Growth Promotion (this) | Proven formulation; multiple variants; specific to mushroom cultivation | Higher cost than DIY |
| Colorado Cultures Fungi Fuel | Multi-component blend; CC-branded; consistent | Different formulation philosophy |
| DIY microbial inoculants | Lowest cost | Quality variable; takes expertise |
| No growth promotion | No additional cost | Slower, less consistent grows |
| Synthetic substrate additives | Specific compounds | Risk of contamination from chemicals; some additives harmful to mycelium |
For serious home cultivators, Dr.Myc Growth Promotion is the premium growth-promotion option that consistently produces better results than DIY or skipping growth promotion entirely.
Use cases
First-time cultivators starting their cultivation journey
- Recommendation: Start with MGP Plus
- Reason: Get full benefits without overcomplicating
- Application: Add to substrate hydration water at recommended dose
Multi-tub cultivators wanting consistency
- Recommendation: MGP Plus or MGP Pure across all tubs
- Reason: Standardized growth promotion produces consistent results
- Application: Standardize the dose across tubs to minimize variables
Commercial cultivators optimizing yields
- Recommendation: MGP Pure (maximum growth)
- Reason: Faster colonization = more cycles per year = more revenue
- Application: Pre-inoculation application for maximum effect
Wood-loving species cultivators
- Recommendation: MGP Pure
- Reason: Wood substrates have weaker baseline microbial activity; MGP microbes accelerate breakdown
- Application: Add to masters mix or bulk substrate at pasteurization step
Multi-flush optimization
- Recommendation: MGP Plus
- Reason: Substrate vitality keeps flushes 2-4 productive
- Application: Between-flush re-application
Experimenters and testers
- Recommendation: Just the Trich (controlled variable)
- Reason: Separate growth promotion from vitality in testing
- Application: Use alone or stack as controlled variable
Who buys Dr.Myc products
- Cultivators seeking premium growth promotion beyond DIY alternatives
- Multi-tub or Martha tent operators focused on consistency
- Commercial cultivators maximizing yields per cycle
- Wood-loving species cultivators (especially MGP Pure)
- Multi-flush cultivators wanting extended substrate productivity
- Experimenters wanting controlled variables (Just the Trich)
- Long-term home cultivators investing in quality equipment and supplies
- Cultivators recovering from a poor-yield grow who want quality improvement
- Genetics-focused cultivators wanting to maximize the genetic potential of valuable strains
What this is NOT
- Not synthetic fertilizer. Dr.Myc products are biological — beneficial microbes and natural growth factors.
- Not a contamination cure. Already-contaminated substrates can't be saved by growth promotion. Use for healthy substrates.
- Not a substitute for proper sterile technique. Dr.Myc supplements good technique; doesn't replace it.
- Not for non-mushroom cultivation. Designed specifically for mushroom cultivation. May not be effective on plants.
- Not all variants are identical. Each variant has specific positioning. Choose deliberately.
- Not autoclave-safe. Microbial-based products are killed by autoclave temperatures (250°F+). Apply post-pasteurization for full effect.
Pairing with the Colorado Cultures lineup
Dr.Myc products integrate into the Colorado Cultures cultivation stack:
Substrate compatibility
- Denver Dirt 5lb / 4-Pack — apply Dr.Myc to substrate at hydration step
- Masters Mix 5lb — particularly effective with MGP Pure for wood-loving species
- DIY CVG Kit — add Dr.Myc to hydration water during prep
- DIY components (coir + vermiculite + gypsum) — same application approach
Inoculant compatibility
- Sorghum AIO grain bags — Dr.Myc doesn't interact with grain spawn; apply to bulk substrate
- Binky Bags — same
- Liquid culture — Dr.Myc is for substrate; LC is for inoculation. Different stages.
Environmental compatibility
- Ultrasonic Humidifier — no interaction
- Waterproof Myco Fans — no interaction
- Mushroom Grow Light — no interaction
- Hygrometer — no interaction
Pest control compatibility
- Gnat B Gone — compatible (Gnat B Gone is for surface pests; Dr.Myc is for substrate biology)
Other Colorado Cultures growth-related products
- Fungi Fuel — different formulation philosophy; choose one or stack carefully
- Premium Gypsum / Magical Gypsum — mineral supplementation; complementary to microbial support
- Fungi Fuel — Colorado Cultures' own growth promotion product; direct competitor to Dr.Myc — choose one or the other based on preference
A note on Dr.Myc vs. Colorado Cultures Fungi Fuel
Both products serve similar purposes. Comparing:
| Feature | Dr.Myc (this) | Colorado Cultures Fungi Fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Multi-variant for specific use cases | Single multi-component product |
| Formulation | Dr.Myc proprietary | Colorado Cultures proprietary |
| Variants available | 3 (MGP Plus, MGP Pure, Just the Trich) | 1 (multi-purpose) |
| Application method | Substrate-focused | Substrate + multi-stage application |
| Price point | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| Brand | Third-party | Colorado Cultures in-house |
For most cultivators, either product works well. Dr.Myc's variant approach gives more options for specific use cases (gourmets vs. cubensis, growth focus vs. vitality focus). Fungi Fuel's single-product approach is simpler.
Trying both across separate cycles is a reasonable way to determine which works best for your specific cultivation conditions and species.
Storage and shelf life
- Storage temperature: Cool, dry location (50-77°F / 10-25°C)
- Avoid: Direct sunlight, freezing, heat above 95°F
- Shelf life: [VERIFY — typical microbial supplements: 12-24 months sealed]
- After opening: Refrigerate to extend life; use within 6-12 months
- Signs of degradation: Off odor, unusual color change, visible mold
Quality and supplier
Dr.Myc is a specialty mushroom-cultivation product line sold through Colorado Cultures as a vendor partnership. Colorado Cultures vetted the Dr.Myc product line before adding it to their inventory — meaning the products meet the same quality standard as Colorado Cultures' own branded products.
If a Dr.Myc product underperforms or has quality issues, contact Colorado Cultures customer service — they handle support for vendor-sold products as if they were their own.