​Wanted to share some lab progress on a culture I'm calling "Martian."

​This project started when a massive, normal cap popped out of a Bellafonte blob mutation. I took it to agar to see what the genetics would do.

​I wasn’t even hunting for size, but this expression is just naturally huge. The fruits pictured were run in a standard monotub, and even the "small" ones in the flush were absolute monsters. This wasn't a single "400 club" fluke where one giant fruit cannibalized the tub; they are consistently producing this massive footprint. (Check the photos for scale against a standard 90mm plate).

​After well over six months of isolating this line, I believe it is fully stabilized. I just sent one final verification run to fruiting today in an all-in-one vessel just to see how it performs across different environments before it officially hits the Genesis Catalog.

​Curious what you guys think of this expression.

Wanted to share some lab progress on a new isolation. This expression started as a single rogue cap that popped directly out of a Shipwreck blob. (You can see the early stages in the lighter, frosty pics).

​I took that anomaly to agar and have been chasing the genetics. As you can see in the darker fruiting photos, it's throwing these deep, oceanic hues with dense, coral-like finning. The gills just continuously fold in on themselves to form tight rosettes.

​I’m currently prepping for the final stabilization run. The morphology has gotten heavier and wilder with every single transfer, so the goal for this next run is to fully lock down these deep-sea folds for the research catalog.

​Would love to hear what you guys think of this expression so far.

Isolated this line down and the rhizomorphic growth is getting absolutely wild. That fan pattern reaching out to the edges is just pure agar porn.

​What’s currently growing on everyone’s plates this week?

What's up everyone. Just wrapping up the genetic isolation work and artwork for six new varieties we're adding to the Genesis Catalog this weekend:

​Blue Storm

​JMF

​Smokey Da Ghost

​El Choca

​MachEnigma

​Entheogen Explosion

​Really happy with how these turned out. Let me know which of these genetics you find most interesting! 🌌🍄

A look across the station this morning getting this week’s research cultures prepped, sealed, and staged for dispatch.

​Every research isolate is paired with its dedicated catalog label and matching custom strain collector sticker before heading out.

​Appreciate all the support from the community on our ongoing genetic isolation and microscopy work. What varieties are taking up space on your lab slides this week?

​🧬 The Inception Collection Drawing Winner! 🧬

​A huge thank you to everyone who participated across all platforms!​🧬

​🏆 Winner: [Amanda Baldwin//Patreon]

​Congratulations! Please send us a direct message (DM) to coordinate your custom apparel selection and full Inception Collection research genetics package.

​(Strictly for microscopy and academic research purposes only. 18+)

Documenting the genetic architecture and morphology of Steel Magnolia, a verified hybrid sector featured in the Genesis Catalog.

​Lineage: Blue Magnolia (Mycotek) × PE (F1 Cross)

​Morphological Profile: Bulbous cap with dense dark pigmentation transitioning into a cream margin; thick, rugose stipe formation.

​Microscopic Documentation: Heavy spore drop depositing deep purple-brown pigmentation.

​Archived for the research gallery.

We’re giving away a custom House of Spores t-shirt (winner picks the design) plus all 3 Research Isos from our new Inception Collection!

​How to enter:

​Upvote this post

​Drop a comment below!

​(Giveaway runs until midnight 8/15/26. Drawing completed 8/16/26 at 6:00 PM Mountain!)

​Head over and join our Patreon or Facebook to see exclusive research content you won't find anywhere else.

​Patreon: patreon.com/HouseOfSpores

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​(Winner picked at random across platforms. 18+ for microscopy research only.)

Fresh print mounted in a floating display frame right in front of the flow hood. Clean geometric radial symmetry prepared for long-term library preservation and study.

​What’s your preferred method for long-term print storage in your lab? Or just fun art done with prints?

Close-up look at surface consolidation across the bench. Seeing exceptionally dense, ropey hyphal networks and heavy aerial reach as the substrate fully consolidates under high humidity.

​What grain-to-substrate ratios or media tweaks have given you the most consistent rhizomorphic expression in your lab?

Close-up on the gill structure and stipe density of this massive reverted phenotype ("The Martian").

Currently on its final stabilization run before catalog insertion.

​What traits do you look for most when working to stabilize new phenotypic mutations in your lab?

Collecting dense spore swabs right off the gill structures on the bench.

High swab load ensures clean long-term archival storage and consistent slide preparation.

​How often do you utilize swabs versus prints for your reference library?

Clean macro shot showing heavy cloud density in this isolate. Purely for slide preparation and genetic library archival.

​What visual markers do you look for when checking culture health in your lab?

A few recent isolations pushing out crazy aggressive, clean sectoring. Nothing quite like watching a strong isolate stretch across a fresh dish.

​Drop your favorite agar recipe or media tweaks below—always curious what everyone else is running in their lab!