Penis Envy #2 (Psilocybe cubensis)
What is Penis Envy #2? A Complete Overview
Penis Envy #2 is a highly potent and visually distinct variety of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. A notable spin-off from the legendary Penis Envy lineage, this strain was developed by combining the original Penis Envy with genetics from another vigorous performing cubensis variety to improve growth consistency while maintaining extreme psychoactive potency. The name originates from its phallic-like stem structure—thick, bulbous, and often lacking the usual spore-drop common in other varieties.
Mycologically, Penis Envy #2 is recognized for its dense tissues, slow fruiting cycle, and limited spore production due to partial sterility. The cap is typically caramel to light brown, rarely expanding fully into a flat structure and often remaining partly bulbous or wrinkled. Its stems are strikingly thick and fleshy with a blue bruising reaction when handled—an indicator of high psilocybin content. Despite cultivation challenges, this strain remains one of the most sought-after in the psychedelic community due to its unmatched experiential depth and molecular strength.
The Penis Envy #2 variant represents a careful balance between the extreme potency of the original Penis Envy line and improved cultivation characteristics. While maintaining the distinctive morphology and chemical profile that makes Penis Envy strains legendary, PE #2 offers slightly more reliable yields and reduced cultivation complexity, making it more accessible to cultivators while preserving the profound psychoactive experience that defines this genetic lineage.
Taxonomic Classification
Origin and Traditional Use of Penis Envy #2
Penis Envy #2 is deeply rooted in the lore of psychedelic exploration, stemming from the original Penis Envy strain that has achieved near-mythical status among psychonauts. The original Penis Envy was allegedly isolated by the ethnobotanist and writer Terence McKenna, one of the most influential figures in modern psychedelic culture. It's said McKenna obtained a sample of a highly potent mutated mushroom while in the Amazon basin, which later formed the genetic basis for several breakthroughs in mushroom variety selection.
Penis Envy #2, a refined variant that preserves the potency of its progenitor while improving on growth and yield, continues this legacy of pushing the boundaries of consciousness expansion. Among modern psychedelic societies, this strain is valued for its transformational journey potential—marked by deep introspection, emotional catharsis, and vivid visionary experiences. It remains a popular strain within therapeutic psychedelic circles, underground rituals, and personal explorations.
While no ancient traditions directly utilized Penis Envy #2 in ceremonial functions (since it's a lab-created hybrid), its parent lineage can spiritually trace back to Mesoamerican cultures and indigenous rituals in Central America, where Psilocybe cubensis and other entheogens were revered as divine messengers. Today, Penis Envy #2 occupies a unique space in psychedelic symbolism—a fusion of ancient reverence and cutting-edge psychotropic science.
The development of Penis Envy #2 represents the evolution of modern mycological techniques, where traditional breeding methods meet contemporary understanding of fungal genetics. This strain embodies the psychedelic community's ongoing quest to optimize both the spiritual and practical aspects of entheogenic cultivation, maintaining reverence for the profound experiences these mushrooms can facilitate while making them more accessible to dedicated cultivators.
How to Cultivate Penis Envy #2
Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced - More challenging than standard cubensis strains due to slow colonization and reduced spore production.
Substrate Requirements:
- Sterilized milo grain bags for spawn (preferred over rice)
- CVG blend (Coco Coir, Vermiculite, Gypsum) for bulk substrate
- All-in-One grow kits available for beginners
- High-quality manure substrates (traditional method)
Environmental Conditions:
- Colonization Temperature: 75°F to 80°F (24°C–27°C)
- Fruiting Temperature: 70°F to 75°F (21°C–24°C)
- Humidity: 90%+ consistently required
- Air Exchange: Fresh air exchange crucial to prevent stalling
- Lighting: Indirect natural light or LED grow lights
Timeline:
- Colonization: 3–4 weeks (patience required for slow growth)
- Pinning stage: Can be slower and less vigorous than other strains
- Harvesting: Expect fewer but larger, denser fruits
Important Notes: Penis Envy #2 requires sporeless cultures or liquid cultures due to limited spore production. Use laminar flow hood or still air box for sterile inoculation. CVG substrate offers excellent contamination resistance and flush potential compared to traditional methods. The strain's slow growth requires patience but rewards cultivators with exceptionally potent harvests.
Where Do Penis Envy #2 Mushrooms Typically Grow?
As a cultivated strain derived from lab work and hybridization between Penis Envy and Psilocybe cubensis, Penis Envy #2 doesn't have a wild analog or naturally occurring habitat. Nevertheless, insights can be drawn from its Psilocybe cubensis lineage to understand its environmental preferences when allowed to feralize or when grown in outdoor gardens.
In general, Psilocybe cubensis thrives in warm, subtropical, and tropical environments. Natural habitats for wild cubensis include nutrient-rich soils, often those found in grazing pastures where bovine dung acts as the primary substrate. Ideal outdoor conditions include humidity above 80%, daytime temperatures between 75°F–85°F (24°C–29°C), and indirect sunlight. Regions like Central and South America, the southeastern United States, Southeast Asia, and parts of northern Australia host ideal climates for wild cubensis.
Key environmental conditions include:
- Temperature: 75°F–85°F (24°C–29°C)
- High humidity levels (80%+)
- Rich decomposing organic matter substrate
- Indirect sunlight exposure
- Well-hydrated straw or manure-based growing medium
While Penis Envy #2 won't be found in nature per se, if grown outdoors, similar parameters should be met: high humidity, indirect light exposure, and colonization within rich decomposing organic matter such as well-hydrated straw or manure. However, due to its sensitivity and low spore production, this strain is better suited for indoor cultivation where conditions can be precisely controlled.
When are Penis Envy #2 Mushrooms in Season?
Year-round when cultivated indoors; spring through early fall in outdoor tropical/subtropical climates (March–October).
Are Penis Envy #2 Mushrooms Edible or Toxic?
Toxicity Information:
Penis Envy #2 is considered safe for consumption in moderate, intentional doses, particularly when sourced from reliable, contaminant-free environments. However, due to its exceptionally high psilocybin and psilocin levels, the chances of accidentally taking an overwhelming dose are significantly higher than with standard cubensis mushrooms.
Physical Risks:
- Users commonly report stronger onset and longer durations lasting 6–8 hours
- Physical symptoms of excessive intake may include nausea, muscle weakness, dilated pupils, dizziness, increased heart rate
- At very high doses—anxiety, panic attacks, loss of consciousness, or psychotic episodes possible
- Risk of consuming misidentified mushrooms when sourcing from unreliable sources
Risk of Misidentification:
One important note of toxicity risk is the chance of consuming misidentified mushrooms. Some non-psychoactive fungi or harmful lookalikes can be dangerous if mistaken for PE #2 due to the unique appearance of the strain. Always source material from trusted cultivators or labs to avoid misidentification. Avoid combining PE #2 with stimulants, alcohol, or antidepressants to reduce the risk of harmful interactions and serotonergic overload.
Overdose is rare but can pose serious psychological trauma, especially without a sitter. Always verify identity when sourcing and begin with conservative doses if uncertain of potency or personal tolerance.
What are the Medicinal Uses for Penis Envy #2?
Although not officially approved as medicine, Penis Envy #2's elevated concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin are increasingly associated with a variety of medicinal and therapeutic benefits. As scientific research on psychedelic mushrooms advances, Penis Envy variants, including #2, are becoming points of focus due to their molecular composition and intense experiential effects.
Potential Benefits:
- Mental Health Applications: Clinical trials and anecdotal reports indicate that psychedelics like psilocybin may contribute to significant long-term improvements in treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, end-of-life existential distress, and even cluster headaches
- Neuroplasticity Enhancement: Research suggests psilocybin can help rewire neural pathways by opening new connections between regions of the brain associated with default mode network inhibition, insight generation, and emotional reconciliation
- Therapeutic Precision: Mental health professionals using psychedelics in psychotherapy often prefer PE variants for their intensified clarity and reduced external distractions, making them suitable for introspective journeys within guided settings
- Anti-inflammatory Effects: Anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) responses are also reported post-journey due to released serotonin and reduced amygdala activity
Penis Envy #2, with its deep emotional and psychological effects, is particularly revered among users pursuing self-reflection, trauma resolution, or spiritual breakthroughs. The strain's intensity makes it especially valuable in therapeutic contexts where profound introspection is desired.
Important: It's crucial to use them intentionally under the supervision or consultation of professionals whenever available. Medical applications are still under study, and current regulatory frameworks vary globally.
What Drugs Interact with Penis Envy #2?
Interactions with Prescription Medications:
- SSRI Antidepressants: Combining PE #2 with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may either blunt the psychedelic effects or dangerously increase the risk of serotonin syndrome
- MAO Inhibitors (MAOIs): MAOIs—including natural ones like Syrian Rue or Banisteriopsis caapi—can significantly intensify psilocybin's effects, risking paranoia, instability, or nausea
- Tricyclic Antidepressants & Antipsychotics: Certain benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics may contraindicate with PE #2's serotonergic effects
Other Substances:
- Alcohol: Central nervous system depressants like alcohol may dampen the experience and increase the risk of vomiting or confusion
- Stimulants: Stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine should be strictly avoided—they destabilize cardiac rhythm and can exacerbate anxiety or lead to psychotic episodes
- Herbal Supplements: Even herbal supplements like St. John's Wort or kava kava that impact neurotransmitters may pose contraindications
- Cannabis: Combining it with cannabis can intensify sensations unexpectedly and is best reserved for experienced users
Important: It is recommended to avoid taking Penis Envy #2 if on any active psychiatric medications unless under qualified medical supervision in a controlled setting.
What Mushrooms Look Like Penis Envy #2?
Penis Envy #2 has a highly distinctive appearance, but amateur foragers might mistake it for several other fungal species, especially in dried or processed form:
- Galerina marginata (Deadly Galerina): A highly toxic mushroom containing deadly amatoxins. While it usually grows on rotting wood rather than dung, it can sometimes bear a deceiving brown cap and pale gills to the untrained eye
- Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe azurescens: Also have curved caps and strong bluing reactions on bruising, potentially misleading untrained observers when seen dried
- Lepiota species: Some of which are highly poisonous—can be mistaken for cubensis strains when immature
- Other Penis Envy variants: Penis Envy Uncut, Albino Penis Envy, and other PE variants share similar morphology but may have different potency levels
Safety Note: It's important to note that since PE #2 is a cultivated variety, it's rare to encounter it naturally. Always verify strains you consume are lab cultivated and DNA fingerprinted if possible, reducing the risk of misidentification or contamination. Cultivators should avoid collecting spores from the wild labeled as Penis Envy, as the strain is almost sterile and normally propagated via tissue culture or syringe.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational, taxonomy, and research purposes only. Always consult a trained professional before attempting to identify any mushroom. Always consult a trained healthcare professional before attempting to ingest any mushroom. Do not message asking if we sell cultures or spores, all requests will be ignored. Always respect your local laws.
