alright I am ready to buy some spores and I was wondering a few things.

what is a good strain or species for a first timer? not to potent.

where is a good reputable place to buy from I live in the us? if you have any experience with a company let me know.

also any other tips for the newbie? I am gonna give it a go.

I'm in the same boat you are, planning on starting my first grow soon.

Read up on the shroomery. From what I've heard, B+ is a solid beginner strain (it's what I'll be using for my first grow). I've also heard good reviews here on the site for the little guy and spores101.

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B+ or golden teacher are going to be your best first timer strains. Perfect potency and quick growers. Most mushrooms are all around the same potency (give or take a little bit); they typically differ in their colonization time and fruiting periods.

This fall I'm planning on doing a grow of cambodians which are supposedly very potent

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Yeah,

My first time a couple years ago, not sure what strain I used but I messed up big time, all my jars got contaminated. So this time I decided to get 2 strains instead of one and innoculate only one jar for each strain, it's taking a risk because if the jars gone then its gone, and I only have 2 shots at it but on the other hand the mycelium's alot stronger and can fend off certain molds.
So my Mazatapec jar went moldy the first week but my Golden Teacher is doing excellent. its about 40% colonized and spreading every day.
Should be in the fruiting chamber second to last week of July hopefully.

Good luck!

PS: Be veeeeerry weary of contamination. I used those rubber/plastic gloves, washed my hands, sanitized my hands, wore a mask on my face and worked in a clean environment, sterilized for 2 hours, and even at that one of the jars got fucked... But just be careful and you should be alright.

Happy shrooming

In terms of potency Cubes are cubes. More potency requires a more nutrious substrate in my opinion. Some people say different strains of cubenisis give different feeling trips, you know like some a more energetic trip and some more of a relaxed trip. Since it's your first grow I'd go with mycobags, it's alot simpler than doing jars you have to sterilize yourself. Just shoot it up with spores or lc, put it in a dark warm place, and forget about it. Another great thing about these bags is that you can fruit invitro and still get decent results. Just drop the temp. a little bit and give em some light and in a few days you have pins. Then next time you can move on to more advanced growing. Like spawning to a bulk substrate and doing casings and what not. For spores I would recommend ralphstersspores.com, $15 a syringe and if you know the strain of the month you can get another one for free.
Wow this post has gotten alot longer than I intended it too lol. I better quit my senseless yammerin and smoke a fatty.
Best wishes on your first grow!