[pier25]

I imagine he got the idea from heroine users.

I know nothing about biology either, but I'm guessing some spores survived the boiling and simply passed through the cotton.

[ixwt]

I've dipped my toes a bit into mycology.

Spores can survive atmospheric boiling temperatures of water. Often a pressure cooker is used to sanitize substrate (wheat, and many other things) to grow mushrooms on. This ensures the only spores that exist on your substrate is the ones that you want.

[abyssin]

I believe you're referring to a mushroom growing technique called PF Tek. But following this technique, you are supposed to wait until the substrate is done boiling and has come back to room temperature before inoculating it with spores.

[TacticalMalice]

Most fungal spores have only moderate heat resistance and die at temperatures below 80 degrees Celsius.

Substrate sterilization with a pressure cooker prevents bacterial growth and inactivates fungal virus that may ruin your harvest.

[davidhowlett]

I think you mean above 80 degrees Celsius

[TacticalMalice]

No, I specifically meant below. I should have written " ... die at temperatures even below 80 degrees Celsius".