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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Best growing method?
#14137078 - 03/17/11 02:31 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Okay, I've been growing mushrooms for several years now. And I've mostly stuck with one method. And I'd like to see if there were any other methods that could work faster and/or better. Mine usually takes 2 months.
Okay, so I start with the Brown Rice and Vermiculite in the half pint jars. I sterilize them with a pressure cooker after I've made my substrate mixture in the jars. Then I inoculate them and leave them in the dark for a week to 2 weeks. White mycelium covers the whole jar once finished. Then I take a mixture of pete moss and vermiculite and water, then I bake it in the oven covered to sterilize it. I line plastic bins with aluminum foil so that light doesn't hit the sides, I want light to only hit the top. I throw in my casing soil (the pete moss and vermiculite mix) into the bins. Then I empty 6 of the jars, throw the cakes that have formed into each bin (6 jars fit each bin). I cover with the casing soil and cover the cakes with about half an inch to an inch of casing soil. Then I throw the lid on the bin and leave it in the dark for 2 more weeks. After that, white fuzz has started growing everywhere and you can even see tiny pins starting to form. Then I throw it in a room that gets some sort of sunlight everyday to trigger the mushrooms to grow. Within a week or 2, I've got a case completely covered. I usually leave the lids on the bins to keep the moisture and humidity inside. I've gotten almost 2 ounces of dried mushrooms per bin this way. But it takes 2 freakin' months!
There's got to be a way I can get mushrooms growing within half that time. Anyone know how?
And if anyone has any questions on my method, please go ahead and ask! I'd love some feedback. (I've learned everything I know from the internet, and just kind of modified all the designs till I came to my method. Seems mine is a lot like the PF Tek? Except I haven't found ANYWHERE that has mentioned my casing soil at all).
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stranger_danger
psychonaut



Registered: 02/24/11
Posts: 1,738
Loc: somewhere around here
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Partner420]
#14137135 - 03/17/11 02:44 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Time wise, im not sure.. it takes a month to a month and a half to get fruits from spores minimum in my opinion...
I would however suggest going on to a bulk substrate/monotub system.. If i am understanding correctly u are fruiting cakes in a terrarium PF style... which is ok (if u dont want much fruit)... bulk sub = ALOT more fruits for about the same amount of time - also less work in my opinion.
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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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So wait, I should be getting more out of my fruits? I've been busting my ass using this method for YEARS lmfao. I want the absolute most I can get out of my work, you know? Why do all the work if you're not getting the amount you should? lol. I'll look up the whole monotub system thing you mentioned.
Once I get my system underway, I'll post pictures!
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mabachko
Just Strange



Registered: 02/11/11
Posts: 702
Last seen: 8 years, 7 months
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Okay, Whats ur casing soil?
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stranger_danger
psychonaut



Registered: 02/24/11
Posts: 1,738
Loc: somewhere around here
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Partner420]
#14137180 - 03/17/11 02:52 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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ya, look around this site ate different peopeles grows.... but bulk substrate is definitely 10000% better as far as quantity of harvest goes compared to pf
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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: mabachko]
#14137201 - 03/17/11 02:57 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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My casing soil is a mixture of pete moss, vermiculite, and water. I bake it in an oven, covered, to sterilize it. Works pretty well. 6 jars to a case, and each case produces around 1-2 oz of dried mushrooms.
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stranger_danger
psychonaut



Registered: 02/24/11
Posts: 1,738
Loc: somewhere around here
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Partner420]
#14137208 - 03/17/11 02:59 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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but ur using cakes right? like, u just set the cakes down and let them fruit in a tub with casing on it? u dont actually crumble ur grains into a new substrate to spawn too and fruit from there?
that, IMO is the best way to get weight...
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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Yeah, I set the cakes down in the bin covered in casing soil. I don't crumble the grain at all. Like I said, this is really the only method I know. And I'm looking to get some going again, but since I'm working alone and not with the person I worked with before, I am able to do this any way I like. So I'm trying to find the best and cheapest method possible while I try to come up with the money for a pressure cooker (my ex partner is who owned the pressure cooker before. I won't do any work WITHOUT a pressure cooker)
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stranger_danger
psychonaut



Registered: 02/24/11
Posts: 1,738
Loc: somewhere around here
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Partner420]
#14137262 - 03/17/11 03:12 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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if you have no pressure cooker you might be stuck doing PF tek unless u want to try sterilizing grain jars for a bulk grow with steam - which is iffy in my opinion....
is buying a pressure cooker out of the question? some good ones can be had for 60-80 dollars in my experience, and it is WELL worth the investment if you plan to keep growing in the future.
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fungitobewith
Fungi To Be With



Registered: 07/15/07
Posts: 754
Loc: Rolling Stone, PA/Some Pl...
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You could pick up a 16qt presto at walmart for about $65 goes 5 10 and 15 psi sams club has all american pressure cookers @ most of their store call first though they go from 90-298 for the ones I looked at. Also thrift stores are great places to look.
Mono tubs, rye, hpoo, any kind of bulk would make for more mushies with the work your putting in. In my opinion pf jars are good for small scale but i personally like my 4 tier mini green house others like Mono tubs or shotgun mono hybrids for larger yeilds.
Also 2 months is about right, put your jars on a rotation if you want to have mushrooms steady, LC could speed up your grow times also a good isolate but those all require more time at first but in the end it can save you some.
-------------------- Check out my My Trade List Check out my Available Strain List I want your old coins, me if you have something you want to trade.
Edited by fungitobewith (03/17/11 03:52 PM)
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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^^^ thrift stores. Even a little PC is ok, you'll be surprised how much spawn a couple of pints is.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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A pressure cooker is in my budget eventually. I was figuring a 129 dollar model I found online, I didn't know there were cheaper ones. I'm looking to get the best yield possible. I'm used to only growing select strains too. The guy I used to work with was extremely picky on what he grew. But I am on a limited budget. I have to buy everything from scratch. The materials, everything. Down to the measuring cups, the ingredients, the spores, the pressure cooker, everything. And I gotta get this started soon lol.
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stranger_danger
psychonaut



Registered: 02/24/11
Posts: 1,738
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Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Partner420]
#14139138 - 03/17/11 08:08 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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i just got a PC from bed bath and beyond for 75 bucks with one of those 20% off coupons they keep sending everyone
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iSHACKA
Sick boy


Registered: 03/01/11 
Posts: 483
Last seen: 11 years, 26 days
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Look into using LC. It will save you money and things will colonize faster.
-------------------- Pain is just weakness leaving the body
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Partner420
Stranger
Registered: 03/17/11
Posts: 18
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: iSHACKA]
#14139367 - 03/17/11 08:46 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Right now, I'm only in an apartment so it's not like I'm gonna be able to do anything HUGE. I need to be able to conserve space, and I already know how much room this shit can take up haha.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: iSHACKA]
#14139372 - 03/17/11 08:47 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
iSHACKA said: Look into using LC. It will save you money and things will colonize faster.
Forget about LC.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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DeadHearts


Registered: 07/17/09
Posts: 21,827
Loc: MICHIGAN
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Doc_T]
#14139391 - 03/17/11 08:50 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: ^^^ thrift stores. Even a little PC is ok, you'll be surprised how much spawn a couple of pints is.
Mine only fits (4) pints jars 
Quote:
Partner420 said: A pressure cooker is in my budget eventually. I was figuring a 129 dollar model I found online, I didn't know there were cheaper ones. I'm looking to get the best yield possible. I'm used to only growing select strains too. The guy I used to work with was extremely picky on what he grew. But I am on a limited budget. I have to buy everything from scratch. The materials, everything. Down to the measuring cups, the ingredients, the spores, the pressure cooker, everything. And I gotta get this started soon lol.
Mine cost me 50 bucks. Take it slow man. Get youre pressure cooker and get some birdseed and get back to me  Quote:
Doc_T said:
Quote:
iSHACKA said: Look into using LC. It will save you money and things will colonize faster.
Forget about LC. 
LC's are much more efficient in the long run.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: DeadHearts]
#14139406 - 03/17/11 08:53 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Trolling hard tonight are we? 
LCs are far less efficient in the long run, compared to proper use of agar and standard mycological technique.
Argue that if you like, but you're wrong. 
4 pints is plenty of spawn for a 6qt dubtub.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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DeadHearts


Registered: 07/17/09
Posts: 21,827
Loc: MICHIGAN
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Doc_T]
#14139429 - 03/17/11 08:57 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Trolling hard tonight are we? 
LCs are far less efficient in the long run, compared to proper use of agar and standard mycological technique.
Argue that if you like, but you're wrong. 
4 pints is plenty of spawn for a 6qt dubtub. 
Trolling??
What the fuck are you talking about??
LC's are plenty efficient. I never said they were the most efficient did I?

Anyways....
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Fungal growth
Lootinint



Registered: 03/21/10
Posts: 3,641
Loc: under a rock in your yard
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Re: Best growing method? [Re: Doc_T]
#14139436 - 03/17/11 08:58 PM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said:
Quote:
iSHACKA said: Look into using LC. It will save you money and things will colonize faster.
Forget about LC. 
this. at least from spores. look into grain lc's.
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