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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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More help with first grow please
#14312437 - 04/18/11 02:22 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I've been wanting to grow some mushrooms for personal use for over a year and I finally got around to purchasing some spores (Cambodian from Ralph's). On March 19th I inoculated 6 (non PC) sterilized half pint BRF jars with spores. A week later I used the rest of the syringe to inoculate another 4 jars. The first 6 jars were fully colonized by April 14th and the remaining 4 are approximately 60% colonized. None of the jars has shown any signs of contamination.
I've been conflicted about whether to take the PF Tek approach or try to do a small bulk substrate grow. Ultimately, I decided to to both, but I'm going to use the first 6 jars to do the bulk grow. If I fuck up with the bulk grow, I'll still have 4 jars that I can PF Tek. The main reason I decided to try bulk first is one of timing. I'm going out of town later this week starting on April 21 for 5 days and my first 6 jars were fully colonized on April 14.
I made a mini mono tub out of a small file tote made by and purchased at Staples. I chose this particular tote because it was sufficiently small to allow a 3" substrate depth with a 1:4 spawn to substrate ratio and a quart of spawn (my 6 BRF jars less the vermiculite layer). By my calculations this gives me a similar ratio of substrate to total tub volume to that used with the larger tubs. Twelve 1" holes were drilled into it the tub (4 on the long sides and 2 on the short sides) and loosely stuffed with poly fill. The bottom holes are drilled right above substrate depth and the higher holes are as drilled as high as possible. By my calculations 1" holes in a small tub like this offer the same ratio of surface area to volume as 2" holes in the larger tubs. The bottom 3" of the tub is taped with black Gorilla brand duct tape.
On April 14th brought a mixture of 3 quarts mixture of the horse manure pictured in the OP, 1 quart of vermiculite, and 1 cup of gypsum to field capacity and steam pasteurized it in 4 quart mason jars covered with foil. The mix was brought up to a temp of 145 and let to sit. It eventually reached a temp of 180 before slowly cooling down. After letting the hpoo, vermiculite, gypsum mix cool overnight I spawned 6 fully colonized BFR jars to the hpoo-vermiculite-gypsum mixture. The tub is stored in my utility room which is sort of warm (80F) and dry (30% RH). For the first 24 hours I had the tub in a bag. Then I read the "Mono tub bag colonization thread" and decided to un-bag.
So far everything looks good (I think?), but I do have some questions. In particular, I'm slightly concerned about my substrate drying out. Should I be misting at all during colonization? What would be some indications of an overly dry substrate? In light of the speed of colonization (seems relatively slow) is there anything I need to do prior to going out of town (like wet shit up)?
Thanks.
Sex
Pictures (from left to right): Mini mono tub to scale, the constructed min mono tub, after 1 day, after 2 days, after 3 days, and after 4 days
    
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mabachko
Just Strange



Registered: 02/11/11
Posts: 702
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14312463 - 04/18/11 02:26 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Don't go out of town and watch your babies grow.
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Microppose
Things Maker



Registered: 11/30/10
Posts: 849
Loc: Amongst you...
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14312467 - 04/18/11 02:27 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Tightly pack poly-fil in the holes and wrap come cling wrap around the area where the lid and container meet to prevent moisture escape. You don't need to start misting until you are ready to fruit. The substate will stay plenty hydrated given that your water content was correct from the start.
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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: Microppose]
#14312499 - 04/18/11 02:31 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Azurascender said:Tightly pack poly-fil in the holes and wrap come cling wrap around the area where the lid and container meet to prevent moisture escape
I'll put the poly fill in tighter. This tote is actually water-tight, air-tight so the lid seals (and locks).
Thanks.
Sex
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14312625 - 04/18/11 02:49 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I agree and would actually include the top polyfill in the saran wrap.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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abica
Intrepid Warlock's Apprentice




Registered: 04/01/08
Posts: 443
Loc: The River City
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14312671 - 04/18/11 02:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Looks like it's well on its way- that was how I did my first- lots of BRF cakes, spawned some and grew some out in a shotgun chamber.
You really should not open that tub during colonization though!!!!! Contamination risk!!!!
"Monotub" is a set-and-forget method. Don't open it again until you're casing or initiating fruiting conditions! (I didn't case mine, and I was satisfied, but results may have been better cased)
-------------------- My first poo tub
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Damion5050
Mush Doctor


Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 12,493
Loc: Lost In Translation !
Last seen: 3 years, 5 days
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: abica]
#14312699 - 04/18/11 03:01 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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You don't have to wrap the top with saran wrap guys read the label it is a water tight box so therefore it has a rubber washer/seal around the lid..
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: Damion5050]
#14312715 - 04/18/11 03:03 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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im talking bout the top holes with the fill.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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Microppose
Things Maker



Registered: 11/30/10
Posts: 849
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: anonjon]
#14312745 - 04/18/11 03:08 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Didn't notice the water tight label.
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Damion5050
Mush Doctor


Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 12,493
Loc: Lost In Translation !
Last seen: 3 years, 5 days
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: anonjon]
#14312763 - 04/18/11 03:11 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
anonjon said: im talking bout the top holes with the fill.
Actually you said you would include the top holes as well.. So technically I am right
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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: Damion5050]
#14313307 - 04/18/11 07:10 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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This site is great; I got a bunch of consistent and thoughtful answers within 30 minutes.
I stuffed the poly in tight and I'm going to leave the tup alone (although it is hard). Thanks for the help and reassurance everyone.
Sex
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Microppose
Things Maker



Registered: 11/30/10
Posts: 849
Loc: Amongst you...
Last seen: 21 hours, 17 minutes
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14313322 - 04/18/11 07:13 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Love the ending remark. (Sex) Haha good luck man.
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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: Microppose]
#14353315 - 04/26/11 02:25 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I just got back home from a 5 day trip. Below is what the tub looked like upon my return; there are mushrooms growing, nearly complete colonization of the substrate, and some shrinkage of the substrate. I'm not really sure how to proceed. Should I: - pick the mushrooms, introduce more FEA and mist; - leave the mushrooms, introduce more FEA and mist; - let in consolidate; - or take some other approach
Please advise.
Thanks.
Sex
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psyeye
looking looking looking



Registered: 04/12/11
Posts: 136
Loc: Sydney AU
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14353326 - 04/26/11 02:30 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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nice work sex, good to see other noobs getting results
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Luger0815
noob


Registered: 12/21/10
Posts: 1,677
Loc: @ Home
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: psyeye]
#14353385 - 04/26/11 03:03 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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If there wouldn't be pins i would let it consolidate longer but in this case.... I think that it is time to switch to fruiting conditions because there are pins. If i where you i would loosen the polyfill a bit more to get more Gas Exchange and start to fan and mist if needet.
But maybe some more experienced cultivator have some other advice.
Edited by Luger0815 (04/26/11 03:04 AM)
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: Damion5050]
#14353746 - 04/26/11 06:37 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Damion5050 said:
Actually you said you would include the top holes as well.. So technically I am right 
wutever floats your boat.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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john6886
Stranger

Registered: 08/04/10
Posts: 320
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Re: More help with first grow please *DELETED* [Re: anonjon]
#14354099 - 04/26/11 08:48 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Post deleted by john6886Reason for deletion: asd
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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: john6886]
#14354410 - 04/26/11 10:29 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
john6886 said: whose ass is that in your avatar?
Serena Williams
 __________
So I was reading a bit and it seems like premature pinning happens somewhat frequently, and actually one of the jars had a small in vitro mushroom when I spawned to the tub. I think I'll just go ahead and introduce fruiting conditions by loosing the poly, placing the tub under my light (6500k T5 HO), misting, and letting the tub get some air from a circulation fan (not direct though).
Sex
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14354512 - 04/26/11 10:56 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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She's assanine. I give her face a 5 but her ass a nine.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: anonjon]
#14392865 - 05/03/11 04:18 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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This might not be going perfectly 
I did harvest some mushrooms (I ate some also), but I'm not getting anything that I would describe as a flush - and I'm not sure when I should dunk the substrate or the extent to which I should be misting (I am misting several times per day now and fanning some also). The mushrooms seem to be coming up somewhat sporadically and I'm wondering if it is just the luck of the draw with multispore or if there is something I should of done (or should be doing) differently. Other things I'm noticing: - lots of the first mushrooms were really small - there are a lot of side pins - some of the mushrooms are growing from deep in the substrate, - the substrate doesn't seem to want to absorb much water (mist and condensation runs down the sides of the tub and I can see it pooling on the edges)
Anyway - if you have any advice I'm receptive.
Harvest to date (less a dry gram or so that I ate) and the tub as of today.

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sexondrugs
Stranger

Registered: 03/15/11
Posts: 20
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: More help with first grow please [Re: sexondrugs]
#14444040 - 05/13/11 07:08 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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How do I know when the first flush is over? I'm still getting mushrooms albeit in smaller ones in smaller amounts. They are also paler relative to the first ones that came up. So far I've gotten a bit less than 1oz cracker dry out of the tub.
Sex
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