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ClintHC
Stranger
Registered: 05/09/11
Posts: 17
Last seen: 11 years, 15 days
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Failed first-time BRF cake colonization
#14424998 - 05/09/11 02:45 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Howdy, I'm new to these message boards and I'm a first-time grower.
I just checked up on the 5 jars I inoculated about a week ago and all of them were contaminated with some sort of green mold. I seek advice as to what the cause may have been.
I used a B+ strain spore syringe ordered from Ralphster's Spores (on the vendor list). I sterilized the jars and inoculated them as per the PF tek, taking all necessary precautions. The things I did do differently were the following:
1) I did not use a pressure cooker, steaming the jars several times instead (tyndillization) 2) I didn't have a pot that was big enough to contain the jars with the lid on, so I steamed them without a lid, instead using two small towels to keep in the steam, which worked perfectly well as far as I can tell 3) I did not let the jars cool down overnight, instead putting the pot into my fridge (not directly off the heat, of course) 4) I forgot to shake the syringe before inoculating 5) I stored the jars in a box, not an airtight container
Other than those factors, I did everything properly. I still have a tiny bit of spores left in my syringe, and I would like to try again.
Any idea which of these factors may have been responsible? I'm not sure exactly how important to the process each of them is. Could it also just be that I'm very unlucky? Thank you in advance ^_^
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InvaderShroom
Ganja;)



Registered: 03/09/11
Posts: 377
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14425009 - 05/09/11 02:49 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
ClintHC said: Howdy, I'm new to these message boards and I'm a first-time grower.
I just checked up on the 5 jars I inoculated about a week ago and all of them were contaminated with some sort of green mold. I seek advice as to what the cause may have been.
I used a B+ strain spore syringe ordered from Ralphster's Spores (on the vendor list). I sterilized the jars and inoculated them as per the PF tek, taking all necessary precautions. The things I did do differently were the following:
1) I did not use a pressure cooker, steaming the jars several times instead (tyndillization) 2) I didn't have a pot that was big enough to contain the jars with the lid on, so I steamed them without a lid, instead using two small towels to keep in the steam, which worked perfectly well as far as I can tell 3) I did not let the jars cool down overnight, instead putting the pot into my fridge (not directly off the heat, of course) 4) I forgot to shake the syringe before inoculating 5) I stored the jars in a box, not an airtight container
Other than those factors, I did everything properly. I still have a tiny bit of spores left in my syringe, and I would like to try again.
Any idea which of these factors may have been responsible? I'm not sure exactly how important to the process each of them is. Could it also just be that I'm very unlucky? Thank you in advance ^_^
PCing does lessen your chances of contam but maybe it was another flaw in your inoculation procedure. lots of things can go wrong. was a glove box used? did you flame sterilize the needle? etc etc etc haha
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InvaderShroom
Ganja;)



Registered: 03/09/11
Posts: 377
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: InvaderShroom]
#14425023 - 05/09/11 02:53 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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also i never heard of someone using a towel instead of a lid maybe someone more experienced can comment on that
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: InvaderShroom]
#14425249 - 05/09/11 03:39 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yep, I used a glove box and flamed the needle, making sure it didn't touch anything. My guess is that putting the pot in the fridge without a proper lid put the jars in contact with contaminants.
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Bstsneverr
Peace



Registered: 03/22/08
Posts: 480
Last seen: 1 year, 9 months
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14425272 - 05/09/11 03:45 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Seems like theres many different factors that could have made it go wrong based on your explanation lol. Just do some more research you will get it. Patience and experimentation.
--------------------
*** Psalm 9:9-10 *** The lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
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Brandonerr
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: Bstsneverr]
#14425345 - 05/09/11 04:08 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Isn't the fridge the worst place to put mycelium? I was told not to even open the door to the fridge during the first part. I may be wrong.
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Bstsneverr
Peace



Registered: 03/22/08
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: Brandonerr]
#14425362 - 05/09/11 04:11 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Brandonerr said: Isn't the fridge the worst place to put mycelium? I was told not to even open the door to the fridge during the first part. I may be wrong.
Lots of bacteria in the fridge. Also if your jars were still hot they were sucking in the air in your fridge
--------------------
*** Psalm 9:9-10 *** The lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
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originalcrazyman
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Registered: 05/05/11
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: Bstsneverr]
#14426011 - 05/09/11 06:06 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yeah... Part of the steam sterilization is leaving the jars to cool in the pot until you can hold them and not get burned... Preferably over night, THEN tighten the seal-avoiding a vacuum... With PC's You can pull the jars out after the pot has cooled enough that there's no pressure... I think that cooling them down rapidly using a steam technique, was what kept them from becoming a sterile substrate. Next time, let the jars cool to "Handling" temperature, then allow to completely cool down before inoculation.
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Jayslay
Myco and Zymurgy



Registered: 03/22/11
Posts: 75
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Well I will give this a shot... Im not a pro but have a fair bit of PF tek experience..
Your #1 and #2 seem like they could be the culprits. If the top of your jars don't get up to a full boiling steam for at least an hour, then you are not properly steaming them (Contams get carried through that layer by needle int osubstrate layer). A towel lets out heat, moisture and any slight pressure that would develop with a lid on, i/e the heat and moisture you need to sterilize. Next time, get a bigger pot, a canning steamer/cauldron or a pressure cooker. You can\t modify this step from my experience.
Your #3, not letting the jars cool naturally, was a shortcut you should not have made. I either take them out or let them cool in the pot, but not in a fridge, or any other source of "cooling". Fridges are nasty places, unless you clean them regularly with bleach.
#4 you should shake to ensure even distribution of spores, but it wouldn't give you contamination.
#5 is fine, even left out in open air,if you did it right (Dry verm layer on top, and possibly tyvek dustcap)I\ve kept them in boxes, bathrooms, closets, shelves. As long as your method to keep out airborne contaminants works.
Questions for you to narrow down the contaminant source
1. Was the contaminants forming directly where you inoculated the jar? 2. Did you flame needle, then load glovebox? 3. Did you wipe needle with alcohol directly before injecting 4. Did you use tape, and if so, did you wipe it w/ alcohol before puncturing? 5. Has this syringe been opened, waved around lots, or perhaps did you draw in open air into the syringe (airborne contams) 6.Your sterilization method is suspect as above so we skip this Q. 7.Was the injection area clean before loading glovebox? (wiped surfaces, perhaps sanitized the air, turned off furnace, closed windows etc.)
Answer these and we can figure it out.
-------------------- Beer.
Edited by Jayslay (05/09/11 06:43 PM)
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: Jayslay]
#14428782 - 05/10/11 08:33 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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The reason I went for the shortcut of putting it in the fridge was because I was doing this when my roommate was out for the weekend and he was going to get back that day. Of course, he ended up coming home later than expected, so it was unnecessary.
I didn't think using the towels was a problem because barely any steam escaped and the few times I lifted the towels to see how it was doing there was a ton of steam in the pot.
To answer your questions Jayslay (and thank you for asking!): 1) I don't know where the contaminants started, I saw green mold in the center of at least one side of each jar. I'm not sure if this is where the spores were injected because I didn't check.  2) My glovebox is just a big box with saran wrap on top. I put one jar in, flamed the needle, and then inoculated it. Between jars I would leave the syringe on top of the box with the needle hanging off not touching anything. 3) I did not wipe the needle with alcohol at all. 4) I did not use tape at all. Each jar did have a layer of vermiculite on top though. 5) The syringe did not come with the needle attached. I did open it once a few days before inoculating, but not for long. 7) The area was clean. It was a small bathroom that I emptied. I wiped all the surfaces, placed all the inoculation equipment into the bathroom, and then liberally sprayed with aerosol and waited twice before inoculation.
I'm going to try again with 2 jars since I only have a tiny bit of spores left in the syringe, taking precautions to eliminate the factors I mentioned. But for the future I've decided to get a pressure cooker and order some more spores, gotta do it right knaw mean?
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veda_sticks
Cultivator




Registered: 07/29/07
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14428929 - 05/10/11 09:10 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Try again with a proper pot this time. One with a lid.
and dont improvise on anything. Let your jars cool naturally.
Rapidly cooling will cause excessive air exchanges that can draw contams into your jar, even past your filter.
-------------------- PF TEK - writeup by EvilMushroom666 Lets Grow Mushrooms - RogerRabbit & RoadKills website with sample videos plus the full PF TEK video series. Alot of great information - BUY THE DVD Cakes can and will pin! - So you think cakes suck for pins. Your wrong Franks Simple Coir/Verm Tek Franks Proper Pasturisation Tek Franks Spawning To Bulk - Monotub Professor Pinheads RTV Injection Port Tek Foo Mans No Soak WBS Prep Tek
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Jayslay
Myco and Zymurgy



Registered: 03/22/11
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: veda_sticks]
#14430916 - 05/10/11 05:29 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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What /\ he said:
The major thing I can see is your steaming, although you might think it was adequate, may not have been. Also, you need to revamp your syringe handling technique.
While flaming kills everything on the needle, once it cools down in the air, spores that are airborne (and everywhere) will land on it and get thrust down. I also wipe my syringe after, and then wipe the top of the jar for good measure. I highly reccomend having some alcohol wipes or an alternate beside (but not too close to your flame).
The third possible vector I could guess is when you attached your (possibly semi-sterile) into the Luer lock of your syringe. This should be done in a glovebox, by a flow hood or just very quickly and smoothly, with all accessible surfaces wipes before the opening of the needle and removal of cap from syringe.
Also, next time, turn off heat/furnace/ac and close all windows. Make sure to close the door of the room you are in to minimize air currents that speed spores and crap around your work area.
Best of luck! Keep on learning.
-------------------- Beer.
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14791882 - 07/19/11 11:19 AM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thought I'd update this thread with my further experiments. My apologies if it's unnecessarily detailed, I'm just rather discouraged and would like to figure out what I'm doing wrong. It may be painfully obvious, however.
A while after my first failure, I decided to inoculate two jars with my remaining spores. I sterilized them by steaming again, but this time it was a real mess. The rag burned up, I switched the two jars out into a bigger pot I found and used an actual lid for the last part of the sterilization. I noticed one of the jars cracked, so I threw it out. Then later on my other jar both became contaminated and I noticed was also cracked.
After this I acquired better equipment. I bought a pressure cooker and built a glove box out of a large Rubbermaid container. I inoculated 5 jars using the new equipment recently using one full syringe.
On one morning, I prepared the mix and filled the jars with it along with a dry vermiculite layer. I didn't use distilled water, instead using water that I boiled in a kettle. I remembered to thoroughly wipe the inside and outside toward the top of the jar before adding the dry verm.
I closed the jars loosely/gently and put a strip of microfiber tape over each of the three holes on top of each jar, then put the aluminum foil over the lids.
For pressure cooking, I cleaned my pressure cooker, set it up, greased the lower rim as needed, inserted the 5 jars, filled it with water until about 4-5cm below the rim of the jars, closed it, heated on high till it started to steam and the pressure gauge on top started to wobble, then lowered the heat to medium-low such that steam escaped a few times a minute. After 60 minutes, I turned off the heat, and when it was cool enough for me to take, I put it under my bed overnight.
The next morning, I emptied my small closet, wiped all the surfaces with all-purpose cleaner followed by a mix of 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water, and then sprayed liberally with the alcohol solution and Lysol aerosol.
My closet has a blocked-off opening in the ceiling that leads to the attic, and the door is the type that rolls so there was a little bit more space around it than for a conventional door. I didn't think this would be a problem though.
I disinfected my glove box inside and out, put it into my closet on my working area with the lid open, then sprayed again. I also sprayed outside my closet.
Using the alcohol solution, I disinfected my pressure cooker, a cheap lighter, a spore syringe, and the outside of a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. I also put two bundles of paper towel into two ziploc bags, and the spore syringe into another ziploc bag.
I laid paper towel on the bottom of the glove box, sprayed the inside, and then put everything mentioned above into it, except the lighter which I put next to my glove box, and closed it. I sprayed the room and the inside of the glove box one last time very thoroughly.
I went downstairs to take a thorough shower, and right after getting out of the shower put on some clean clothes and a lab coat that had been in the dryer overnight. I had forgotten to clean pants, so I didn't wear any for the inoculation.
I put on my yellow rubber gloves, tightening them around my sleeves. I then sprayed myself with the alcohol solution, and disinfected my gloves with hand sanitizer.
The glove box was pretty cramped because of the presence of the pressure cooker. To begin, I removed the bundles of paper towels from the ziploc bags. One was to wipe off the jars as I removed them from the pressure cooker, although this proved to be unnecessary, and the other was to put alcohol on and use to disinfect the needle.
I opened the PC and removed the first jar, then took out the spore syringe, attached the needle, disinfected it with alcohol, and then flamed it for several seconds. The needle made some sounds and turned black.
I quickly inoculated the first jar inside the glove box, making sure not to touch anything with the needle. Between jars I disinfected the needle with alcohol and flamed it generously.
The only accident I had was that I accidentally lit the thumb of my left glove on fire, leaving a small hole. This damaged glove remained on for the rest of the inoculation.
I left my jars in my closet behind some books and placed everything back in. After about two days I saw what looked like the beginning of white growth just on the inside glass of the jar, it looked kind of smudgy/powdery.
However, 3-4 days later I checked up on the jars again, and all 5 were contaminated, this time with a blue mold rather than a green one like the last two times, and the mold had spread onto more surface area than before. This closet was a different one from the one where I kept the jars for my previous attempts.
As far as identifying the culprit, I think not wearing pants may have been an issue, as well as wearing the clothes I had just slept in while I was sterilizing the closet (and sweating profusely).
Also the hole in the glove and perhaps having too many unnecessary things inside the glove box like the entire pressure cooker, three ziploc bags, the bottle of alcohol.
Perhaps some water got into the jars as I moved the pressure cooker around, or the room may have been inadequate?
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dinohead
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14792651 - 07/19/11 02:13 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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I once had a similarly frustrating experience and it turned out my syringes were contam'd. nothing you can do about that. if you have any spores left, try plating them in agar to see if there's any contamination. the vendor should give you a free replacement if you see any.
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little cap
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: dinohead]
#14792957 - 07/19/11 03:11 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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brought a syringe of B+ about a month ago, every single jar got contaminated in the exact points where i inoculated, i presumed either contamed syringes or bad procedures as i rushed more than i usually would, but now i am thinking maybe a contaminated batch of B+ about??
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C.A.T
Stranger

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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: dinohead]
#14792975 - 07/19/11 03:13 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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4-5 centimeters from the lid of the jars? That sounds like it might have been a little high and was boiling the jars more then sterilizing them with steam. You should try putting a couple layers of jar rims on the bottom of the PC, then fill it with just enough water to cover the rims.
Also, a butane lighter will not work for sterilization. If you see black soot on the syringe it's not a good thing, and the alcohol wipe can actually make it more contaminated. I like to use denatured alcohol in a shot glass turned upside down. Sterilizes and doesn't leave soot on the needle.
If you follow the pf tek on Shroomery to a T you should be fine. http://www.shroomery.org/8409/PF-Tek
I bought a syringe of B+ about a month ago and mine did fine, but it could be different.
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little cap
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: C.A.T]
#14793000 - 07/19/11 03:19 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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TBH it was probably me trying to rush and not sticking to strict sterile procedures, as the old saying goes a bad workman always blames his tools. Is a huge bummer to lose all your jars in one foul swoop so i feel your pain clintHC, but a big shock like that certainly taught me a big lesson...we learn from our mistakes
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a2thej
Cosmic Cowboy

Registered: 07/21/11
Posts: 687
Loc: Desert
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: little cap]
#14887139 - 08/07/11 07:37 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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any update on this? u have any luck after trying again?
-------------------- If i didnt leave u a trade rating plz remind me
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ClintHC
Stranger
Registered: 05/09/11
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: a2thej]
#14901791 - 08/10/11 02:47 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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I inoculated two jars 5 days or so ago. The process was the same as for the last time, except:
-I used bottled mineral spring water instead of boiled tap water -I only used about 1" of water in the pressure cooker -left the PC in the closet overnight -inoculated in a small bathroom instead of a closet -did not wipe the needle with alcohol -did not line the bottom of the glove box with paper towels nor have the needle in a ziploc bag inside before beginning -used a homemade alcohol burner to sterilize instead of a lighter -used sterilized tweezers to lift the tape over each hole to inoculate and then replaced them with my gloved hands -had an assistant help me who was not wearing his gloves over his sleeves and he took the tape off the second jar
During PCing, there was more of a clanging sound and less steam escaping than last time, but I went through the same process pressure cooking, starting at high heat till a boil is started and then lowering to medium-low.
The needle touched the lid of the glove box once during inoculation, but I flamed it again before inoculating. However, at one point the needle did touch the lid of a jar and I still inoculated it without flaming.
I checked the jars today, both are contaminated. This time the contamination is blue, more scattered, exactly at the inoculation points, and there are parts of the substrate in these same areas that are rust-colored, probably burned during PCing.
I'm thinking I may have to prop the jars up in my PC instead of putting them in directly.
I may also not be using enough aluminum foil on my jars and moisture is getting in when it shouldn't.
Lastly, I could imagine the fact that I use a 50/50 solution of isopropyl alcohol and water along with aerosol and all-purpose cleaner to disinfect everything could be the culprit since in another thread I saw much discouragement of wiping the needle with alcohol (although maybe this is specifically referring to the needle and not to general sterilization of the environment).
Otherwise, I have no ideas. I've decided to follow to the tee the Let's Grow Mushrooms! video by Roadkill about inoculating BRF cakes since I saw someone on the forums give this as advice.
The problem is that they don't address what kind of water to use (tap, distilled, boiled, mineral?), how to properly sterilize the work area, or how to properly sterilize substrate using a pressure cooker.
On top of that, they also DO wipe the needle with alcohol and have the spore syringe in a ziploc bag inside the glove box when they start the inoculation (is this necessary?).
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Vajrakila
Awakened One


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Posts: 65
Loc: Garden State
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#14957426 - 08/21/11 04:08 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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I didn't read the rest of the posts but when you said "mold, center of jar" sounds like it was durin inoculation. If you check it probably does line up with an inoculation hole. I must've miss that fact but if you noticed it after inoculation then also your layer of dry verm must've been too thin to kept baddies out. I am working on my first grow myself, so I am just giving an opinion. I don't have multiple grows under my belt and I hope my first grow goes well since I made a booboo myself.
-------------------- Om Mani Padme HumMy First Grow Log(Updated as Events Take Place) Yumm!
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: Vajrakila]
#15099885 - 09/19/11 08:37 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hello again. I performed two inoculations in one weekend since my last post here, two jars each time. Procedure as follows:
1) Clean jars and pressure cooker 2) Prepare 2:1:1 mixture of vermiculite, brf, and tap water 3) Dry jars and fill each with the mixture till the beginning of where the lid goes on 4) Wipe the inside and outside of the top of the jar 5) Close the jars, rubber side up 6) Put microfiber/medical tape on each inoculation hole and aluminum foil over the top 7) Line the bottom of the pressure cooker with jar lids and a layer of aluminum foil 8) Fill the PC with water till the aluminum foil is just covered, then add the jars 9) Pressure cook for 90 minutes 10) Let cool overnight 11) Start a load of clean clothes for the inoculation including a lab coat 12) Take a shower and brush teeth 13) Empty bathroom, wipe all surfaces with isopropyl alcohol solution and Vim, mop the floor, spray with Lysol 14) After letting the Lysol settle, spray again 15) Clean the glove box 16) Put glove box into bathroom, and spray with Lysol for the last time 17) Take another shower and brush teeth again 18) Put on clean clothes and lab coat 19) Sanitize hands, put on white medical gloves, sanitize again, put on yellow kitchen gloves with sleeves tucked in, sanitize again 20) Spray self with Lysol (dunno if this is stupid or not) 21) Bring equipment into the bathroom: PC, homemade alcohol burner, lighter, spore syringe 22) Open the PC and put both jars into glove box 23) Light the alcohol burner, flame the needle till red hot, and then inoculate a jar without the needle touching anything else 24) Inoculate the other jar
If you ask me, this is pretty much perfect, and not much went wrong during the two procedures. The alcohol burner was crap so I had to flame with my zippo once or twice, but that's about it. Everything went extremely smoothly.
Both batches are contaminated.
So I've officially given up. Fuck mycology.
As a last ditch attempt, I pressure cooked a mix of cow manure and vermiculite, lay half of it down in a cardboard box, sprayed all the rest of my spore solution on top, then laid down the rest on top.
This box is now kept in my shed in a spot where light reaches it through the window once a day for a while. I doubt it'll work since I've read around here that this rarely does, not to mention the fact that the temperature here is a little low nowadays. Perhaps something will happen...
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kolie


Registered: 09/12/11
Posts: 54
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#15099906 - 09/19/11 08:44 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Did you use a layer of dry verm over the top of your 2:1:1 mixture?
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: kolie]
#15100553 - 09/19/11 11:54 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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I did. Forgot to mention it.
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FuckMeRunnin
REALLY good looking


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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#15100791 - 09/19/11 12:52 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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100% failure rate? Seems like you may want to contact the vendor and say that there were trich spores mixed into the syringe and you discovered them while looking at the syringe under the microscope. Most people don't take near the precautions you did and have 100% success rates. Either the summer has brought an uncontrollable amount of trich to your area or that syringe was contamed. I'm leaning toward the syringe being contamed. All I do is PC grain, let it sit out on table till I'm ready. Put in glove box spray some lysol in the box(no shower, no clean clothes just gloves). I have a very very very low failure rate, and have never seen trich indoors yet. So I think it was the syringe. Plus you PCed while most first time growers steam and still don't see that high of a failure rate.
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trophycase
Dickface

Registered: 03/23/11
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: FuckMeRunnin]
#15100946 - 09/19/11 01:18 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Don't say fuck mycology It sounds like it's not your fault.
If you're doing PF jars... You should have been 100% fine, unless your syringe is contam'd. I do not shower or put on clean clothes before inoculation. I do not use a glovebox. I only spray with lysol and clean all surfaces very thoroughly. Make sure hands (gloves)and all supplies are clean, and keep air circulation non-existant. I have only had one contam'd jar doing this, and it was a jar that didn't germinate. I left it to sit for a little over a month before it started getting cobweb in it...
P.S. I think taking two showers was a little overkill. Save some of that water to make new cakes with!
-------------------- All of the cultivation photos uploaded by this account were taken in an area of the globe where such practices are legal and uninhibited.
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ClintHC
Stranger
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: trophycase]
#15321817 - 11/04/11 12:20 PM (12 years, 2 months ago) |
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Here's an update.
My experiment putting the spores on manure failed as well. There was a sort of whitish hairy stuff growing on it, but it was very faint, and over time looked less and less white but there was never enough for me to tell.
When I threw it out, I noticed that the bottom of the box it was in had greenish mold on the bottom.
I let Ralph know about the possibility of contamination and linked him to this thread. He was amazingly nice enough to send me another 4 syringes free of charge, and recommended I get some from the strains Brazilian and GT, which I did.
After they arrived, I did another 3 jars as I had before. I took a look at them today, and all three are GOOD! There is plain white mycelium growing in them!
So I think it was because the syringes were contaminated in the end. There's also the possibility that my conditions weren't right for Psilocybe cubensis and that's why they didn't grow (since the strain growing now is GT).
But from what I've researched, the conditions should have been fine, so I do believe it was the syringes. I'm definitely ecstatic about this ^_^
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ClintHC
Stranger
Registered: 05/09/11
Posts: 17
Last seen: 11 years, 15 days
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Re: Failed first-time BRF cake colonization [Re: ClintHC]
#15455565 - 12/02/11 04:51 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Just another update. I've inoculated two batches of 5 jars each. All ten jars are about halfway colonized at this point. No signs of contaminations. Thank you all again for your support and replies!
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