Hey guys, this is my first time so I don't know what I may have done wrong.
1) I mixed a ratio of 2:1:1 vermiculite:organic BRF: tap water 2) filled 6 1/2 pint jars up to the threading on the jars, slightly flattened with a spoon (barely any pressure), wiped inside the threaded area with a paper towel, filled to top with dry vermiculite, capped it tightly, lids each had 4 holes covered with breathable tape. covered top of jars with 6x6" aluminum foil, and pressure cooked them at 15-17 psi for 1 hour. 3) 24 hours after removing cooker from heat, i opened it, and with alcohol sterilized gloves I took them out and placed them in a glovebox i made out of a cardboard box and syran wrap. I brought my syringes into the box in their bag, opened it inside the box. i shook the syringe after taking it out of the bag. I flame sterilized the needle between jars, and after each flame sterilization, i wiped the black residue off of the needle with a paper towel soaked in iso alcohol. i injected 1cc of spore solution in each jar, so about 1/4cc per hole. when i was done, i took them out of the glove box, and put them in another cardboard box, and placed it on a shelf around only 70 degrees.
After 5 days, 2 of the jars had growth. one had 1 spot of growth, and has been growing relatively fast. the other one with growth has 2 spots, but both are growing much slower than the other one. the remaining four have shown no growth, and its now been 13 days since inoculation. 4 days ago, using the same ratios and everything i inoculated 4 more 1 pint jars. this time, i shook the syringe between each jar, and didnt wipe the residue off of the needle, thinking the alcohol may have killed the spores somehow. I have yet to see growth in these, however, it has only been 4 days.
I opened up and broke up the contents of one of the first jars that did not show signs of growth, and i found absolutely zero colonization anywhere within the substrate.
the 6 1/2 pint jars and the 4 pint jars were inoculated with Golden Teacher from micro-supply btw
Yesterday i inoculated 6 pint jars using the same method with African Transeki from micro-supply.
total time after inoculation of first batch is 13 days. the first 8 days, the temp ranged from 68-74 degrees. i then bought a heater, which happens to be hard to keep constant temps with. the temp has since been 78-84 degrees. at one point it got all the way up to 91 degrees and i immediately turned the heat off.
i haven't really given the 2nd and 3rd batch enough time to show growth, being inoculated only 4-5 days ago. I took the breathable tape off of each jar b/c i heard it helps and the dry vermiculite should keep contaminants out.
but why did only 3 of 24 inoculation sites show growth? i've heard mixed reviews of micro-tech and golden teacher in general, but the spore syringe had no clumps of spores in it, so i feel like the spores must have been evenly mixed in. even if the syringe had a low concentration of spores, shouldnt all of the jars still be colonizing at the same rate? Im planning to buy more syringes, but now im skeptical to purchase from micro-supply again. I'm hoping someone could figure out that i messed it up because id love to take advantage of $10 syringes assuming they actually have plenty of spores.
should i toss the other 3 1/2 pint jars? or should i try to re-inoculate them? or should i wait another week? i haven't seen any contaminants yet, so i guess im not doing too bad.
thanks for any advice
|
*obligatory order from sponsors remark*
There are plenty of sponsors that you'll get just as good a deal, if not better, from. Ralph gives away a free "strain of the month" w/ order upon request, and has package deals, as do others.
Aside from that, it can take 3-14days to see growth, ymmv, toss the ones over 2 weeks or sit on them a bit longer, your choice. Whatever you do decide, I'd be already on obtaining more supplies from a more reputable supplier if I were you.
-------------------- "I don't have a God complex, you've got a simple God"
|