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Igrow1ups
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Registered: 09/06/12
Posts: 74
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Getting Started
#16800935 - 09/06/12 07:39 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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So i've decided to try to grow some yummy fungus but before I take the plunge, I want to make sure that i'm planning for everything I should be and that i've got my ducks in a row, so to speak.
I've watched RR's videos and read the pages as well as reviewed the pf-tek @ fanaticus.com per one of the faqs here. I've compiled a list of what I need and I'd just like to get some of to give it a quick skim and point out anything I might have missed. I do have a couple questions, posted after the list as well.
Thanks!
Glovebox: Tyvek sleeves, PVC coupling, PVC cap (I want to be able to seal the glovebox when not in use and intend to leave the sleeves attached to the box to reduce the overall amount of consumable components used in each growing), and of course, a clear storage container of appropriate size.
Colonization Stage: 1/2 pint wide mouth jars, plenty of lid rings and lids. vermiculite, perlite, brown rice flour, spore syringe
Fruiting stage: clear container fashioned into a shotgun fruiting chamber, analog hydrometer, analog thermometer, 6,000K fluorescent light (15w equiv), +air pump, hepa filter, and air stone
So, just a couple questions: Perlite : i've seen mixed info on what is actually needed - it seems any coarse grade perlite is appropriate, is this correct?
Vermiculite: same sort of question, what sort of labeling am I looking for (or which should i avoid) when sourcing my verm?
Fruiting chamber: Can misting be replaced through the use of an airstone submersed in a jar of sterilized water inside the chamber? The pump would be sending through the hepa filter prior to the airstone. Even if i only reduce the frequency of required misting It's probably worthwhile to me (i've already got the pump, filter, and stone from my beer brewing hobby!). Sub point : if i find I lack humidity with my current airstone, has anyone ever checked if airstones of varying sizes and porosity can be used to adjust the overall humidity contribution?
Fruiting chamber: How do i appropriately size my chamber? I don't know how much it matters but i intend to grow 2 different strains; not necessarily simultaneously. One grow will be very small - 6 cakes tops I think; the other, may utilize 12-18 cakes.
Fruiting: I notice in some pictures the cakes have fruited out the sides and totally avoided the top - what causes this and does it negatively affect your yield?
Light: So I think i'm clear that light doesn't initiate pinning as much as FAE and 100% colonization BUT I also keep seeing "indirect light won't hurt" so - i'm wondering, what exactly is meant? Is diffused light okay or does there need to be an opaque surface directly between the source and the containers during colonization? What about during fruiting - do i need direct light at this time or do I still want indirect lighting?
Thanks so much for all the information i've already gotten and thanks for the additional help in this thread!
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TheDeathryder
Reaper



Registered: 04/26/12
Posts: 2,636
Loc: Hell
Last seen: 11 years, 10 months
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Re: Getting Started [Re: Igrow1ups]
#16801023 - 09/06/12 07:50 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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You want direct light during fruiting, ambient during colonization. Light helps the mycelium establish a circadian rhythm. 6500k color spectrum is ideal, but 6000k will work.
Don't waste your money on the air pump and air stone. A properly built SGFC can go up to 14 hours without attention. Get one big enough to hold all of your cakes, it doesn't hurt anything to have more than 1 variety in the same fruiting chamber since all cubes have the same fruiting parameters.
Look for fine or premium grade verm.
I also suggest that you get into agar work as early as possible. You can get a solid grasp on what's required for it in the agar section of the "Everything A New Cultivator Needs To Know!" guide linked in my signature.
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Igrow1ups
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Registered: 09/06/12
Posts: 74
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Sorry, i guess i should have further clarified - the majority of my spores won't be yielding cubes - i don't have a need for vast quantities of them - oysters, shitakes, and other edibles however - well... i can use a lot more of those 
Am I still okay to share an FC between cubes and edibles? I just want to avoid having cubes pop up in my edibles (which, as I think about it, is damn near impossible anyway - a good cleaning of the FC between uses and ensuring 100% colonization of cakes should eliminate this risk i suppose)
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TheDeathryder
Reaper



Registered: 04/26/12
Posts: 2,636
Loc: Hell
Last seen: 11 years, 10 months
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Re: Getting Started [Re: Igrow1ups]
#16801562 - 09/06/12 08:50 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Whether or not they can be done in the same FC depends on the growth parameters. Cubes and Oysters have been done in the same FC before. Shitake I don't know enough about to comment on.
Once a cake is fully colonized, another mushroom spore isn't going to jump on there and take over
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Igrow1ups
Stranger

Registered: 09/06/12
Posts: 74
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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great, thanks for the feedback, can anyone speak to my other questions?
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Grumpyorc
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Registered: 09/14/09
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Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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Re: Getting Started [Re: Igrow1ups]
#16804505 - 09/07/12 11:26 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Glovebox: I turn a rubbermaid tub upside down on a table, slide the edge off, and slip my hands up underneath. I'v had very few contams and i do g2g all the time. your idea will definatly work and even be excessive
Colonization Stage: You don't use perlite in your jars. you can however add a pinch of gypsum to each one (just a pinch!) for some serious punch. Gypsum is the single most useful substance in this hobby IMO
Fruiting stage: +air pump, hepa filter, and air stone<--- get rid of these things. they are not only excessive they are counterproductive and could make your SGFC less effective. Make it exactly to the specs laid out in RR's video. to do anything else is FAIL
Perlite : i've seen mixed info on what is actually needed - it seems any coarse grade perlite is appropriate, is this correct? ---Yes
Vermiculite: same sort of question, what sort of labeling am I looking for (or which should i avoid) when sourcing my verm? --- Fine grade verm is best. Period. For all stages. (it holds the most water) If it gets stuck in your syringe pull it out, flame the middle of the needle, and the pressure will shoot it out. Don't try to force it out by pressing down on the plunger.
Fruiting chamber: Can misting be replaced through the use of an airstone submersed in a jar of sterilized water inside the chamber? ---- Don't be megafail. Mist and fan. you don't have to sterelize the water. there are holes in your sgfc anyway. Don't be excessive here
Fruiting chamber: How do i appropriately size my chamber? I don't know how much it matters but i intend to grow 2 different strains; not necessarily simultaneously. One grow will be very small - 6 cakes tops I think; the other, may utilize 12-18 cakes. -----Enough room so that there is a few inches between cakes, between the cakes and the side of the tub, and for 3 inches of perlite at the bottom
Fruiting: I notice in some pictures the cakes have fruited out the sides and totally avoided the top - what causes this and does it negatively affect your yield? ---- Don't obsess over where the pins are forming. Different substrains act differently. If your tub is made to spec you have a 100% garuntee that your environment is correct. Fruiting on the side, top, or even along the bottom is totally normal
Light: You can give it direct sunlight if you want. That being said a 6500k or "daylight" CFL is more than sufficiant. indirect light is also sufficient. Light isnt a big issue so long as its there for a few hours
Good luck
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Grumpyorc
Ghost


Registered: 09/14/09
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Last seen: 5 years, 3 months
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Re: Getting Started [Re: Grumpyorc]
#16804513 - 09/07/12 11:27 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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RR talks bout leaving the lid off the SGFC for oysters
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