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Insomnia411
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Registered: 06/10/13
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Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry?
#18752767 - 08/24/13 07:17 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hi,
I'm having some difficulty getting my picked mushrooms completely dry. I pre-dry them with a box fan on high for a day, and then put them into the dehydrator. I've cut most of them in halt to help with drying, but I live in an area that is *very* humid since I am around a lot of water, so it's making it very hard. I've been drying a batch of shrooms in the dehydrator for almost 3 days straight and they are "stuck" at around 80-90%.
So I guess my question is if I put some 80-90% dry shrooms in a jar with some desiccant is it going to get them 100% dry, or does it just ensure that no ADDITIONAL moisture is absorbed? Also, could I use a packet or two in the bottom of my dehydrator, or is it bad to expose them to heat (I am drying at ~105)?
Thank you very much for your help!! 
Edited by Insomnia411 (08/24/13 07:22 PM)
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Stromrider
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Registered: 06/02/13
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18752796 - 08/24/13 07:25 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Turn up the heat to like 140 or 150 and they will dry completely in a day
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Insomnia411
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18753118 - 08/24/13 09:11 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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After reading through some more threads I'm still conflicted on using anything more than a very small amount of heat, there seems to be no agreement in topics as recent as 2012. But since I'm having so much trouble, I will bump it up a bit to 115/120.
The real question I am still wondering, that I can't find in any of the desiccant threads, is whether it can finish the last 10% or so of drying for you or if it just prevents it from absorbing any more moisture.
If anyone has any idea, please let me know!
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PussyFart
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18753155 - 08/24/13 09:19 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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The actives in mushrooms do not break down until FAR past 300F, while most dehydrators do not make it past 165F.
The hotter you can get them, the quicker they will dry.
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THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
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Insomnia411
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18753179 - 08/24/13 09:26 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thank you for your reply Notahacker420. I always just used a fan and put them between newspapers in years past, this is my first time using a dehydrator, so forgive my ignorance.
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PussyFart
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18753187 - 08/24/13 09:27 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
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Diamonds808
New love formushies.



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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: PussyFart]
#18753610 - 08/24/13 11:55 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I usually put them over a fan and then place a box over them.
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Stromrider
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Stromrider]
#18754187 - 08/25/13 06:32 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
psillyshroomer said: Turn up the heat to like 140 or 150 and they will dry completely in a day
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BloodKil
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Stromrider]
#18754204 - 08/25/13 06:42 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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As the others have said above... crank that shit up.
Also for future reference, there is no need to pre dry anything... just slap them in your dehydrator, crank the heat all the way up, and dry 6-18 hours (dependant on shroom size and how good your dehydrator is)
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SpitballJedi
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Stromrider]
#18754211 - 08/25/13 06:44 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Crank it up and break the knob off.
But, seriously, mine goes up to 160F. I crank it all the way up.
I have noticed zero potency loss since I started using the dehydrator
I go straight to the dehydrator, no pre-drying. You'll be happier when you start doing it this way
-------------------- The Basics A little civility goes a long way The Noob Forum The Hammock Hangers' Forum
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Stromrider
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: BloodKil]
#18754214 - 08/25/13 06:46 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
BloodKil said: As the others have said above... crank that shit up.
Also for future reference, there is no need to pre dry anything... just slap them in your dehydrator, crank the heat all the way up, and dry 6-18 hours (dependant on shroom size and how good your dehydrator is)
^^This exactly. I meant to say something about not needing to pre-dry them with a fan but forgot
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invitro


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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Stromrider]
#18755202 - 08/25/13 01:40 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Desiccant will work in a pinch but it's expensive and not fun to work with. Damprid is found at walmart and other places in the house-cleaning section by the laundry soap etc. It's made of calcium chloride, it is hydroscopic, so it pulls moisture out of the air. Salt, sodium chloride, works the same way but is not as effective. Desiccant can get you to 100% dry.
Edited by invitro (08/25/13 01:41 PM)
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Insomnia411
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: invitro]
#18757974 - 08/26/13 12:12 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks for the info guys.
I'm actually just pre-drying so to speak because my dehydrator is so packed I can't fit anymore in it. So may as well get tem started in front of the fan in the meantime, lol 
One last question: is it possible to OVERdry them at the max setting (of 160)? I'm gone a lot and I can see myself easily forgetting about them.
Edited by Insomnia411 (08/26/13 12:15 AM)
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San
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18757994 - 08/26/13 12:18 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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If you don't mind them looking funny you can split them to increase the surface area.
It'll help speed up drying. For cracker dry mushies use desiccant after most of the water content is out. I recommend Drierite.
--------------------
Actually not everyone was a noob. Being a noob is a very new phenomenon. Many people, the great majority in fact, were simply "beginners", "novices" or "new to mushroom growing". Being a "noob" is reserved, and in fact created specifically for and by, the newer, much more lame generations coming about. -Shpongle1
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PhosCap
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: Insomnia411]
#18758154 - 08/26/13 01:09 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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The manual for my dehydrator says dry at 90F for 2-3hrs, then increase temperature to 125F. total dry time 4-10 hrs
I noticed when I skip drying them at 90F for first 2-3hrs the mush caps loose the original color. They end up looking darker brownish. I think this happens because the instant 125F heats up the surface moisture causing some sort of reaction on the mush.
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: PhosCap]
#18758178 - 08/26/13 01:15 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
phosi said: The manual for my dehydrator says dry at 90F for 2-3hrs, then increase temperature to 125F. total dry time 4-10 hrs
For drying cubes? No...
Just crank that thing.
165F for 12-24 hours.
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PhosCap
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: FrankHorrigan]
#18758214 - 08/26/13 01:30 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
FrankHorrigan said:
Quote:
phosi said: The manual for my dehydrator says dry at 90F for 2-3hrs, then increase temperature to 125F. total dry time 4-10 hrs
For drying cubes? No...
Just crank that thing.
165F for 12-24 hours.
damn manual didn't have an appendix for cubes 
do you experience discoloration if you blast them at 165f right away?
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: PhosCap]
#18758222 - 08/26/13 01:34 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Nope
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PhosCap
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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: FrankHorrigan]
#18758244 - 08/26/13 01:45 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Forgot to mention. Im using a Nesco and were loaded on the top tray. I really have a feeling it was due to instant over heating.
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



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Re: Dying shrooms, stuck at ~80-90% - will desiccant get it to 100% dry? [Re: PhosCap]
#18759011 - 08/26/13 09:44 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
phosi said: Forgot to mention. Im using a Nesco and were loaded on the top tray. I really have a feeling it was due to instant over heating.
I use a nesco and load all the trays. It's not causing any discoloration.
Mushrooms that press directly against the top of the unit (the heater) might show a little bit of shininess where the directly touched it, but never any real discoloration that would be an issue.
Actually I use four of the Nescos with 24 racks between them
Edited by FrankHorrigan (08/26/13 09:57 AM)
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