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faiamerth
Stranger
Registered: 01/27/14
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Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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First time grower with questions.
#19486809 - 01/28/14 03:39 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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First time grower, so please forgive me for being such a noob. After much reading, I've ditched the kit idea and will be attempting a BRF tek grow. But I still have questions for suitability before I invest into growing.
I live in Canada, in a northern community, so it is quite cold and dry here. Nonetheless, I'd like to give growing a shot. The house is a comfortable 73 in temperature, which if I've read correctly, is an ideal temperature.
I suppose my first and foremost question should be where to get spores from. After browsing through the sponsors, many don't ship to Canada and are European based. Magic Mushrooms Shop ships here to Canada, would this be a good option, or should I look elsewhere? Suggestions?
I'm also in a rural area, we use well water as opposed to tap water. Should I be using alternative water (if so, what kind?), or is well water okay?
While the jars are colonizing, where would be an ideal placement for them? I would be growing in my basement, so could I simply put them on a shelf for x amount of time in indirect lighting? There's one window, so they would never be in direct light. Or would it be better suited to put them in a closet?
Do you leave the tape on the jars while they are colonizing, or remove it? If you remove it, I have a dog and a cat (which will obviously not be allowed in the room, but taking hair and other bacteria from them will be hard to avoid). Should I be placing the jars into a container to try and prevent anything from contaminating them?
Since I want to be extra cautious about contamination, if I bake the verm before rolling, how long should I wait before using it to roll?
Also questions regarding the placement of fruiting chamber. Similar to my question regarding protection from my pets. I don't have an inactive room that I could dedicate solely to mushrooms. How pre-cautious should I be around the fruiting chamber in order to avoid contamination? And again, it is in a basement room, never any direct light. So would leaving it in one place all day be okay, meaning indirect/shady light during the day, and none at night?
Sorry for such noob questions, but all and any answers will be much appreciated!
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19486931 - 01/28/14 03:58 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Don't know about spores in Canada. If concerned about well water, buy distilled water. Place your jars in the closet, doesn't matter, some ambient light is beneficial. I leave the micropore tape on, if you remove the tape, just don't move the jars at all, so you don't disturb the dry verm layer. No harm leaving the tape on, as it can breath, that's why you use micropore tape.
Some people cook, microwave their verm as a added step. Can't hurt. SGFC should be off the floor a couple of inches to allow air flow. SCFC are not sterile, soon as you birth your cakes, and roll them they are far from contam free. marinate on that.
You are in Canada, and you plan on colonizing in the basement (Permafrost) how cold does it get down there?
Edited by GimpCollector (01/28/14 03:59 PM)
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Mr.Lahey
Farmer

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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19486952 - 01/28/14 04:01 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Just finished my first grow and am in exactly the same boat as you sir, would strongly recommend the PF tek. Any of the shroomery sponsors that ship to Canada are incredibly reputable and problem free. Regarding the well water, it works just fine as far as I can see on mine. After inoculation I let my jars colonize (micro pore tape on) in the top of my closet. Shoot for a 12 hour on 12 hour lighting schedule and let your Verm sit long enough so that you are positive it is back to normal temp. Fruiting chamber placement shouldn't be a large concern if you don't place it in a ridiculously contaminated populated area
-------------------- as above, so below
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Smushroom
Avid Learner

Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 2,806
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19487049 - 01/28/14 04:25 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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When growing indoors outside temp/climate don't really matter. As long as you keep the humidity in the fruiting chamber high the outdoor/in the room humidity doesn't matter either.
I'm not sure about Canadian customs but from a US perspective I would avoid ordering from Europe. Mail between US and Canada probably has less of a chance of being inspected by customs than does mail from overseas. Most vendors will ship to Canada. When the vendors say they will not ship to CA, ID, GA, the CA there is California, not Canada. Those 3 US states ban Cubensis spores. Just read through the FAQs on each site to find out about international shipping. Not sure on customs forms requirements for Canada, I doubt many fill it out at all.
How bad is your water? Do you have to use a water softener on it or is it ok straight from the well? If you want to be overly safe you could get bottled water but doubt its very necessary.
Basement is fine for colonization as long as temps are normal. I'd put a thermometer on the shelf you plan on colonizing on. They will colonize in colder temps but take longer which risk contams. Room temp or slightly higher will promote fast colonization. A closet works too if temps in the basement are too cold.
You want to remove the tape over the holes while colonizing. It needs gas exchange. The dry layer of verm you put over the verm/brf mix helps to filter out contams. You can leave aluminum foil loosely over top to prevent stuff like hair from even touching the lid.
I haven't grown in years and baking verm before rolling wasn't really a thing back then and I haven't read about it so I can't really say on that one.
Just keep the fruiting chamber off the floor a couple feet and you'll be fine. I wouldn't let the pets in there when you fanning/misting (assuming you aren't doing any type of automation) but other than that shouldn't be an issue. Light isn't really an issue. They can fruit in the dark just fine, just need a little light to know which way is up (although not really required).
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1down5up
Social Ninja



Registered: 11/04/13
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Smushroom]
#19487412 - 01/28/14 05:41 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Smushroom said:
You want to remove the tape over the holes while colonizing. It needs gas exchange. The dry layer of verm you put over the verm/brf mix helps to filter out contams. You can leave aluminum foil loosely over top to prevent stuff like hair from even touching the lid.
I haven't grown in years and baking verm before rolling wasn't really a thing back then and I haven't read about it so I can't really say on that one.
Just keep the fruiting chamber off the floor a couple feet and you'll be fine. I wouldn't let the pets in there when you fanning/misting (assuming you aren't doing any type of automation) but other than that shouldn't be an issue. Light isn't really an issue. They can fruit in the dark just fine, just need a little light to know which way is up (although not really required).
If you use micropore, you don't have to remove it, but if you're using a dry verm barrier, you don't need it. Do not leave the aluminum on it, not even loosely. If you got a dry verm barrier, let it do it's job, ditch the aluminum as son as they're out of the pot.
Light is definitely an issue. They can't fruit in the dark fine, they need 12/12.
As far as baking the verm, you can if you like, but a colonized and consolidated cake is contam resistant, so you don't have to.
-------------------- ~~Everything is relative~~
A Simplified Overview of Mushroom Cultivation Strategies - RR says - EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes - Frank's list of goodies - Cronicr's Goodies
No one is placed higher than another no matter race or creed or gender, we must teach forgiveness and compassion for all life. J.L.
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faiamerth
Stranger
Registered: 01/27/14
Posts: 7
Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: 1down5up]
#19488547 - 01/28/14 08:44 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Thank you for the helpful answers! So it looks like I should be fine growing here. The basement is actually the warmest place in the house since the floors are heated during the colder months (such as right now).
So now I am just looking for spores available in Canada. Also, since they would have to be shipped here, would there be issues while they're in transit, such as getting too cold? When mail orders are out for delivery here, mail and packages aren't usually kept warm unless shipped by a carrier such as UPS. Has anyone had issues with this while growing in the winter months?
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19488564 - 01/28/14 08:48 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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No spores will be fine, if they do freeze, you can possibly count on half the spores going to shit. But you still have a shit ton left in the syringe.
Spores in the wild go through Fall, Winter, Spring, freezing, thawing, and then some, and they seem to be able to walk it off just fine.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: GimpCollector]
#19488594 - 01/28/14 08:54 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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cubes don't go through canadian winter weather though, there tropical
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: cronicr]
#19488604 - 01/28/14 08:56 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
cronicr said: cubes don't go through canadian winter weather though, there tropical
Yeah, the point being spores do freeze and then grow out to fruit.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 10 minutes, 16 seconds
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: GimpCollector]
#19488608 - 01/28/14 08:57 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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freezing can and will damage spores there a single cell thick
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: cronicr]
#19488623 - 01/28/14 08:59 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
cronicr said: freezing can and will damage spores there a single cell thick
yeah, which is why I told dude to count on at least half to take a dump, but it only takes 2. ~
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: GimpCollector]
#19488629 - 01/28/14 09:00 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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faiamerth
Stranger
Registered: 01/27/14
Posts: 7
Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: cronicr]
#19488737 - 01/28/14 09:23 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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So, again, biggest issue is finding spores available in Canada, preferably shipping from within Canada. Can anyone help me out here?
From what I've read thus far, it would appear syringes and vials aren't illegal as they aren't active, and only become illegal once planted. Even if that is true though, is it likely to be seized if for whatever reason the carrier and/or customs should I have to place an order internationally decides to inspect the package?
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19488755 - 01/28/14 09:27 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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use a vendor from here, they won't get confiscated it's perfectly legal
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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Smushroom
Avid Learner

Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 2,806
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: 1down5up]
#19488788 - 01/28/14 09:33 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Like I said in my post, just about every single vendor will ship to Canada. I don't know of any sponsors that ship from within Canada. There was a former sponsor (ralphsters) that did but they were removed because of too many complaints (atleast thats my understanding)
Quote:
1down5up said: Light is definitely an issue. They can't fruit in the dark fine, they need 12/12.
They will fruit in the dark. Light promotes a more even pinset and may contribute to slightly more dense fruit but it is not an absolute requirement.
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Smushroom]
#19488795 - 01/28/14 09:35 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Smushroom said: Like I said in my post, just about every single vendor will ship to Canada. I don't know of any sponsors that ship from within Canada. There was a former sponsor (ralphsters) that did but they were removed because of too many complaints (atleast thats my understanding)
Quote:
1down5up said: Light is definitely an issue. They can't fruit in the dark fine, they need 12/12.
They will fruit in the dark. Light promotes a more even pinset and may contribute to slightly more dense fruit but it is not an absolute requirement.
I went on vacation with a tub colonizing. came back a few weeks later and looked like someone had grew spagetti. big nasty spegetti ball, boomers had no heads. Light helps!
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faiamerth
Stranger
Registered: 01/27/14
Posts: 7
Last seen: 10 years, 10 months
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: GimpCollector]
#19488896 - 01/28/14 09:56 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Main reason I am looking for a source available here in Canada is in hopes of a speedy shipping period in which the vial/syringe will not be exposed to the elements as long.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19488912 - 01/28/14 09:59 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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only time it's really exposed is when it's left in your mail box
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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Smushroom
Avid Learner

Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 2,806
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: cronicr]
#19489247 - 01/28/14 11:21 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Post by sporeworks owner
psilocyber said short term freezing won't usually damage spores as long as they aren't exposed for prolonged periods. As he mentioned in that post if you select ups/fedex shipping you can have it held for pickup. The US Postal Service has a hold for pickup option as well, not sure about Canadian post.
The cold during transport shouldn't be enough to do any damage, like cronicr said, the time in your mailbox is the only concern
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crackacola
Big Daddy


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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Smushroom]
#19489345 - 01/28/14 11:40 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Do NOT use distilled water for making PF jars. Pretty much any water BUT distilled water will work great. Pond or spring water is preferred. Obviously stay away from water that may have run off from a farm that has been sprayed with fungicides.
Distilled water is used for making syringes.
--------------------
FOR TRADE <---- Check out my spores for trade!
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Quexl

Registered: 12/17/13
Posts: 1,443
Loc:
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Smushroom]
#19489368 - 01/28/14 11:47 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Smushroom said:There was a former sponsor (ralphsters) that did but they were removed because of too many complaints (atleast thats my understanding)
I used this vendor for my current batch. I may have got lucky, but they were viable. The sponsers on here are certainly more of a sure bet, I just wanted to ship domestic this time.
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Smushroom
Avid Learner

Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 2,806
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Quexl]
#19489406 - 01/29/14 12:02 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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I *think* most of the complaints were of bad customer service, never bad spores. If you search and read the old posts I'd say 95% of them were positive. It was just the few messed up orders he had would take a long time to get fixed and poor communication.
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GimpCollector
To Drunk To Taste The Chicken

Registered: 02/08/12
Posts: 1,097
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: Quexl]
#19489421 - 01/29/14 12:06 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Quexl said:
Quote:
Smushroom said:There was a former sponsor (ralphsters) that did but they were removed because of too many complaints (atleast thats my understanding)
I used this vendor for my current batch. I may have got lucky, but they were viable. The sponsers on here are certainly more of a sure bet, I just wanted to ship domestic this time.
I member all the crap about Ralphsters. Mob rules, I thought it had something to do about shipping, and packages taking forever.
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1down5up
Social Ninja



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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: GimpCollector]
#19489950 - 01/29/14 05:43 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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No matter what sponsor you use, if there's a comments section, ask them to double wrap them in bubble wrap. Or call them first to ask.
I live in freezing cold weather for 8 months of the year, and my spores were delivered in pretty cold weather. My first grow is over, and was successful. I did have some jars that didn't take....at all, so just make sure you do enough jars to balance out the win/lose, and you should be fine.
-------------------- ~~Everything is relative~~
A Simplified Overview of Mushroom Cultivation Strategies - RR says - EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes - Frank's list of goodies - Cronicr's Goodies
No one is placed higher than another no matter race or creed or gender, we must teach forgiveness and compassion for all life. J.L.
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faiamerth
Stranger
Registered: 01/27/14
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: 1down5up]
#19490263 - 01/29/14 08:33 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Our well water is drinkable, but we also have bottled water here available all the time, so I think I'll go with our bottled water, just to be on the safe side.
Thank you very, very much for all the help! Such a informative community Well, here goes nothing. Will be placing an order this week, and using the weekend to prepare supplies.
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1down5up
Social Ninja



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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: faiamerth]
#19490819 - 01/29/14 10:54 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Good luck friend
-------------------- ~~Everything is relative~~
A Simplified Overview of Mushroom Cultivation Strategies - RR says - EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes - Frank's list of goodies - Cronicr's Goodies
No one is placed higher than another no matter race or creed or gender, we must teach forgiveness and compassion for all life. J.L.
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent



Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,915
Loc: Milky way
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Re: First time grower with questions. [Re: 1down5up]
#19490904 - 01/29/14 11:18 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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the well water is probably actually better. If you can get pond water that's even better yet, of course you'll only use it where it would get sterilized so the quality doesn't really matter just don't use it to mist your substrate when it's in the fruiting chamber, use bottled water for that.
there's more minerals in well water that the myc can use. As long as you can drink it they can.
Edited by Trusted cuItivator (01/29/14 11:19 AM)
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