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ecotopia
Voluntary psychonaught



Registered: 01/18/14
Posts: 59
Loc: UK
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits?
#19499503 - 01/31/14 01:20 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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I hate asking questions on here that have most likely been answered time and time again but there is so much history on this site to scrawl through it's difficult to find a specific answer for my needs.
I've just had a really good result for a first flush on my first grow but the fruits are a little smaller than I expected. I'll be harvesting them in a few hours and I'm planning to dunk the cake before the second flush to encourage larger fruits. I'm assuming this would be a good idea, how do I dunk? Shall I just get a clean container, add spring water and submerge the cake? I understand bulk subs shouldn't be dunked for more than 1-2 hours because they will become waterlogged, is there a definite cut off time? I mean, should I keep it in for just one hour, would two be overkill? Also, what do I do when it's time to remove it from the water? Does it need to drain, shall I pat it down with a paper towel? What's the procedure here?
Thanks
Oh, the cake is 1kg rye grain spawn, 325g coco coir and one cup of verm and is about the size of a large watermelon.
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  Let us grow and help each other to grow along the way  
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gman7104

Registered: 09/11/11
Posts: 820
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: ecotopia]
#19499524 - 01/31/14 01:32 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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I assume your the one that had the bomb ass first grow, congratz again 
The fruits were perfectly normal for a first flush, they are smaller because there is so many mushrooms that they compete for water and space. The next flushes will have fewer but bigger mushrooms. Dont worry your in for some monsters.
As for dunking, did you dunk before the first flush? If so then go for it if not just leave it alone, i personally haven't had better results from dunking bulk subs.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 31 minutes, 59 seconds
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: ecotopia]
#19499527 - 01/31/14 01:34 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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dunk for a couple hours drain and put it back, no need to paper towel it or anything just don't mist till it starts to dry up
-------------------- 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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ecotopia
Voluntary psychonaught



Registered: 01/18/14
Posts: 59
Loc: UK
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: cronicr]
#19499569 - 01/31/14 02:03 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yep that was me 
Glad you cleared that up, if this is normal for a first flush then I'm really looking forward to future flushes. I didn't dunk first time and it was forming knots in 3 days from introducing it to the FC.
Hmm, I got opposing answers here, one from a person I take very seriously and one I haven't spoken much with but seems to have experience. I'm torn on this one, I wish I had two going side by side so I could dunk one and not the other and compare results. I suppose the big question I'm left with here is would dunking have any negative effect? For example increased chance of contams, because if it does add a risk and not dunking would still produce fantastic results then I'd rather not take the risk. If not then I may as well do it for the sake of trying. Certainly wouldn't want them to run out of moisture. I just want to get the most out of this that I can, I'm so excited about this project.
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  Let us grow and help each other to grow along the way  
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Vonmenken
The Chemist.



Registered: 01/30/14
Posts: 6
Loc: IL
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: cronicr]
#19499571 - 01/31/14 02:03 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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I don't think their is a cut-off time for cakes, but I would never go longer than 48 hours, if it was SUPER dry, and just dead. I usually do a 12 - 24 hour dunk. I have had no difference in the 12 hour span, between the 2.
-------------------- You've stumbled upon something, where only your mind is the key.I'll
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ecotopia
Voluntary psychonaught



Registered: 01/18/14
Posts: 59
Loc: UK
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: Vonmenken]
#19499577 - 01/31/14 02:05 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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I don't think long dunks like that length of time are good for coir. It's not supposed to exceed 2 hours because it will become waterlogged and kill the pins
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  Let us grow and help each other to grow along the way  
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 31 minutes, 59 seconds
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: Vonmenken]
#19499579 - 01/31/14 02:07 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Vonmenken said: I don't think their is a cut-off time for cakes, but I would never go longer than 48 hours, if it was SUPER dry, and just dead. I usually do a 12 - 24 hour dunk. I have had no difference in the 12 hour span, between the 2.
he has a bulk sub not a cake, and no there's no harm in dunking your sub as long as you don't break it lol, but you certainly can just mist heavy with subs like mono's and what not any sub the moisture will sit on but i much prefer to simply dunk smaller subs, mushroom size is dependent on available moisture from the sub/genetics so it's nice to play it safe
-------------------- 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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gman7104

Registered: 09/11/11
Posts: 820
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: cronicr]
#19499621 - 01/31/14 02:31 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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As Chronic stated, the issue with dunking bulk subs is breaking them. I had 3 colonized trays using manure/straw in chinese food containers. I dunked one and it broke, so I never did that again. The other two trays that I didn't dunk did perfectly fine, I just heavily sprayed them. The broken cake fruited later on and did no better
Your cakes are thick so that may not be an issue as long as you are gentle and only dunk for 1-2 hours. However since this is your first grow you may want to consider just leaving it be and mist it more often until you see pins.
Also you are using coir, I haven't used coir but I don't know if it would hold together. IMO leave the dunking for next time, your project is going great so why risk adding steps that are not essential?
Edited by gman7104 (01/31/14 02:43 AM)
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ecotopia
Voluntary psychonaught



Registered: 01/18/14
Posts: 59
Loc: UK
Last seen: 8 years, 2 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: gman7104]
#19499837 - 01/31/14 05:08 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Ok, keeping in mind everyone's thoughts on this I decided to dunk because that way there's no question about moisture. I did 1 hour in spring water and the coir held up very nicely now it's back in the FC. Hoping to see some tasty results. I'll get a pic of the harvest up shortly.
Thanks for all your interest in my first shroomy venture, it's great to be able to share this on here instead of keeping it like a dirty, dark secret. We shouldn't have to hide what we're doing, these fruits have been used for thousands of years for spiritual fulfillment and we are supposed to believe we are doing something wrong?
Pah...
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  Let us grow and help each other to grow along the way  
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Vonmenken
The Chemist.



Registered: 01/30/14
Posts: 6
Loc: IL
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Re: Should I dunk my coir cake to trigger bigger fruits? [Re: ecotopia]
#19500498 - 01/31/14 09:36 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Remember not to overmist if you didn't use a casing layer, if you're substituting the mist for the dunk, obviously.
V
-------------------- You've stumbled upon something, where only your mind is the key.I'll
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