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shroomboots
Stranger


Registered: 06/01/15
Posts: 11
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Oyster uncertainties
#21747592 - 06/01/15 08:04 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hello, utterly clueless noob here. I've searched the web for answers but sometimes it's just difficult to know exactly what to search for, you know?
I purchased an Oyster Mushroom grow box roughly two months ago. It was substrate in a plastic bag in a plastic box with a lid. After many uncertainties and ridiculous mistakes only I can make it began to produce mushrooms at last, although I feared the mycelium was getting too old or contaminated or some condition wasn't right because it produced this yellow transparent liquid and I've read it can mean the mycelium is old. Anyway. It hasn't done that since mushrooms began to grows so I guess that's a good thing.
Anyway, I think that it might not have had enough light when it finally began to pin (later than promised by the instructions, I was getting ready to just start over). It sits on my window sill by the open air flap, both blinds are down, the first is closed and the blind further away is open so I hope that's enough light. I think I had both blinds closed at first.
So then they began to grow and it looked promising but I fear they have not only stopped growing although they look far from finished but that some have begun to dry out although I feel like I water them constantly. I also fear that since it is possible they didn't get enough light they got a coral-like start which is apparently not how the are supposed to look.
I'm also not sure whether the plastic lid should stay or be removed because the instructions don't say. I removed it because I thought it would be in the way, but then I thought that oysters do tend to just press through gaps and that sort of thing so maybe I should have left it on for humidity reasons? Now I'm not getting the large oyster-trumpets I was hoping for, the hats are round like buttons, around 2-3 cm in diameter and the edges look dry and the edges had turned up on some, making them look like bowls.
I will attempt to grow more oysters from the substrate but before I do I just wonder what to do with the ones I got going. I could really use some answers and advice from the experts for now as well as the future.


Are they, in spite of their small size, done growing? I've heard that when the edges start turning up they are done. They don't all look like bowls so should I just give them more time?
Are they getting enough light or do they need more? Can Oysters get too much light?
Should the plastic lid be on or off? Right now it is loosely on. Suddenly I feel stupid for removing it although it wasn't in the instructions but I really need somebody to just say what is right so I can be sure.
Are they weird-looking and if so, what might have caused it and how can I avoid it in the future?
As you can see I got two clusters going. Several didn't make it. Would perhaps one have been enough? It's easy to become greedy I suppose. Could competition for nutrition stunt growth?
My bet is that the light was/is insufficient but I don't mind being corrected. All thoughts welcome and appreciated.
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OysterKing
His I ness



Registered: 02/08/14
Posts: 237
Last seen: 11 months, 20 days
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I'm no expert, but I'm learning.
Those oysters don't look too bad! Could be bigger, but I always say that no matter. I think the world record for oyster is like 20+ pounds for 1 mushroom.
It is recommended to harvest before the caps turn up, as they are past their best once the up-turn happens. They become a little tougher as they get older, so get them just before the cap turns to get the best size versus quality.
The colour of your Oysters is good, looks like they are getting enough light.
Oyster mushrooms need a LOT of fresh air, so taking the lid off your growbox was the right idea. Maybe just spritz the inside of the lid before you put it back to keep the humidity nice and high. Just watch for flies and contamination.
They aren't weird looking, as Oysters go. I think they could have used MORE fresh air if anything.
I don't have solid experience/facts with the cluster VS nutrition VS Size issue, perhaps someone else will help us both there...
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shroomboots
Stranger


Registered: 06/01/15
Posts: 11
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Oyster uncertainties [Re: OysterKing]
#21751408 - 06/02/15 03:41 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks for the reply. I should probably just harvest them right away, then. The edges are hardly going to turn back down and they really seem to have stopped growing. I'll definitely search for a place with more fresh air for my second growing attempt.
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