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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based)
#21780873 - 06/08/15 09:28 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hey everyone, I'm mostly a trichocereus (cactus) grower, but a month ago I decided to try my hand at growing mushrooms. I got myself a single syringe of cubensis (golden teacher strain) spores, and looked up the best techniques for a noob like myself to follow. I found the highly recommended and relatively simple tek from, I think, Roger Rabbit that involves brown rice flower and vermiculite. I got the videos off his website and watched the brf one thoroughly. After finally getting all the necessary supplies I followed the tek almost to a T. I say almost because I did make some pretty risky alterations.
First off, I used filter disks instead of the actual mason jar lids because I had them and didn't feel like poking holes in the lids (lazy, I know). The riskiest thing I did was out of desperation and time constraints, as I would never have done this otherwise. I had to sterilize the brf jars in a pot for about 45-50 minutes rather than the recommended 90. I tried to compensate by turning the burner on full blast to try and nuke the shit out of any possible contaminants .
After inoculating the jars, I covered the holes with masking tape and let them sit in my closet with ambient window light, when the weather here has been in the mid 70's pretty consistently. All this was done on May 29th (10 days ago), and I have to admit that I was really concerned about contamination because of the rushed sterilization and use of filter lids. Much to my surprise, however, all 5 jars are doing really well! I have noticed that the jars with less moisture and less condensely packed brf matrix are slower spreading with mycelium. All of the jars seem to be spreading quite nicely, and I haven't noticed any signs of infection or contamination!
I've included 4 photos of each of my jars(excessive, I know), and I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give them a look and tell me if you see any signs of infection that my amateur eyes couldn't spot. Thanks for all the help! Without the vast knowledge on this board I probably would have been doomed! haha
First Jar:
   
Second Jar:
   
Third Jar:
   
Fourth Jar:
   
Fifth Jar:
  
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Grim767
Traveler of the Abyss



Registered: 05/30/15
Posts: 225
Loc: The Abyss
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21780980 - 06/08/15 09:52 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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As far as I can tell they look good glad to see your first grow is going well
-------------------- Trade List I won't bow to something that I've never seen, Can't believe in something that doesn't believe in me, I'm not blood of your blood, I'm no son of your god, I have no faith in your faith, Still I find salvation.
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: Grim767]
#21781313 - 06/08/15 11:36 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks! Hopefully things continue to go smoothly
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nobody83
stranger danger


Registered: 03/15/14
Posts: 1,486
Loc: around town
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21781365 - 06/08/15 11:59 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: nobody83]
#21781492 - 06/09/15 01:27 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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By the way, what's everyones' experiences with using synthetic filter discs? It seems like a lot of people use them underneath the mason jar lid rather than in place of one. Does this make me more at risk for contamination?
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21785520 - 06/09/15 08:45 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Also, I'm going out of town for a week this friday. Will they be fine while I'm gone? How long does it usually take for the whole jars to be colonized?
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capzman95
Stranger

Registered: 05/03/14
Posts: 104
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21785551 - 06/09/15 08:51 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Mine took about a month flat.
You don't need to watch over them.
I actually advise not too because time goes slow.
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capzman95
Stranger

Registered: 05/03/14
Posts: 104
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21785559 - 06/09/15 08:52 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I didn't use anything over the holes and the cakes came out fine.
That's what the dry verm layer is for.
Just make sure not to shake your jars.
Edited by capzman95 (06/09/15 09:00 PM)
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mushpunx
Fungus Punk



Registered: 04/20/14
Posts: 13,394
Last seen: 11 days, 11 hours
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21785570 - 06/09/15 08:54 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
kingbovril said: By the way, what's everyones' experiences with using synthetic filter discs? It seems like a lot of people use them underneath the mason jar lid rather than in place of one. Does this make me more at risk for contamination?
SFDs are great. You either drill a hole in lid, and put SFD over it between band and lid
The preferd way, especially bevause it stretchs your SFDs, you cut a circle the size of nickle, quarter etc.. drill a hole in plastic mason jar lid and glue in place with silicone
But this is more for grain jars. Not PF tek jars usually
--------------------
 Amateur Mycologists United AMU Q&A
Edited by mushpunx (06/09/15 08:55 PM)
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: mushpunx]
#21857144 - 06/25/15 08:55 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks for the advice everyone! So, oddly enough, some of my jars had started pinning before full colonization. After looking this up and what others had done, I decided to skip to the dunk and role step of the process (keep in mind that not all of my jars weren't fully colonized, about half of them were close to completion anyway). So yesterday I soaked the cakes in pure water for 24 hrs, and today I just rolled them in verm when I got home from work and put them in my fruiting chamber. After waiting about 30 mins. I heavily misted the cakes and closed the lid. I'll post a bunch of pics at the bottom, so if you guys see anything concerning please let me know. Also, my fifth (and last) cake is still colonizing and hasn't started pinning either, so it's still in my closet which is why only four cakes are in the fruiting chamber. Also, I'm so happy that I didn't have any contamination for my first time! I know the pf tek is pretty fool proof, but damn does it feel good, so thanks for the help guys! 
Pic of my fruiting chamber (I think it has enough holes in it)

Another, closer pic of my fruiting chamber

My hobby room, lol. I have way too much time on my hands...

Top-down view of the cakes, hadn't misted them yet.
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mush madness
absorbing everything



Registered: 05/22/15
Posts: 252
Loc: Brazil
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21857262 - 06/25/15 09:17 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Looks like your holes are not spaced at 2 inch, are there any on the bottom?
You need to elevate the sgfc 6 inches
You need 5 inches of perlite
And need to trim back the foil
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: mush madness]
#21857367 - 06/25/15 09:35 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
mush madness said: Looks like your holes are not spaced at 2 inch, are there any on the bottom?
You need to elevate the sgfc 6 inches
You need 5 inches of perlite
And need to trim back the foil
No, they aren't 2 inches apart. They're about 4 inches apart and I don't have holes on the bottom, I didn't want perlite to leak out... Damn. Also, what does sgfc mean?
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2shoes
The anti-agar



Registered: 04/07/11
Posts: 3,124
Loc: Not in a SAB
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21857381 - 06/25/15 09:37 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Shot gun fruiting chamber
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lovesquare
Love²

Registered: 06/04/15
Posts: 556
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21857392 - 06/25/15 09:38 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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shotgun fruiting chamber hence the wholes every 2 inches on all 6 sides, dont worry about leakage let your perlite drip dry and just put a couple paper towels under it and lift it about half a foot off of the surface. Don't forget to fan after misting.
-------------------- If you go down round the bend in the river, You're gonna find a few changes been going down there. If you go down to the gas-powered flatland, Where most of the people just think that they're free, Remember the peace that you had on the mountain, Come back to the love that you had here with me...
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: lovesquare]
#21857444 - 06/25/15 09:47 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Gotcha! Thanks for the quick replies guys. Does this need to be done ASAP or can I wait for tomorrow? Also, I have a ceiling fan in the room that pretty much runs all day at almost full power. You think that's sufficient?
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lovesquare
Love²

Registered: 06/04/15
Posts: 556
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21857462 - 06/25/15 09:50 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Fan will help if you need to wait until tomorrow, but may effect the humidity once proper drilling is done. Just test with a hygrometer once its fixed.
-------------------- If you go down round the bend in the river, You're gonna find a few changes been going down there. If you go down to the gas-powered flatland, Where most of the people just think that they're free, Remember the peace that you had on the mountain, Come back to the love that you had here with me...
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,810
Loc: Canada
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: lovesquare]
#21857517 - 06/25/15 10:00 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Don't run a fan, that will dry it all out. It can wait until tomorrow when you fix the chamber.
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kingbovril
Bovinoid



Registered: 04/04/14
Posts: 126
Loc: Southern California
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: lovesquare]
#21857656 - 06/25/15 10:29 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
lovesquare said: Fan will help if you need to wait until tomorrow, but may effect the humidity once proper drilling is done. Just test with a hygrometer once its fixed.
Ok, thanks. I just ordered an analog hygrometer off amazon, but it won't arrive until monday... Is it really an important tool or can I go without it? Also, what's an ideal reading on a hygrometer for cubensis cultivation?
AND... you guys are giving me conflicting opinions on the fan haha. I'm just gonna play it safe and leave it off for the time being
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mush madness
absorbing everything



Registered: 05/22/15
Posts: 252
Loc: Brazil
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: kingbovril]
#21857670 - 06/25/15 10:32 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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quote]kingbovril said:
Quote:
lovesquare said: Fan will help if you need to wait until tomorrow, but may effect the humidity once proper drilling is done. Just test with a hygrometer once its fixed.
Ok, thanks. I just ordered an analog hygrometer off amazon, but it won't arrive until monday... Is it really an important tool or can I go without it? Also, what's an ideal reading on a hygrometer for cubensis cultivation?
AND... you guys are giving me conflicting opinions on the fan haha. I'm just gonna play it safe and leave it off for the time being
They are useless
Fan is no good with a sgfc
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,810
Loc: Canada
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Re: My first attempt at growing mushrooms (brf tek-based) [Re: mush madness]
#21857698 - 06/25/15 10:36 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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There is no conflict. One person is wrong. Don't run a fan even with a poorly constructed SGFC. Especially one with no holes in the bottom. The bottom holes provide the humidity so without them a fan is even more harmful than it normally would be.
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