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Eesma
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First cultivation attempt - PF Tek (Updated)
#21853307 - 06/25/15 12:09 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hi all,
I'm currently in the process of attempting my first mushroom cultivation. This is day 17 and I took my jars out of the chamber for the second time (initially checked on day 8 but with no luck) to check on their progress and 4/5 of the jars have some growth, which is pretty exciting. I guess I just wanted to start a thread to update my progress and get any tips/opinions as it continues.
I used the PF Tek For Simple Minds, as I am a total noob and wanted to start out simple. I believe the strain to be P. Cubensis. I was unable to source a spore print so instead created a spore syringe from a capsule of dried mushroom. The caps were certainly active and not from woodlovers. Given the location, the most likely culprit would be Cubes but only time will tell. Either way, just seeing life grow is exciting.
Happy to answer and questions or take any advice on board.

Edited by Eesma (07/07/15 08:10 AM)
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insanemike

Registered: 02/23/14
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21853330 - 06/25/15 12:14 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Take the tin foil off and leave jars in the open on a shelf or something. Incubating is out dated and not needed. Room temperature is fine for colonization.
Edited by insanemike (06/25/15 12:15 AM)
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matsc
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21853345 - 06/25/15 12:20 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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In future attempts I suggest smaller chunk vermiculite. Gives you a greater surface area ratio with similar aeration properties.
It also looks like you may have sludged things up a bit while mixing. Your goal should be to have wet vermiculite (should just barely drip when you squeeze a handful), then carefully coat each bit of it with dry rice flour. Slowly add the flour a bit at a time, mixing continuously. The final product should resemble sand, relatively loose and crumbly. If you get things too wet, or just toss in all the flour at once and stir away, you can gum things up. This could potentially lead to trouble down the line.
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: insanemike]
#21853349 - 06/25/15 12:21 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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The glasses have two layers of foil on them and no proper lid, as per the Tek for Simple Minds. The first layer has the holes through which the glasses were inoculated and then another to prevent contamination.
Given that, is it safe to remove the foil at this stage?
Also, it's the middle of Winter here at the moment and room temperature is often around 10-14 degrees Celsius. The chamber has them sitting at around 25 degrees. Is leaving them out in these temps going to slow/halt growth?
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: matsc]
#21853354 - 06/25/15 12:23 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks matsc. I'll keep that in mind for the next one.
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matsc
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: matsc]
#21853367 - 06/25/15 12:28 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Oh you wacky southern hemispherers and your winter in June. Yeah 10-14 is rather chilly, so if you've got a warm spot picked out, it wont hurt. 20-25 is a pretty happy range for most fungi.
And given that you're using a glass rather than a jar, may as well leave the foil on. The vermiculite layer should do most of the work of keeping contaminants out, but if you just open it you'd dry out quick.
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ShroominMe
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21853375 - 06/25/15 12:34 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm not a fan of that tek but if you have growth that's a good thing. Seems like it's going to take quite a while to achieve full colonization.
While you're waiting I suggest giving the regular PF Tek a try.
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: ShroominMe]
#21853473 - 06/25/15 01:13 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I think matsc probably nailed it in his first comment. The mixing of the BRF and Verm could have been more meticulous. It's probably not helping the speed of the growth.
I'll definitely try the standard PF Tek for the next one, though I don't mind the waiting. I'm sure it will be worth it in the end, whether I manage to fruit on this attempt or the 10th haha.
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Bruiser05
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21853715 - 06/25/15 03:54 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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That's a good attitude to have. Lots of waiting coming to you, but if you stick with it you will not be disappointed.
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21908646 - 07/07/15 08:09 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Update #1
Day 29.
The jar that was beginning to show a reasonable amount of mycelium is now miles ahead of the pack, more than halfway colonised. The rest are at varying stages but all have growth.
The pics below are of two of the healthiest looking jars and one that I'm fairly certain is contaminated after comparing it to some images on the boards. It's already out on my balcony to get it out of the house but I was hoping to get a confirmation before throwing it out.
The most growth of all the jars.


Contamination?
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TravelAgency
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21908702 - 07/07/15 08:31 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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The bottom one is definitely contamination. It looks like your sub is too wet, also you used SUPER coarse verm- not ideal- and I can't really tell if there is brf in there, doesn't really look like it...
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: TravelAgency]
#21908718 - 07/07/15 08:39 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Yeah, it's a little too coarse. matsc brought that up in a previous comment. There's definitely brf in there but it probably wasn't mixed well enough. Both points to take on board for the next one, but I figured I'd let this one play out and see how it goes.
And thanks for the confirmation. Fingers crossed the rest stay contaminant free.
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TravelAgency
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21908724 - 07/07/15 08:41 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Did you bring the Verm up to Field capacity before mixing it with brf?
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: TravelAgency]
#21908736 - 07/07/15 08:46 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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I believe so. I tried to ensure the verm was soaked through and only the tiniest amount of water could be seen when the bowl was tilted.
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TravelAgency
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: Eesma]
#21908747 - 07/07/15 08:50 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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I (and it appears many others) like to be a little on the dry side. Only put enough so that when you squeeze it, only a few drops come out. I'm pretty sure the bowl tilting if I remember correctly is pretty old info.
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Eesma
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Re: First cultivation attempt - PF Tek [Re: TravelAgency]
#21908763 - 07/07/15 08:55 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Ok, cool. Thanks for the advice mate. This first attempt has been a great learning experience, if nothing else.
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