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swatsqad
What title? Where? whatt.



Registered: 07/09/15
Posts: 194
Loc: EU
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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PF Tek guide question about expanding (:
#21918393 - 07/09/15 08:12 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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I've just ordered a cubensis b+ spore syringe, and in preparation to start home growing, I have read the PF Tek guide, however I do feel that they were lacking some vital (for me) information, - expanding the crop. My question is, how does one keep growing the mushies after using the single syringe to start it off? cloning? or..? should I have a predetermined amount of "cakes" to grow (by mixing the now colonized vermiculate)? and lastly, does using a pot, instead of a PC increase the risk of contamination? Thank you in advance for any kind of response!
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rudeboi
Noob

Registered: 05/17/14
Posts: 107
Loc: North BC
Last seen: 5 months, 13 days
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Re: PF Tek guide question about expanding (: [Re: swatsqad]
#21918449 - 07/09/15 08:33 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
swatsqad said: I've just ordered a cubensis b+ spore syringe, and in preparation to start home growing, I have read the PF Tek guide, however I do feel that they were lacking some vital (for me) information, - expanding the crop. My question is, how does one keep growing the mushies after using the single syringe to start it off? cloning? or..? should I have a predetermined amount of "cakes" to grow (by mixing the now colonized vermiculate)? and lastly, does using a pot, instead of a PC increase the risk of contamination? Thank you in advance for any kind of response!
Hi,
Welcome here. 1 - To expand your crop there are different options, as a novice making a spore print would be the best to begin with. This would allow you make more spore syringes. Cloning may be a bit advanced for you right now.
2 - When you begin prepping you jars, you are essentially pre-determining the amount you will work with
3 - Using a pot instead of a PC is possible but the chances for contamination are much higher. The PC is an enclosed pressurized unit that uses the steam to sterilize. Using a pot the lid will begin to shake as pressure begins to build allowing outside air into the pot.
Hope this helps. I would try a few runs of cakes to get your feet wet before moving up to more advanced teks. The more advanced you get the more need for a PC.
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swatsqad
What title? Where? whatt.



Registered: 07/09/15
Posts: 194
Loc: EU
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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Re: PF Tek guide question about expanding (: [Re: rudeboi]
#21918504 - 07/09/15 08:53 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
rudeboi said:
Quote:
swatsqad said: I've just ordered a cubensis b+ spore syringe, and in preparation to start home growing, I have read the PF Tek guide, however I do feel that they were lacking some vital (for me) information, - expanding the crop. My question is, how does one keep growing the mushies after using the single syringe to start it off? cloning? or..? should I have a predetermined amount of "cakes" to grow (by mixing the now colonized vermiculate)? and lastly, does using a pot, instead of a PC increase the risk of contamination? Thank you in advance for any kind of response!
Hi,
Welcome here. 1 - To expand your crop there are different options, as a novice making a spore print would be the best to begin with. This would allow you make more spore syringes. Cloning may be a bit advanced for you right now.
2 - When you begin prepping you jars, you are essentially pre-determining the amount you will work with
3 - Using a pot instead of a PC is possible but the chances for contamination are much higher. The PC is an enclosed pressurized unit that uses the steam to sterilize. Using a pot the lid will begin to shake as pressure begins to build allowing outside air into the pot.
Hope this helps. I would try a few runs of cakes to get your feet wet before moving up to more advanced teks. The more advanced you get the more need for a PC.
Thank you for the amazing answers! Will go try to find myself a PC
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Machiavelliavore
Vermiculite Hater



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 3,038
Loc: The Sporetorn States
Last seen: 3 months, 19 days
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Re: PF Tek guide question about expanding (: [Re: swatsqad]
#21918552 - 07/09/15 09:10 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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My question is, how does one keep growing the mushies after using the single syringe to start it off? cloning? or..? should I have a predetermined amount of "cakes" to grow (by mixing the now colonized vermiculate)?
A spore syringe is good for about 12 cakes worth. I would make 10 incase you screw up your sub or your steaming, you still have 2 attempts left with your syringe to succeed and get a viable print to restart the process.
Here's what I'd do in your shoes about perpetuating your grow: a) Simply spore printing your mushrooms then making a new syringe is pretty easy. Popping the cap right into a ziplock seems like the best idea to me. Take many prints, no reason not to provide yourself with plenty of opportunities incase you have problems.
b) Getting a clean spore print may not be the easiest thing but there are options. Making a liquid culture is another one. LC can easily harbor contaminants. These are basically just crapshoots to see if you get lucky, cause what's a spoon of honey, honey? Make one with a single drop from your vendor and presumably cleaner spore syringe, and one clone attempt with a needle biopsy. I would test each of these on a cake (assuming they don't appear contaminated,) as if you do get a clean LC, it would be far preferable, faster, and easily perpetuated, compared to using an open air print syringe.
c) The best option would be to build yourself a still air box (only a 7$ tote is required,) grab some agar, get yourself a nice clone plate, then drop that into LC or make LI with it if you still wanna use cakes. You could even use a cardboard box with a trashbag stapled over the surface and plastic wrap on the open side and probably execute this.
d) There might be some good options for making LI with cakes. I think the verm barrier and lack of airbox will make it tricky to do though.
and lastly, does using a pot, instead of a PC increase the risk of contamination?
It is true, a pressure cooker would be better, but the main point to PF tek is that you don't need a pressure cooker or anything special to be successful. Tape the lid down on the pot to keep the pressure up inside. I won't be held responsible for any exploded pots 
P.S. I would seriously consider using plastic containers with silicon injection ports. You can ditch the top layer of verm, and it should be a cleaner inoculation. Screw tops from the dollarstore are great, the lids can be slightly unscrewed to allow steam in and GE. They also float in water, so no need to stop them from hitting the bottom of the pot, just put a foil donut around them to stop them from hitting the sides.
I'd also suggest doing some kind of coir spawning in a minitub or an invitro grow and skipping the whole SGFC, it's expensive, tedious, and space inefficient.
--------------------
I spawned some popcorn casings and had double-overlay cause I didn't put enough hydrogen peroxide in my automated aquarium mister. I only got one mushroom so I cut off the head part where the seeds fall from and put it in a jar of LC and sprayed it all over a tin of PF cakes I made with gravel, cardboard, and bisquick in my microwave. I think it will be good cause B+ is so potent. Triggered yet? Only a square would say "a cube is a cube."
No, this does not look right...
Edited by Machiavelliavore (07/09/15 09:14 AM)
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swatsqad
What title? Where? whatt.



Registered: 07/09/15
Posts: 194
Loc: EU
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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Quote:
Machiavelliavore said: My question is, how does one keep growing the mushies after using the single syringe to start it off? cloning? or..? should I have a predetermined amount of "cakes" to grow (by mixing the now colonized vermiculate)?
A spore syringe is good for about 12 cakes worth. I would make 10 incase you screw up your sub or your steaming, you still have 2 attempts left with your syringe to succeed and get a viable print to restart the process.
Here's what I'd do in your shoes about perpetuating your grow: a) Simply spore printing your mushrooms then making a new syringe is pretty easy. Popping the cap right into a ziplock seems like the best idea to me. Take many prints, no reason not to provide yourself with plenty of opportunities incase you have problems.
b) Getting a clean spore print may not be the easiest thing but there are options. Making a liquid culture is another one. LC can easily harbor contaminants. These are basically just crapshoots to see if you get lucky, cause what's a spoon of honey, honey? Make one with a single drop from your vendor and presumably cleaner spore syringe, and one clone attempt with a needle biopsy. I would test each of these on a cake (assuming they don't appear contaminated,) as if you do get a clean LC, it would be far preferable, faster, and easily perpetuated, compared to using an open air print syringe.
c) The best option would be to build yourself a still air box (only a 7$ tote is required,) grab some agar, get yourself a nice clone plate, then drop that into LC or make LI with it if you still wanna use cakes. You could even use a cardboard box with a trashbag stapled over the surface and plastic wrap on the open side and probably execute this.
d) There might be some good options for making LI with cakes. I think the verm barrier and lack of airbox will make it tricky to do though.
and lastly, does using a pot, instead of a PC increase the risk of contamination?
It is true, a pressure cooker would be better, but the main point to PF tek is that you don't need a pressure cooker or anything special to be successful. Tape the lid down on the pot to keep the pressure up inside. I won't be held responsible for any exploded pots 
P.S. I would seriously consider using plastic containers with silicon injection ports. You can ditch the top layer of verm, and it should be a cleaner inoculation. Screw tops from the dollarstore are great, the lids can be slightly unscrewed to allow steam in and GE. They also float in water, so no need to stop them from hitting the bottom of the pot, just put a foil donut around them to stop them from hitting the sides.
I'd also suggest doing some kind of coir spawning in a minitub or an invitro grow and skipping the whole SGFC, it's expensive, tedious, and space inefficient.
oh my, I will bookmark this and try to make myself some notes tomorrow. thank you a million!
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