|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
uninc4life2010
Unincorporated



Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1,124
Last seen: 7 months, 12 days
|
8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong?
#21995297 - 07/25/15 01:34 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
So I pressure cooked them at 15 psi for 1 hour and 15 minutes, I wiped my golvebox down with alcohol, then soap and water before placing the jars inside. I flame sterilized the needle before each injection. I'm not really sure what went wrong. Could the spore syringe have just been contaminated?
Before pressure cooking, I covered the lid holes with tape, and I inoculated through one of the tape holes. While still in the glovebox, I covered the injection site with another piece of tape to seal it back again. Only one of my jars does not appear to harbor any contamination. Any ideas on what went wrong with this?


|
Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: uninc4life2010]
#21995357 - 07/25/15 01:54 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Did you cover the lids with foil an raise them out of the water in the pressure cooker?
Have you been handling the jars a lot?
The verm layer could have been shifted or got wet, its also a possibility that the syringe was contaminated but it doesnt look like it came from the injection. It looks like it started from the top
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
|
Peter Pan
I wear tights!


Registered: 05/26/15
Posts: 122
Loc: nevernever land
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Toadstool5]
#21995365 - 07/25/15 01:56 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
It does look like moisture coming from the top down. Foil?
-------------------- Second to the right and then straight on till morning!
|
invitro

Registered: 05/03/13
Posts: 2,529
Last seen: 1 month, 21 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Peter Pan]
#21995405 - 07/25/15 02:06 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Just out of curiosity, what is your normal success rate? I'm assuming you have done this before.
|
uninc4life2010
Unincorporated



Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1,124
Last seen: 7 months, 12 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Toadstool5]
#21995531 - 07/25/15 02:39 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
invitro said: Just out of curiosity, what is your normal success rate? I'm assuming you have done this before.
This is the second time I've done the PF Tek, and last time, only one out of 7 jars were contaminated.
Quote:
Toadstool5 said: Did you cover the lids with foil an raise them out of the water in the pressure cooker?
Have you been handling the jars a lot?
The verm layer could have been shifted or got wet, its also a possibility that the syringe was contaminated but it doesnt look like it came from the injection. It looks like it started from the top
I haven't really handled the jars much. I covered the tops with foil, but I did not raise them out of the water when they were pressure cooking. I guess it could have been moisture the got through the tape.
|
Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: uninc4life2010]
#21995627 - 07/25/15 03:02 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Thats probably the culprit. Even when i raise mine with two sets of jar lids and cover with foil i get some moisture. If you dont raise them enough the water can splash up under the foil and pull bacteria down into the uncolonized brf/verm.
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
|
Psilosoulful

Registered: 09/05/14
Posts: 7,205
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Toadstool5]
#21995727 - 07/25/15 03:14 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
And you are using the wrong size jar, half pint wide mouth jars are ideal. The mycelium will take longer to colonize a jar that size and it'll be a bitch trying to birth a cake outta there(the sides are too narrow).
|
Psilosoulful

Registered: 09/05/14
Posts: 7,205
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Psilosoulful]
#21995762 - 07/25/15 03:18 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
The best for pf tek:
Edited by Psilosoulful (07/25/15 03:20 PM)
|
cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Peter Pan]
#21995818 - 07/25/15 03:24 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
looks like bacteria
--------------------
  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
|
GreenRabbit
Plutonium Pollinator



Registered: 04/28/13
Posts: 2,667
Loc: In a forest
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: uninc4life2010]
#21995876 - 07/25/15 03:39 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
When I did PF tek, this happened a lot to me when my water content was too high.
The PF tek recipe always made them soaking wet for some reason, so I stopped measuring and eyeballed how much water to add. Takes some experience, but once you know how wet the verm should feel it becomes easier.
Are you mixing your verm and BRF before adding water? It works best when you start with verm, get it wet, then add the BRF and load.
|
uninc4life2010
Unincorporated



Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1,124
Last seen: 7 months, 12 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: cronicr]
#21995901 - 07/25/15 03:44 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Yeah, definitely bacteria. But, I feel like plenty of people have used the 1/2 pint jars with success, although I do see the advantage of using the smaller sized jars like you pictured.
|
Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: GreenRabbit]
#21995906 - 07/25/15 03:45 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Are you mixing your verm and BRF before adding water? It works best when you start with verm, get it wet, then add the BRF and load.
This is very important too! It can get anaerobic wet spots for bacteria to thrive
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
|
uninc4life2010
Unincorporated



Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1,124
Last seen: 7 months, 12 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: GreenRabbit]
#21995908 - 07/25/15 03:45 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
GreenRabbit said:
When I did PF tek, this happened a lot to me when my water content was too high.
The PF tek recipe always made them soaking wet for some reason, so I stopped measuring and eyeballed how much water to add. Takes some experience, but once you know how wet the verm should feel it becomes easier.
Are you mixing your verm and BRF before adding water? It works best when you start with verm, get it wet, then add the BRF and load.
Yeah, I used the recipe in RR's mushroom video. In the future, I would do what you said, only add just enough water until it comes to field capacity. Also, no I did not mix before adding water. I definitely should have, though. It made mixing everything together much more difficult.
Edited by uninc4life2010 (07/25/15 03:46 PM)
|
cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: uninc4life2010]
#21995914 - 07/25/15 03:46 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
no....cakes are not done at field capacity, it's fine to getthe verm to field capacity but even easier to just follow the recipe
--------------------
  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
|
Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: cronicr]
#21995947 - 07/25/15 03:55 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
no....cakes are not done at field capacity, it's fine to getthe verm to field capacity but even easier to just follow the recipe
'nuff said!
Following to the T is the best thing to do
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
|
Machiavelliavore
Vermiculite Hater



Registered: 12/08/14
Posts: 3,038
Loc: The Sporetorn States
Last seen: 3 months, 20 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: GreenRabbit]
#21995979 - 07/25/15 04:01 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
GreenRabbit said:
When I did PF tek, this happened a lot to me when my water content was too high.
The PF tek recipe always made them soaking wet for some reason, so I stopped measuring and eyeballed how much water to add. Takes some experience, but once you know how wet the verm should feel it becomes easier.
Are you mixing your verm and BRF before adding water? It works best when you start with verm, get it wet, then add the BRF and load.
While I actually checked my field cap the first time I did PF tek, my fine vigoro vermiculite is way too wet at 2:1. Better at like, 2.3-2.5 : 1 or something. Also Verm -> Flour -> Water is a recipe for worthless goo, IME. Always go Verm -> Water -> Flour
Could still be dirty inoculant though.
Technically PF isn't supposed to be done at field capacity but it worked fine for me. Cron, do you have a definition for the hydration level PF is supposed to be done at, and where does that stand relative to field capacity? I thought 2:1 was the typical number given for vermiculite field cap in casing recipes/bulk sub recipes as well.
It seems to me field capacity has basically become synonymous with proper hydration, when proper hydration seems to usually be a touch under actual field capacity.
--------------------
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...
|
cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: Machiavelliavore]
#21996018 - 07/25/15 04:09 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
cakes are not done at field capacity when mixed properly at 2:1:1, they are damp at best, perhaps your verm is not even dry before you use it i've had that problem before and had to bake it in the oven before i used it, when the mix is all said and done you shouldn't be able to squeeze a drop out of it
--------------------
  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
|
uninc4life2010
Unincorporated



Registered: 06/05/10
Posts: 1,124
Last seen: 7 months, 12 days
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: cronicr]
#21996035 - 07/25/15 04:12 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
cronicr said: no....cakes are not done at field capacity, it's fine to getthe verm to field capacity but even easier to just follow the recipe
I'll make sure to keep this in mind next time.
|
JacobStorm
psychedelic cartel



Registered: 07/21/15
Posts: 1,499
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: cronicr]
#21996061 - 07/25/15 04:21 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Uninc. I'm sorry this is besides the point, but I'm gonna assume those picture is your signature space are not your grows? You know users only post those pictures there of grows they did them selves right?
-------------------- Rogger Rabbits Mushroom growing videos Ethnobotanical garden forum Inocuole tea TEK azur said: If you like 6th grade results, then 6th grade projects are great.
|
Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
|
Re: 8 out of 9 PF Tek jars appear contaminated. Any ideas on what went wrong? [Re: uninc4life2010]
#21996062 - 07/25/15 04:21 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
when the mix is all said and done you shouldn't be able to squeeze a drop out of it
Exactly, its less than field capacity so when you inject a ml its almost perfect for growth. Any jars i have done at field capacity compacted and stunted out
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
|
|