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MycoMax
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Registered: 11/08/15
Posts: 6
Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays
#22494568 - 11/08/15 07:48 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hello all!
I've been browsing this forum for a couple of months now, it was 5 weeks or so that I colonized my first pre-sterilized grain bags with Psilocybe Cubensis B+
After doing a bit of searching and reading, I decided I was going to buy all the kit to make my own grain jars up, it will pay itself off within the first few harvests (I can't get enough mushrooms!)
I had read that the bag kits were wasteful, as the grain sits too deep for it all to be of use, so once the bags were colonized, I pressure cooked some takeaway tubs and made some casing which consisted of
60% coir
40% fine verm
1tsp gypsum
I pressure cooked the casing too, just to be as clean as possible.
I lay down 1/2 inch layer of casing, poured the broken up grain onto this, levelling it out, then put a half inch layer of casing on top. The casing at the time was at the point of near saturation, and I squeezed it until it was only dripping a bit.
In one tray, I decided to do an experiment and cased half of it with the provided 'polymer mix', with some added gypsum. It turned out to be vermiculite and water gel. The trays were covered with tinfoil and left in my incubator at 28c for another 3 days.
On opening the trays, the coir/verm casings had colonised all over, with thick mycelium. There are only a couple of small patches within the polymer mix casing.
The trays were then put into my fruiting chamber (which may not be ideal), it is a plastic tub with holes packed loosely with pillow filler. I read this will stop any contams getting in, while allowing gas exchange - I also fan and mist the tub 3-4 times a day.
I have my first pins forming, however the casing looks a little dry. I have only been spraying the sides of the tub to keep the humidity up (never drops below 90%).
A couple of newby questions which i'm struggling to find the answer for
Is it OK to spray the casings at this point to return the moisture, or am I best waiting for the first flushes to finish?
Upon taking the first flush, I have heard of 'patching' - Is this filling the gaps where the mushrooms were picked, with fresh casing?
I have heard scraping the casing is bad, as the mycelium will put it's energy into re-colonising the casing rather than fruiting the second flush.
The tubs have gone from having what I believe was primordia? (tufts of mycelium sticking up) to my first pinheads overnight. I am really pleased with the results, and currently have some more jars colonising at the moment;
Koh Samui Equador Amazonian
I will keep posting pics throughout the remainder of the grow, I have grown cannabis for a few years and presumed mushrooms would be incredibly hard to produce. It's surprising what a dream can acheive!






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NDStepp84
Stellar nuclear waste


Registered: 04/23/15
Posts: 4,956
Last seen: 1 month, 3 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22494646 - 11/08/15 08:16 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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After your substrate is fully colonized it is contam resistant, a fruiting chamber is far from sterile. Definitely mist directly untill glistening, repeat when not. Do not patch after harvesting it could cause contaminates. Congratulations! You are on your way. As far as a fruiting chamber they would do much better in a SGFC, fresh air exchange makes a world of difference. Check out the link in my signature on how to construct and operate one properly. Like I said, open holes in the fruiting chamber will not cause them to contaminate.
Evaporation off the substrate is the major pinning trigger, FAE from a SGFC would provide plenty, just keep them misted to replace water lost from evaporation, good luck!
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"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. -Robert A. Heinlein
Links and teks ND's grow log and discussion Plant thread
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MycoMax
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Registered: 11/08/15
Posts: 6
Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: NDStepp84]
#22494719 - 11/08/15 08:42 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thankyou for your response
So I can spray directly onto the pinheads/mycelium/casing? I have read that spraying directly onto the pins can disrupt the pinsetting, there are not enough gaps in the mycelium to accurately spray the casing without hitting anything else. The casing has not changed colour (extreme drying) yet, but is no longer glistening.
Would bottled water be as good as distilled/boiled?
I'll go out and buy another tote to make a SGFC for the next lot of trays, it's good to know sterile conditions are not important at this stage as I have probably fanned a load of dust particles in there
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Psilosoulful

Registered: 09/05/14
Posts: 7,205
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: NDStepp84]
#22494721 - 11/08/15 08:42 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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For future trays, you want to patch the surface when the casing has colonized up to 30% and you want to introduce it to fruiting. Patch up the remaining areas and fruit immediately. This will ensure a more even pinset.
Spraying the sides of the tub will only keep the relative humidity inside the tub high. You want to mist the tub directly, to promote evaporation from the surface, and since you have a casing layer, the surface humidity will stay high and new pin formation will be encouraged.
Remember, casings don't need to be sterilized. Although the bulk sub is resistant to most contams, a sterilized surface layer will only invite contams to grow through the casing. That is why a pasteurized casing is always advised, so the "good" bacteria can survive and ward of unwanted contams.
The two trays on the right look good tho, so no worries there! But the one on the far left that you half-cased with water gel and verm looks weird. If you see any green, toss it immediately, or you'll have mold spores floating around your tub. Can you get a closer pic of that tray?
And you want to elevate those trays with some lids or a half pint jar. The perlite underneath needs to be exposed so you can keep that surface humidity high and promote better airflow throughout your tub.
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Psilosoulful

Registered: 09/05/14
Posts: 7,205
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22494745 - 11/08/15 08:48 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
MycoMax said: So I can spray directly onto the pinheads/mycelium/casing? I have read that spraying directly onto the pins can disrupt the pinsetting, there are not enough gaps in the mycelium to accurately spray the casing without hitting anything else. The casing has not changed colour (extreme drying) yet, but is no longer glistening.
Mist over the top of the tub, and let it fall down onto the surface. Make sure it's glistening to kickstart the pinning process. Remember, evaporation from the surface is a big pinning trigger.
Quote:
MycoMax said: Would bottled water be as good as distilled/boiled?
Regular tap water would work as well, it's not really a big deal, but I feel better spraying pure filtered water over my mushies 
Quote:
MycoMax said: I'll go out and buy another tote to make a SGFC for the next lot of trays, it's good to know sterile conditions are not important at this stage as I have probably fanned a load of dust particles in there
Haha, no worries, your trays are more than able to fight them.
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NDStepp84
Stellar nuclear waste


Registered: 04/23/15
Posts: 4,956
Last seen: 1 month, 3 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: Psilosoulful]
#22494763 - 11/08/15 08:52 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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You can mist fruits directly at all stages of growth, not misting is old info. You do not want pooling water, but mist directly with several pulls of the trigger untill glistening, repeat when not.
You could just modify your fruiting chamber now into a SGFC, you can sit your trays on the counter. They will be fine out for a while, dump out the perlite drill 1/4 inch holes 2" apart in a grid pattern on all 6 sides, replace the perlite and keep it elevated a few inches off the table, your first harvest would be much better if you did.
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"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. -Robert A. Heinlein
Links and teks ND's grow log and discussion Plant thread
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Psilosoulful

Registered: 09/05/14
Posts: 7,205
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: NDStepp84]
#22494880 - 11/08/15 09:35 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Make sure to elevate those trays off the perlite as well.
You want better airflow!
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MycoMax
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Registered: 11/08/15
Posts: 6
Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: Psilosoulful]
#22495247 - 11/08/15 11:21 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks again guys, I have made my chamber shotgun-style and added what dry perlite I had left.
Gave them a good top misting until the mycelium and casing were shining
The fruiting chamber is now sat on a metal table frame (top glass removed) so can get as much air as needed from underneath
Nipping out for a meal but will get some more pics including the experiment tray up once back
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MycoMax
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Registered: 11/08/15
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Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22495770 - 11/08/15 01:46 PM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Spent close to 2 hours hand-bore ing the tub, including the bottom and the lid. Approx 100 small holes on every side. I directly misted over the whole fruiting chamber, and the casing layers were glistening.
Some pics there of the 'experiment' tub - probably not a wise idea but it's a mistake to learn from and I will keep a keen eye out for mould.
Been out the house for a couple of hours and there already seems to be a lot more pins formed, the only thing I need to do now is find something to raise the individual takeaway tubs off the perlite.
I'm guessing now, to keep at the spraying until the trays are full of mushrooms?
I had too much grain for the 3 trays, so left a small amount in the 2 bags provided (which were in their own humidity bags), i've now moved these into the main FC as the bags seemed to dry out after a couple of hours
Fingers crossed I guess!
Again, thanks for the help and I will keep posting updates as things develop
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NDStepp84
Stellar nuclear waste


Registered: 04/23/15
Posts: 4,956
Last seen: 1 month, 3 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22495895 - 11/08/15 02:13 PM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Looking much better yeah keep misting throughout, give the perlite a good misting as well.
--------------------
"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. -Robert A. Heinlein
Links and teks ND's grow log and discussion Plant thread
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MycoMax
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/15
Posts: 6
Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: NDStepp84]
#22496369 - 11/08/15 03:57 PM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Is it worth trying to re-case the watergel/verm parts? It looks like im in for a nice yield so don't mind counting a loss but would it work?
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MycoMax
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Registered: 11/08/15
Posts: 6
Last seen: 8 years, 27 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22508517 - 11/11/15 09:22 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hey guys, a quick update on the trays
Here we are 3 days later, I have kept spraying and praying, the pins got bigger and bigger every day
I am now at a stage where, on one cake, there is a mushroom which seems a lot more mature than the rest, i'm not sure if it's veil has split? (the gills are visible)
The rest of the shrooms on the cake are immature, so i'm a bit stumped in regards to picking. Will it be wise to let the rest of the shrooms mature before picking them all and re-saturating for the second flush?
Really happy with the results, a few flushes like this will be a tasty christmas stash!
Thanks for all the help


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NDStepp84
Stellar nuclear waste


Registered: 04/23/15
Posts: 4,956
Last seen: 1 month, 3 days
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Re: First Grow - Cubensis B+ grain trays [Re: MycoMax]
#22508558 - 11/11/15 09:35 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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The single mushroom is good to be picked, harvest each mushroom individually as they mature. The rest still have some growing to do. After the first flush is finished and no more are growing, fill the tray with water for about 4 hours then dump all the water out. After that put back in the FC and wait for the next flush. Looking good, congratulations
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"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. -Robert A. Heinlein
Links and teks ND's grow log and discussion Plant thread
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