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lizarddad
Stranger
Registered: 10/30/16
Posts: 4
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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A few questions from a beginner
#23788268 - 10/31/16 11:26 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hello,
I've nearly completed my first grow utilizing PF Tek, with all my cakes nearing full colonization and with a couple invitro preemies in one cake. I have a few questions to increase the efficiency of my next grow if anyone has any answers for me or can point me in the right direction to research.
1. One of the bigger issues I had with my first grow was inconsistent spore inoculation. I used a 10ml spore syringe on 10 jars, and I found it difficult to give each jar a consistent amount of solution due to clogging of the needle, and this resulted in some jars colonizing much quicker than others, and one jar did not colonize at all. I plan on doing 24 or 36 jars for my next grow, and I was wondering whether or not it would be more favorable to stick with a lower volume of water and higher density of spores (1cc per jar) or a high volume of water with a low to medium density of spores (3-5cc per jar)? If the latter, would it be better to make a few spore prints on top of each other in one or two jars and make only 1 or 2 large syringes, or use only a few jars with one or two prints each and a few smaller syringes?
2. I left tape over my inoculation holes for the whole duration of the colonization period up until a couple days ago which I believe greatly inhibited the speed of colonization (It's been just over 40 days since inoculation and they're still not fully colonized. It also took them almost 2 weeks to begin colonizing at all) Is it favorable to leave tape over the inoculation holes for a certain period of time after inoculation (perhaps until colonization has begun) or just remove all tape immediately after inoculation?
3. I have read somewhere that establishing a day/night cycle for the mycelium aids in the fruiting cycle. Have you found more success/quicker colonization by leaving the jars in ambient light during the day hours, or leaving them in complete darkness until the birthday? If the former, have you found any difference in natural vs. artificial light?
I apologize at the length and detail of my questions, I'm just very interested in increasing my growing efficiency. Thank you very much for you time.
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mushboy
modboy



Registered: 04/24/05
Posts: 32,281
Loc: where?
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: lizarddad]
#23788285 - 10/31/16 11:33 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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for a pf 1/2 pint you need like 1/4cc of solution AT MOST. shake your syringes to break up clumps. adding extra solution fucks up the water content in pf jars.
what kind of tape? if you followed 100% pf tek you should have a dry verm layer. you do not need tape at all. the only tape in growing is micropore tape.. or masking tape to label things. 40days is hella long but thats pf for you. make sure to dunk them cakes!
regular ambient lighting for colonizing is fine. do not colonize in the dark.
not to sound like an asshole but based off what you wrote please provide how you plan to fruit these. i think you might need guidance.
better to be proactive then reactive
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: mushboy]
#23788301 - 10/31/16 11:39 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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you want to really increase efficiency I'd say learn easy agar and start doing grains. Its not hard, lots of good links on the subject in my sig
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Rye-Grass-Seed-Preparation (can be found just about anywhere as lawn/grass seed.) http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Grain-Preparation
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lizarddad
Stranger
Registered: 10/30/16
Posts: 4
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: mushboy]
#23788325 - 10/31/16 11:45 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Do you mean 1/4cc per hole or 1/4cc per jar (1/16cc per hole)? I only suggested using a higher volume of water since the author of the fanaticus site says he uses 3cc per jar.
I do have a dry verm layer, and I used masking tape. Initially I used it during sterilization to prevent water seepage, but left it on past inoculation since I didn't see anywhere that said to take it off and I was paranoid about contams.
My fruiting plan is dunk and roll then SGFC. I'm open to any and all advice since I'm a first timer, but I'd like to keep things as simple and cheap as possible since it is after all my first grow.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: lizarddad]
#23788339 - 10/31/16 11:50 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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I figured, just making sure you see the right links so you know where to proceed if you want to at a later date.
If you shop smart its a cheap hobby
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mushboy
modboy



Registered: 04/24/05
Posts: 32,281
Loc: where?
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: lizarddad]
#23788350 - 10/31/16 11:53 AM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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yah that fanaticus site is like 20years old. and oCtober is spelled wrong. 1/4 cc per jar.
3cc per jar is outdated and dumb. so is colonizing in the dark. masking tape choked your substrate hence the long colonizing times. jars need gas exchange.
i dig you got paranoid about contams but use science to dismiss fear. vermiculite is a rock. contams in mush cultivation do not grow on inanimate rock.
if you used a dry rice layer then common sense tells you whats next :p
EDIT: in fact that whole webpage... only the jar prep is ok. ignore everything after step 1.
Edited by mushboy (10/31/16 12:00 PM)
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: mushboy]
#23788381 - 10/31/16 12:02 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Take the masking tape off, let it breath. Foil your jar lids during pc cycles- that keeps the water out. The verm is the contam barrier.
And please, please, just learn grains and agar. Pf tek is poop.
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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crackbaby
shitpost aficionado



Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 12,994
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: mushboy]
#23788421 - 10/31/16 12:17 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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i think 1/4 cc per jar is too little. It will still work, but more slowly than if you do 1 cc per jar. To prevent the syringe from clogging, insert the needle through the hole at an angle so it goes through the verm layer and only the top few millimeters or so of the brf mix, and press the plunger once the tip is against the glass.
I've always left the masking tape on when doing pf tek, and once the jars were 3/4 colonized (or for any that seemed to be stalling), would loosen the lid, which often seemed to help move things along. One trick to use if most of the jar is colonized except for the bottom portion (especially if you're using the taller 1/2 pint ball jars which tend to take a while to colonize the bottom), is to turn the jar upside down and give it a few taps with your hand so that the cake slides down toward the lid. Usually after sitting upside down for 2-3 days, the bottom portion will be good to go.
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dankington
The Stranger




Registered: 03/14/15
Posts: 4,577
Loc: 8te
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: crackbaby]
#23788448 - 10/31/16 12:28 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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crackhead: less is more with spores. You really only need a drop.
If you leave tape on the holes, you're letting the dry verm layer get moist, rendering it ineffective as a filter.
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filthyknees
no coincidence


Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 6,283
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: dankington]
#23788482 - 10/31/16 12:38 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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I've tried innocing with a literal drop and it takes a good bit longer. I always used 1cc per quart jar ms>grain, but nowadays just one drop on agar
-------------------- But if you're in a hurry, and really got to go If you're in a hurry, might have to find out slow That it's one thing to try and another to fly You get there quicker just a step at a time It's one thing to bark, another to bite The show ain't over till you pack up at night
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dankington
The Stranger




Registered: 03/14/15
Posts: 4,577
Loc: 8te
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: filthyknees]
#23788489 - 10/31/16 12:41 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ah, that's true with a quart jar, I'd use .5-1cc. I was thinking OP had PF cakes.
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crackbaby
shitpost aficionado



Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 12,994
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Re: A few questions from a beginner [Re: dankington]
#23788492 - 10/31/16 12:41 PM (7 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
dankington said: crackhead: less is more with spores. You really only need a drop.
If you leave tape on the holes, you're letting the dry verm layer get moist, rendering it ineffective as a filter.
crackbaby* (Mr. crackbaby to you)
When you're new to this like the OP, it's very difficult and frustrating to try and do such a small amount per jar, since it takes some time to get the hang of using the syringe (when i first started out it took a while to get to where i could accurately control how much i put in each hole).
And i've always had success leaving the tape on the holes
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