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JAH2016
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Registered: 11/09/18
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Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps)
#25602391 - 11/09/18 06:35 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hi fellow shroomers
Thank you so much for looking at this post.
I have been googling and searching this forum extensively on an issue I'm encountering.
I have been growing Ecuadorian Psilocybe Cubensis in a growkit (it's my first time trying out).
Initially, four pins appeared and grew at a normal rate. After 2 days a host of other pins appeared. On the 3rd day all growth stopped. I noticed that quite a few mushrooms were growing on the sides and underneath.
The growkit as it looked, when growth stopped:

Being inexperienced, I worried that this "undergrowth" would rot, and so I picked them and left the ones on top. After 5 days neither pins nor the initial four shrooms grew at all. I figured they were aborts and harvested everything - hoping to get a 2nd flush (this is still to be seen).
As far as I could tell, none of the caps opened on any of all the mushrooms. Except that one single from the "undergrowth" was ever so slightly open. I am imagining that no spores would be released at this point in their maturation.
I looked over my harvest, and the "undergrowth", which are shown in the picture below, looked bruised. All fine by me. But after handling them a little bit, black colouration appeared. I was curious to see if it was spores, which I imagined would be a "dust" on the surface that I could smudge around. I could do that indeed.
Harvest of the mushrooms growing underneath and on the sides

The mushrooms that I harvested on top of the cake had no black discolouration.
After harvesting, I dried everything.
"Undergrowth", dried (note: a few caps opened due to drying):

Top, dried (note: a few caps opened due to drying)

I hope you guys have encountered something similar to what you're seeing on the images: that the stems is the only part of the mushrooms being discoloured in a black tone that can be smudged rather than a dark blue tone. And, important in regards to the colouration, no caps have been properly open to release spores.
Question 1 : is the black mold or spores or something entirely else? Question 2: can I attempt a second flush after my first flush was nothing but aborts?
I really, really appreciate your attention! Thanks once again.
Best, JAH
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Details: The temperature was on a steady 75 Fahrenheit / 24 Celsius. I opened the bag once or twice a day and misted on the sides of the plastic bag. I have no stats on the humidity. There is no noticeable smell to any of all the mushrooms, "undergrowth" or above.
Edited by JAH2016 (11/09/18 06:39 AM)
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puff4200
Natural born lever puller

Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 1,269
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602396 - 11/09/18 06:40 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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I didn't read your book (not many people will try to shorten that next time)
I see nothing wrong with your mushrooms I'd eat them, you can do a second slush worst comes to worst it turns green.
This is really a sad grow. Try doing pf Tek next time rather than kits you'll do better. If you want to try again, it looks dry as hell so I'd pour water in the container, let it sit for 30-60 minutes and pour it out.
Just remember kits suck
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JAH2016
Stranger
Registered: 11/09/18
Posts: 6
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: puff4200]
#25602404 - 11/09/18 06:46 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks puf4200. I appreciate you looking over the pictures!
I will definitely drop growkits next time. Thanks for encouraging me.
Re: Book: Haha... I thought a detailed description would help anyone in the future encountering a similar phenomenon -- rather than me just asking for a quick look and judgment. But I hear you.
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puff4200
Natural born lever puller

Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 1,269
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602408 - 11/09/18 06:52 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Giving background to the situation is good. Its just most new people that post like to write books. Then most the time the question doesn't get answered because no one wants to read it. Just figured I'd give you a heads up up.
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JAH2016
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Registered: 11/09/18
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: puff4200]
#25602409 - 11/09/18 06:54 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Got it. Thanks for introducing me so kindly to this forum. Appreciate it.
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Sellith
The False Dawn



Registered: 04/28/09
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602437 - 11/09/18 07:12 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Did the growkit come with some sort of humidity dome? Did you use it?
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JAH2016
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: Sellith]
#25602471 - 11/09/18 07:41 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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It did. Just took out the kit to take pictures. Sorry if that was unclear.
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Shroomspective
Looking into the void



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Posts: 1,725
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602492 - 11/09/18 08:02 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Looks like bruising..nothing to worry about. Your substrate looks fairly dry, have you been misting? If it has no growth at the moment, dunk it under water for 12-18 hours and then it should have a second flush. Also make sure you have plenty of FAE, so whatever tub you are growing in needs fresh air movement
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puff4200
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Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 1,269
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: Shroomspective]
#25602523 - 11/09/18 08:27 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Wow you do a long dunk, have you ever compared 12 hours to 1 hour? I used to do it almost that long but never noticed a difference. Seems like most people moved away from a dunk to a heavy mist and just pouring a touch of water down the side.
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Shroomspective
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: puff4200]
#25602531 - 11/09/18 08:33 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Not with a sub that size..its more akin to a cake, rather than a mono. I'd dunk it for a long time as you need the water to get right into it
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JAH2016
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Registered: 11/09/18
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Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: Shroomspective]
#25602532 - 11/09/18 08:36 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thank you Shroomspective for taking the time. I have been misting, yes. I tried to avoid doing it directly on the fruit. Perhaps I should be a bit more generous.
Since it's dry, I'm gonna aim for somewhere between 12-18h for the dunk. Thanks for the advice.
I'll also try to fan more + mist more so as to not dry it out from the fanning.
I am really floored by how helpful you guys are in here for a newbie like myself! Thanks.
Edited by JAH2016 (11/09/18 08:37 AM)
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Shroomspective
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602543 - 11/09/18 08:42 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Great...When you mist, mist the sub and the pins..That's how it is in nature, and this just attempts to recreate approx conditions..A dunk should get you back on track, then only mist when it looks dry..then wait until it looks dry and mist again etc. Fanning isn't needed, just adjust your lid, or make holes in your bag, to allow enough circulation of air to promote evaporation..Basically if it does not dry out after misting within 12 hours there is no enough, if it dries quicker, then too much..Dialling it in basically
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JAH2016
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Registered: 11/09/18
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Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: Shroomspective]
#25602568 - 11/09/18 08:59 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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I'm trying to read as closely as I can what you're saying so as to not waste anyone's time. But I'm a little unsure about two of your advices.
1:
Quote:
Fanning isn't needed, just adjust your lid, or make holes in your bag, to allow enough circulation of air to promote evaporation..
Is there a name for the technique of making the holes in the bag, so I can find the instructions in here? I looked at your pictures in your signature, and I see cotton balls on the plastic box walls. Are you suggesting I'm doing something similar on either side of the plastic bag? The bag already has these pierced lines, however the flow of air that goes through is minimal.

2:
Quote:
Basically if it does not dry out after misting within 12 hours there is no enough, if it dries quicker, then too much..Dialling it in basically
EDIT: I realise now you're referring to circulation here. But still, to be clear: are you saying that if it doesn't dry out around 12h, the holes for circulation aren't big enough. If the substrate dries out much quicker than 12h, then the holes are too big. Correct?
Thank you again for using your time on my problems. I hope I can be of help to you at some point.
Edited by JAH2016 (11/09/18 09:09 AM)
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Shroomspective
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: JAH2016]
#25602579 - 11/09/18 09:10 AM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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Have a look at the Easy AF Shoeboxes in my sig, that's the closest to what you are doing with your grow..A tray and a bag is all you need
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Sellith
The False Dawn



Registered: 04/28/09
Posts: 1,066
Loc: The Void
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Mold? Black discolouration on stems (not caps) [Re: Shroomspective]
#25603256 - 11/09/18 02:09 PM (6 years, 2 months ago) |
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I think maybe the mushrooms curled up like that because it was too dry. But I'm not sure. Cause I've never seen mushrooms curl like that and stop mid-growth - either way goodluck and it's most likely indeed what the others are saying, just dialing in the moisture and fresh air exchange. In my experience you don't need to poke holes in the bags at all, but mine came with the top open and 2 paperclips holding the top together. That way I could clip it tighter or looser to mess with the FAE.
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