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WilcoDW
Stranger
Registered: 11/19/18
Posts: 3
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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First time grower looking for advice
#25624852 - 11/19/18 09:03 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hi everyone, just made an account because I want to get into mushroom growing without using grow kits.
I have this grow kit growing right now, and they look strong and healthy, probably 3-5 days away from harvest or so. But I dont want to buy another grow kit after this one is done so I was looking into how to grow mushrooms and ran across this 3 hour long video that explains just about everything.
Now I would like to do a hybrid method, I want to make riceflour vermiculite jars to start with and then make a mono tub. That just seems to be the easiest method to me (the grain way requires more preperation).
And since the spores are so delicate and easily contaminated apparently I was thinking why dont I just drop a cloned piece of mycelium into the vermiculite "cake" to get it spawn. But some people seem to say that with the pf tek you NEED to use a liquid culture or something like that, which seems to only make it more complicated and prone to contamination.
I would love some general explanation and advice on how to get started, its all very new and overwhelming!
Thanks in advance!
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Failboat
Free man

Registered: 02/01/18
Posts: 8,736
Last seen: 1 month, 1 day
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25624867 - 11/19/18 09:12 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ok so your first step should be to read the Trusted Cultivators teks. Then create a SAB. If you don't know what something is on here Use The Search Function, UTSF. Agar is fundamental, and I reccomend the extra preparation required for grains as I find it the most convenient method. Come over to the oat side...
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Tormato  
Chairman of the Bored




Registered: 07/01/17
Posts: 6,106
Last seen: 2 days, 22 hours
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25624883 - 11/19/18 09:18 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Using mushroom tissue directly to BRF will likely lead to contamination based on the sample not being sterile. I would suggest a liquid inoculant either MS syringe, LC, or LI if you're wanting to go the BRF route first....look into Agar and grains moving forward...
-------------------- Helpful Threads
The Shroomery Store
Tormato's Q&A Thread Post Questions Here or PM me!
"Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been." ~ Grateful Dead
Before you start...Do you have a Pressure Cooker and a Dehydrator? I highly recommend getting both!
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Svetaketu
The Devil's Avocado 🥑



Registered: 10/08/15
Posts: 1,527
Loc: United States
Last seen: 1 day, 13 hours
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25624898 - 11/19/18 09:25 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Grains are really where it's at.
I realize the 90min PC time makes them kind of intimidating, but they really are awesome, and you'll need to get used to a pressure cooker if you wanna take this hobby very seriously at all.
With grains you can inoculate from agar wedges, and you can do grain to grain transfers to expand your spawn.
In my experience, they also colonize faster.
-------------------- LAGM2020
LAGM2021
Edited by Svetaketu (11/19/18 09:26 AM)
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WilcoDW
Stranger
Registered: 11/19/18
Posts: 3
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: Tormato]
#25624917 - 11/19/18 09:35 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Alright, you guys have convinced me to use grains, after a little more research they do seem a lot more versatile (being able to transfer mycelium / spawns from and to a load of different media).
THe only thing is, I dont have a pressure cooker, but ive read that you only really need a big soup pan (like a pressure cooked but without pressure) the only thing is it will just take a little longer.
So it seems the first step will be to make some agar solution and get some patri dishes ready. Just worried about contamination since I dont have a very big budget, so I dont want to build that clean air machine I seen people use in videos
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Failboat
Free man

Registered: 02/01/18
Posts: 8,736
Last seen: 1 month, 1 day
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25624937 - 11/19/18 09:46 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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This activity requires a SAB and a Pressure Cooker. Anything less is not enough, and anything more is unnecessary. So you can go online and get a 23qt presto for ~$80 shipped and then go to your local hardware or superstore and get a large tote to create your own SAB. I would reccomend ordering SFDs, you can find them for cheap amd cut them even smaller. Making pastyplates is a good cheap alternative to petris. Using unmodified plates jar lids is super convenient.
Edited by Failboat (11/19/18 09:49 AM)
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Svetaketu
The Devil's Avocado 🥑



Registered: 10/08/15
Posts: 1,527
Loc: United States
Last seen: 1 day, 13 hours
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: Failboat]
#25624966 - 11/19/18 10:03 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Grains must be Pressure cooked, anything else will not be enough.
Sometimes thrift stores or garage sales have pressure cookers for cheap, just make sure you get one that's big enough.
And don't worry about the laminar flow hood stuff... I'm sure it helps, but I've never found it necessary.
-------------------- LAGM2020
LAGM2021
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WilcoDW
Stranger
Registered: 11/19/18
Posts: 3
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25625028 - 11/19/18 10:41 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Alright, So ive been looking at pressure cookers and what size do you guys recommend? One of the largest ones I have been able to find is 12 liters
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captmarc
Noob

Registered: 09/16/18
Posts: 51
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: WilcoDW]
#25625181 - 11/19/18 11:52 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Get the Presto 23 qt, go on craigslist, ebay, or facebook market, I got mine in like new condition for 25 bucks.
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Rot
Worlds best trichoderma farmer


Registered: 11/09/18
Posts: 908
Last seen: 3 years, 8 months
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: captmarc]
#25625185 - 11/19/18 11:54 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've been following this guide: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11585613
It's super easy and doesn't require a pressure cooker. I'ma bout to have my cakes in the fruiting chamber in a few days.
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Rot
Worlds best trichoderma farmer


Registered: 11/09/18
Posts: 908
Last seen: 3 years, 8 months
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: Rot]
#25625191 - 11/19/18 11:57 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hey wilco check your pm.
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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,851
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 3 days, 14 hours
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: Rot]
#25625225 - 11/19/18 12:09 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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As stated before you need a pressure cooker and grain. The time and trouble is not worth doing PF cakes. Use grains and a 56-quart mono tub and you can expect 5 to 10 ounces dry for less than 1/4 the trouble of PF. You will be harvesting much quicker also.
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Rot
Worlds best trichoderma farmer


Registered: 11/09/18
Posts: 908
Last seen: 3 years, 8 months
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
#25625236 - 11/19/18 12:16 PM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: As stated before you need a pressure cooker and grain. The time and trouble is not worth doing PF cakes. Use grains and a 56-quart mono tub and you can expect 5 to 10 ounces dry for less than 1/4 the trouble of PF. You will be harvesting much quicker also.
Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: As stated before you need a pressure cooker and grain. The time and trouble is not worth doing PF cakes. Use grains and a 56-quart mono tub and you can expect 5 to 10 ounces dry for less than 1/4 the trouble of PF. You will be harvesting much quicker also.
I don't know how anything can be easier than PF tek. Don't need a pressure cooker. It's so simple.
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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,851
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 3 days, 14 hours
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: Rot]
#25626608 - 11/20/18 12:40 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Rot said:
Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: As stated before you need a pressure cooker and grain. The time and trouble is not worth doing PF cakes. Use grains and a 56-quart mono tub and you can expect 5 to 10 ounces dry for less than 1/4 the trouble of PF. You will be harvesting much quicker also.
Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: As stated before you need a pressure cooker and grain. The time and trouble is not worth doing PF cakes. Use grains and a 56-quart mono tub and you can expect 5 to 10 ounces dry for less than 1/4 the trouble of PF. You will be harvesting much quicker also.
I don't know how anything can be easier than PF tek. Don't need a pressure cooker. It's so simple.
How can it be simpler? Well, let us see. How many many PF cakes would you have to do to get 8 ounces dry? 8 ounces dry is my average from one 56 quart mono tub. Even if you are getting 10 grams a cake (Which I highly doubt) that's 24 cakes. Now, let's add in misting and fanning. Plus I don't have to inoculate 24 cakes. Also the time and effort it takes to pasteurize those cakes. I could keep going but I think that is enough.
Do what you want but if you want to save time and money get a pressure cooker and do grains and a mono tub. I barely even use a pressure cooker anymore. Now I use a 55-gallon steamer. Go big or go home!! LOL. If you stay in this hobby you will wonder why you didn't go to grains earlier.
Edited by SHROOMSISAY01 (11/20/18 12:50 AM)
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Fungus Mountain
Poke-N-Squirt



Registered: 10/16/14
Posts: 1,188
Loc: Front row @ the Freakshow
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
#25626628 - 11/20/18 01:05 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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People new to the hobby have been successfully learning via the PFTek method for years now. Granted there are better methods for producing bulk amounts of fruits, but most beginners are happy with 10 dry grams/cake. I think that PFtek requires more interface from the grower, but that's beneficial in learning the life cycle of myc and mushrooms.
If you're coming from a grow kit, I'd say the next logical step is to give PFTek a swing. The grain/monotubs advice is solid, but if all you want is a zip or 2 of personal, then grow some cakes. There is lots to learn, and the best way to learn is to get some growing going.

Edit:
Ziran's PFTek Guide
Edited by Fungus Mountain (11/20/18 01:11 AM)
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Mateja


Registered: 07/14/16
Posts: 7,948
Loc: Here
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Re: First time grower looking for advice [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
#25626636 - 11/20/18 01:14 AM (6 years, 1 month ago) |
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Who says you can't grow awsome tubs with PF Tek? All of these shoeboxes were made from cake spawn https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24945782
-------------------- Cakes inside Water Tub
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