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Neoplatonist
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Newb questions about contamination
#25938962 - 04/16/19 09:38 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hello, this is my first time trying to grow any mushrooms, also the first time I've ever posted on these forums (I just made this account). I have some newb questions about my agar cultures that I have currently going on for a little more than a week now. I used a pressure cooker to sanitize the agar and used a syringe to inoculate the jars trying to keep everything as clean as possible but I don't have much experience (none really) about what the mycelium should actually look like. I have two questions:
One of my jaws, from the inoculation points there seems to be something spreading in multiple separate points that is dark blue in the center and has a white ring around it. Is this mold?
My second question is about the other jar which has no blue but appears to be producing what I can only describe as white fuzz that is raised above the agar? is this bad as well?
Thank you for the replies, I'm trying to learn as much as I can and I have read some books on the subject (Terrence Mckenna's book, and Paul Stamets) but If you could direct me to pictures of good/bad growth that would be very helpful.
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Anoobus
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Neoplatonist]
#25938978 - 04/16/19 09:49 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Pics would really help. White fuzz is what you are looking for, but the first one you described might also be? . Ropey growth ideally. And if Psilocybe mycelium is stressed it can turn blue, so pictures would be the best thing for the best advice. 👍 Link of helpful links
Edited by Anoobus (04/16/19 09:56 PM)
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Neoplatonist
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Anoobus]
#25939007 - 04/16/19 10:17 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thank you for the reply, that link looks very promising and useful.
good news about the white fuzz. Here are some pictures of the blue centered jar, it's in a mason jar so it was kind of hard to get a good picture. There's two spots where the blue centers have been growing, each picture is on the opposite side of the jar and both of them are exactly where I inoculated the agar.

Edited by Neoplatonist (04/16/19 10:51 PM)
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Shroomspective
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Neoplatonist]
#25939339 - 04/17/19 04:57 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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That's mold
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Neoplatonist
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Damn. Okay, thanks for the reply and the info, im gonna go make some more medium and try again. cheers!
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Shroomspective
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Neoplatonist]
#25940287 - 04/17/19 04:55 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Where is your pic of the white growth you mentioned that isn't mold? Germinated spores look fuzzy usually..Also for making germination agar you want to make it a bit softer, maybe 7.5g agar per 500ml, otherwise it can prove hard to germinate
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Neoplatonist
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Oh yes, here is a photo of the other one, it's from the bottom up view of the jar because this jar is tiny and I couldn't get a side view with the camera. This one I was worried about with the yellow spots but I've watched this one closely from day one and the yellow circles are the original spore liquid that seems to have dried. Looking from a top down view the white fuzz doesn't seem to have any indication of yellow in it but to get a better look id actually have to open up the lid and peak inside. Thanks for the tip, I was trying to figure out a good ratio. I bought pre-made MEA and the latest batch I used was 8g of MEA to 400ml water. :/ (Not the two jars I posted on here, I made 3 more jars with 8g:400ml ratio today)
Edited by Neoplatonist (04/17/19 06:09 PM)
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Shroomspective
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Neoplatonist]
#25940784 - 04/17/19 11:24 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Yup that looks about right for a germ plate..take a few transfers from 12 though 6 to a some of the new plates, it usually takes 2-3 transfer generations to begin looking rhyzomorphic
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Neoplatonist
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Quote:
Shroomspective said: Yup that looks about right for a germ plate..take a few transfers from 12 though 6 to a some of the new plates, it usually takes 2-3 transfer generations to begin looking rhyzomorphic
Awesome! at least one of my jars is healthy! I am happy just hearing that! I am not sure what you mean by from 12 through 6? if you could clarify that would be great. I was going to take some material from each spot and transfer them to quart jars filled with rye berries, would it be better to instead transfer them to more agar jars and let them grow for a second time? What would be the benefits of doing that instead of directly onto rye if you don't mind answering?
Also I've read a bit about the more rhyzomorphic mycelium and how people believe it colonizes faster, is this the reason I should instead try to isolate the mycelium of the first agar jar by transferring it to another?
Thank you for all the replies you're very helpful!
Edited by Neoplatonist (04/18/19 03:05 PM)
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Shroomspective
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Re: Newb questions about contamination [Re: Neoplatonist]
#25942955 - 04/19/19 04:59 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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12 through to six as in the clock face positions..That looks the best growth in your pic. You want to o 2-3 generations of transfers, as you can't be sure that the germination plate isn't harbouring contam mixed in, which to be fair is very common from syringes. Plus it allows you to begin selecting the strongest growth areas, which makes for better jars in the end
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Neoplatonist
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Oh okay, thank you for the clarification and all the help. Appreciate it. cheers!
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