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aspiringmyconoob
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are my grain bags contaminated? please help 1
#26610993 - 04/18/20 04:38 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hi everyone,
I am new to this website and to mycology. I am still discovering how to navigate the website and forums so I apologize if something similar has been asked and answered previously, I promise I will improve and become more knowledgeable with all of your great help. I have already learned so much from you guys.
I inoculated 5 one pound rye berry grain spawn bags a month ago yesterday with a spore syringe from a respected vendor. A week ago yesterday, so after 3 weeks of mycelial growth, I mixed the spawn bags up. The recovery has seemed to be somewhat slow and maybe even slightly stalled. The mycelium has continued to colonize the berries, but it just seems slow. I have the bags in the dark in a small laundry room where the window is covered, and I'm using a space heater for heat. The room has been around 74-76 degrees, but there has been a few times when the heater has shut off and then a couple hours or so go by before it gets turned back on. Yesterday I noticed some condensation in the bags. We recently had a cold spell come through and I did not realize that the temperature in the room dropped to 70, so I had to adjust the space heater to get the heat back up. The condensation has greatly improved, but there is still some condensation in the bags.
I'm afraid that the seemingly stalled growth and the condensation may be a sign of contamination. I will show pictures right before I mixed the bags and then pictures I took today, 4 weeks and one day post inoculation and one week since mixing the bags. The mycelium looked very healthy and strong before mixing. Oh, I also forgot to mention that when I do laundry, I have been removing the bags from the laundry room and place them in a cabinet in the kitchen where it is unfortunately cooler while I do laundry because I was afraid that the chemical small and whatever floating in the air during laundry might enter the bags through the filter and cause contamination or the chemical fumes from the laundry might interfere with the colonization. The laundry room is unfortunately the only room I have to use. Is it ok to leave the bags in the laundry room while I do laundry?
Any and all help and tips and tricks would greatly be appreciated. I would be so disappointed and devastated if I had to start over, but if I need to then I'll do what I need to do. Also the quality of these images has been drastically decreased to be able to upload them, but if anyone needs the original high quality images then let me know and I can give them to you. I posted this initially in the "just beginning" forum, but then I realized I probably should have posted it in the "mushroom cultivation" forum. I apologize for any confusing or if I'm somehow not following rules or need to do something different. I'm a definitely a newbie.











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rumfor69
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: aspiringmyconoob] 2
#26611043 - 04/18/20 05:05 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Indirect light is good at all stages of growth. There's never a need for darkness. Room temp lower seventies Β°F is good don't go hotter.
Condensation is normal and is fine. Bouncing back slow isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most contams grow fast. The laundry room fumes from detergent wont hurt them but again a nice stable place with indirect light and no perfume fumes would be better.
All you can do is wait to see if they colonize 100%. Working from spores is always a dice roll on contamination anyhow and overall I think it's ok so far.
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Htaeh
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: rumfor69]
#26611072 - 04/18/20 05:19 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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In my opinion looking good! Lower temperatures (within reason) don't cause any problems just slower colonisation as far as I'm aware.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: rumfor69]
#26611506 - 04/18/20 08:54 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Awesome, thank you so much for the quick reply and for the information. I'm glad to know that some indirect light will not hurt them because there is minimal light coming from the gap around the door frame and from the lights on the space heater. My temperature has mostly been around 74-76 degrees, do you think I should lower the temperature to the lower 70's?
I'm very glad to hear about the condensation because my heart sank when I first saw it. I think I panicked at first because I didn't realize that the temperature of the room had dropped about 5 degrees. After I got the room temperature back up, most of the condensation went away besides the remaining condensation you see in the pics. I was still worried though because of the slow recovery and because I really haven'y seen that much condensation stay after a temperature change, but you've relieved my worry.
From what you can see, how much longer do you think I should allow the grain to colonize? I'm going to mix my grain in a monotub with prepasteurized compost substrate for mushrooms I bought from an established vendor. I received the compost a week ago yesterday, and it's supposed to be good for up to 14 days at room temperature. I jumped the gun and bought the compost too early, rookie mistake. I'm guessing when I received it, it was probably already at room temperature for a day or 2. I'm guessing that I would need to mix my grain with the compost by this coming Friday for it to be good. The vendor stated that the compost could be frozen and then left to unthaw at room temperature when ready to be used. Have you ever frozen already pasteurized compost and then unthawed and used it when you needed it, or is it too risky? If my grain won't be ready by this Friday and it's too risky to unthaw and use it, then I will just order new so I have fresh compost when it's ready to be mixed with the grain. I'm not sure if the freezing could potentially dry it out some or kill the good bacteria.
Thanks again for your help and the information. I know I have asked a lot of questions, but there is so much to learn. I come up with a question, it gets answered, then I read something else that makes me question what I read or gives me new ideas. This is going to be a learning experience, but I greatly appreciate the knowledge and wisdom that I can hopefully learn from you and other experienced veterans on here.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26611527 - 04/18/20 09:03 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Awesome, thank you so much for the quick reply and information. Do you see a problem with me doing laundry while the colonizing bags remain in the room, or should I continue to place them somewhere else while I am doing laundry? I am going to place my monotub in the same laundry room, do you think the fumes and whatever is floating in the air while I do laundry could contaminate the colonizing monotub? While the tub is colonizing, I will have the holes covered with non-breathable packing tape and the lid on. From what I read, the lid is imperfect and therefore will allow enough gas exchange for colonization, but will it allow contamination to enter the tub? I've seen people place plastic wrap over the tub and then place the lid on or place the colonizing tub in a trash bag, I'm not sure if i need to do any of that or not. Again, I'm a noob and trying to learn so I apologize for my 1000 questions. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thanks again.
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The Fresh Prints
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It wont hurt to do your laundry in the same room. The bags should be safe if the filter patch is legit.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Awesome ok good, thanks for the reply. When my monotub is colonizing, should I place plastic wrap over the top before I put the lid on or put the monotub in a trash bag while colonizing to keep out contamination and increase co2? I guess I should have stated that I was worried about the fumes because I use ammonia in my colors and bleach with my whites, both put off a good amount of chemical odor until the cycle rinses. Thanks again for the reply, all help is greatly appreciated.
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Htaeh
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Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: Awesome, thank you so much for the quick reply and for the information. I'm glad to know that some indirect light will not hurt them because there is minimal light coming from the gap around the door frame and from the lights on the space heater. My temperature has mostly been around 74-76 degrees, do you think I should lower the temperature to the lower 70's?
Lower 70s is just fine. Higher temps can raise chances for contamination.
Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: I'm very glad to hear about the condensation because my heart sank when I first saw it. I think I panicked at first because I didn't realize that the temperature of the room had dropped about 5 degrees. After I got the room temperature back up, most of the condensation went away besides the remaining condensation you see in the pics. I was still worried though because of the slow recovery and because I really haven'y seen that much condensation stay after a temperature change, but you've relieved my worry.
Mycelium breathes, because its a living thing, hence the condensation!
Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: From what you can see, how much longer do you think I should allow the grain to colonize? I'm going to mix my grain in a monotub with prepasteurized compost substrate for mushrooms I bought from an established vendor. I received the compost a week ago yesterday, and it's supposed to be good for up to 14 days at room temperature. I jumped the gun and bought the compost too early, rookie mistake. I'm guessing when I received it, it was probably already at room temperature for a day or 2. I'm guessing that I would need to mix my grain with the compost by this coming Friday for it to be good. The vendor stated that the compost could be frozen and then left to unthaw at room temperature when ready to be used. Have you ever frozen already pasteurized compost and then unthawed and used it when you needed it, or is it too risky? If my grain won't be ready by this Friday and it's too risky to unthaw and use it, then I will just order new so I have fresh compost when it's ready to be mixed with the grain. I'm not sure if the freezing could potentially dry it out some or kill the good bacteria.
Grain (AFAIK) should be 100% colonised before introduced as spawn because uncolonized grain acts as a vector for contamination. I personally never set out to use a grow kit nor premade sub, I know everyone is different and yourself a beginner who probably just wants less variables to cause problems, understandably, when you first start out you want some amount of success; that being said I've read that people have experienced issues when purchasing premade sub (that's not to say you will) and making your own sub is an inevitable process you'll need to learn if you wish to continue the hobby with less expense of premade sub and a larger amount of it for multiple grows.
Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: Thanks again for your help and the information. I know I have asked a lot of questions, but there is so much to learn. I come up with a question, it gets answered, then I read something else that makes me question what I read or gives me new ideas. This is going to be a learning experience, but I greatly appreciate the knowledge and wisdom that I can hopefully learn from you and other experienced veterans on here.
While many will tell you (and it is a fantastic tool make no mistake) the search function at the top right hand side of the page will answer many if not all of your questions, just be sure to right the key words, select mushroom cultivation forum, newer than 4 years and check the 'one result per thread' checkbox; if you're looking for a tek hit the trusted cultivator checkbox too. However, I'm not expert by any means and can appreciate getting direct answers to my own worded questions so it doesn't bother me you asking such things because I'll always try to help those if I can. It's a huge hobby with many 'no right' answers, here experience is king. I find it really does boil down to 'just get stuck in'.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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Mellowbie
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh] 1
#26612115 - 04/19/20 06:06 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hello, I was wondering the same for mine. I will be growing all in bag. Please see below




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Htaeh
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26612121 - 04/19/20 06:11 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Looks okay to me, though a second opinion from someone more experienced would be better.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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Unknown error


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26612131 - 04/19/20 06:23 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Itβs not looking too good. By the look of the uncolonised grain that kit was in a bad way before you inoculated it.
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Htaeh
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Unknown error]
#26612134 - 04/19/20 06:29 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Not a case of 'still colonising'?
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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Unknown error


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh] 2
#26612137 - 04/19/20 06:31 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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It all looks very bacterial
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Mellowbie
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Unknown error]
#26612141 - 04/19/20 06:34 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Unknown error said: It all looks very bacterial
Are you referring to mine?
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Unknown error


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie] 1
#26612145 - 04/19/20 06:36 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Yeah. Itβs better if you start your own threads when youβve got a question to avoid confusion.
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Mellowbie
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Unknown error]
#26612149 - 04/19/20 06:39 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Unknown error said: Yeah. Itβs better if you start your own threads when youβve got a question to avoid confusion.
Still working on learning this forum and canβt find the βstart my on threadβ forum... lol.. oy vey
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LogicaL Chaos
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie] 2
#26612152 - 04/19/20 06:44 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Click this link and then click "Post" to start a new thread: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/postlist.php/Board/2
OP, you bag looks fine. The grain looks dry but seems to be colonized easily so yer all good
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Mellowbie
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 2
#26612157 - 04/19/20 06:47 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks!!! You rock βπΌ
-------------------- πβ¨πβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨π πβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππ ππβ¨ππβ¨ππβ¨ππ
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LogicaL Chaos
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie] 1
#26612160 - 04/19/20 06:48 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Rock on!
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26612769 - 04/19/20 11:34 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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You're a life saver sir, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to answer my many questions from an anxious beginner. I will definitely keep the temperature in the lower 70's and not worry about some condensation.
I will probably wait at least another week for the grain to fully colonize then. Yeah, the more I read and research, the more I realize that I will eventually need to make my own grain and substrate. Like you said, with it being my first time, the pre made grain and substrate seemed like the easier solution this time. I want to make sure I get the process down and can even get a harvest before I attempt to learn and master the production of viable grain and substrate. It just seemed that making my own and attempting this for the time would have too many factors and potential avenues to screw up and contaminate for my first attempt. It sounds like I should probably just reorder some substrate closer to when my grain is ready just in case. I would rather spend the extra money and hopefully be safe instead of chancing it and then screwing everything up.
I really do greatly appreciate your time and information. Yeah I really need to figure this site out better. Hell it took me like an hour just to figure out a way to change my picture file extension and then reduce the file size small enough to get the pics on here. I noticed that some people have large pics that look fairly high resolution. My pics are small and the quality is greatly reduced. I'm going to have to figure out how to do it better. Also, I was not aware you could tweak the searches like that, so I will definitely do that. When I first started searching the site I had a hard time even getting around or searching things, but I learn something new everyday. Thanks again for being understanding and taking the time to answer and explain things, you're awesome.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie] 1
#26612793 - 04/19/20 11:41 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hey mellowbie,
I wish I could give you sound advice, but I'm a beginner myself. It sounds like you've had some experienced people give you your answer though. I hope you can eventually get everything to work out. Also, this site is somewhat difficult to navigate, but hey, you at least have nice full size pics unlike my small lower quality ones. It took me forever to change the file extension and reduce the file size small enough to even get the pics on here lol. Best of luck to you.
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Htaeh
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No problem at all glad to see you here and happy I could help.
As anyone here can tell you; you learn more from mistakes than success. Thoroughly reading an aspect of a grow can help prepare you and reduce the likelihood of said disappointing mistakes. Ultimately, embrace your short comings, I can tell you that sub preparation in my opinion is one of the easier sides to this but everyone is different, don't be afraid to try your hand at sub preparation because at the end of the day the quicker you get it under your belt the better it will be for you and your mushies (and their quantity ). I tried my hand today at oat preparation for the first time to take agar to bulk, I'm waiting for the PC to cool down and I could have well fucked it but ah well I'll learn what to do different next time .
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh] 1
#26612828 - 04/19/20 11:55 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I definitely believe that you're probably right that you learn more from your mistakes. You mess up once and you won't do it again, usually haha. I will start researching preparing my own grain and substrate then. I know that one day I will need to make agar instead of spore syringes, and I will definitely need to be making my own grain then so I can inoculate the grain with the agar. I'm definitely getting ahead of myself there, but then again, I am an aspiring myco noob lol.
You've definitely inspired me to expand my knowledge and to take some risks by trying new skills. I really hope your oat preparation goes as planned. My skills and knowledge seem elementary to your seemingly doctorate level lol. Thanks again for everything
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Htaeh
Immortal


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: aspiringmyconoob] 1
#26612862 - 04/19/20 12:09 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: I definitely believe that you're probably right that you learn more from your mistakes. You mess up once and you won't do it again, usually haha. I will start researching preparing my own grain and substrate then. I know that one day I will need to make agar instead of spore syringes, and I will definitely need to be making my own grain then so I can inoculate the grain with the agar. I'm definitely getting ahead of myself there, but then again, I am an aspiring myco noob lol.
You've definitely inspired me to expand my knowledge and to take some risks by trying new skills. I really hope your oat preparation goes as planned. My skills and knowledge seem elementary to your seemingly doctorate level lol. Thanks again for everything
Lol you may make the same mistake once or twice but as long as you know where you go wrong you have an opportunity to progress. In this instance I'd say purchasing the premade sub is where you went wrong Truthfully, even beginning with PF tek is brilliant for learning the ropes of concepts, do's and don'ts, I personally thoroughly enjoyed my PF tek experience and had huge success (still many lessons learnt).
PF tek might not be what you want to do which is up to you but I believe its more reliable rather than going from an ms syringe straight to sub. Agar is what I've began delving into the passed couple of weeks, I can't stress enough how great it is, if this is hobby is something you're going to pursue my recommendation would be get some pf cakes on the go (to get your hands on some mushies ) and whilst that's ongoing get learning agar quick quick for your bulk grows. I'm by no means an expert at all, I to am just getting my foot in the door with a lot to learn and re-learn hahah, its a journey my friend enjoy it! Feel free to drop me a message should you ever need help answering something, I'll always do my best to help.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26612874 - 04/19/20 12:13 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hey, thank you very much for coming in and helping out by answering my question and helping another beginner. Since you stated that the grain looks dry, do you think I should soak it before I add it to my monotub? I've seen where people will cut the top of the grain bag off and fill it with water and let it soak before they add it into their substrate. Should I mist my substrate when I first mix the grain into it and then leave it alone, or only add moisture and humidity during fruiting?
Also, I will be keeping my monotub in the laundry room, the same place the grain bags currently are. Do you see any potential harm by me doing laundry in the same room where the monotub is colonizing? I'm just worried about the chemical smell from the detergent, bleach, and ammonia and with whatever is floating around while the laundry is going. Could the tub become contaminated just by enough gas and air coming in through the lid? The lid has no seal and fits imperfect so there will be just enough of a gap for gas exchange. The holes will be covered with packing tape while it's colonizing.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you very much.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26612920 - 04/19/20 12:27 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Sorry, I think I may have somehow sent a reply to you that was meant to go to someone else.
I originally looked into the pf tek, but I kind of made an ambitious risk of going with the grain bags and premade substrate. My reasoning, as a rookie, was if I'm going to do this I might as well go with the method that could potentially create a much larger harvest. Maybe I should get some small pf tek projects going as well.
Are spore syringes from an established vendor really that risky? I have like a 1/4 of one left and another unused one. I was going to use the unused one to inoculate more grain, but since it's sat for a month should I just get another one? And is premade substrate really that risky too? Maybe I should fast track a course to substrate production. I'm going to take the used syringe and inject a few areas in the ground outside somewhere where mushrooms grow a lot. I'm going to take a bag of substrate I bought like an idiot when I first got the syringe and spread the substrate over the area where I put the spores. I'll attempt it once the weather is warmer. I know there is a very small chance of growth and the spores probably need more than the dirt and substrate, but mushrooms grow their already and I'm not going to use them another way so hey, I might as well try it lol.
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Htaeh
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Registered: 10/14/18
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Quote:
aspiringmyconoob said: Hey, thank you very much for coming in and helping out by answering my question and helping another beginner. Since you stated that the grain looks dry, do you think I should soak it before I add it to my monotub? I've seen where people will cut the top of the grain bag off and fill it with water and let it soak before they add it into their substrate. Should I mist my substrate when I first mix the grain into it and then leave it alone, or only add moisture and humidity during fruiting?
Also, I will be keeping my monotub in the laundry room, the same place the grain bags currently are. Do you see any potential harm by me doing laundry in the same room where the monotub is colonizing? I'm just worried about the chemical smell from the detergent, bleach, and ammonia and with whatever is floating around while the laundry is going. Could the tub become contaminated just by enough gas and air coming in through the lid? The lid has no seal and fits imperfect so there will be just enough of a gap for gas exchange. The holes will be covered with packing tape while it's colonizing.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated, thank you very much.
Let me first start by saying this will need someone much more experienced answering because, firstly, I have no experience with monotubs and secondly, looking to get some shoebox grows under my belt before considering going for a mono. However, I'll still answer as best I can but im sure someone else will pitch in with a better answer.
What you describe about the cutting of the bag and filling with water, sounds to me like a 'dunk' a full hydration of the myc. I don't use bags and have only done dunks upon PF cakes before fruiting, so I cant answer that with any certainty, also in my mind dunking with uncolonized grain could be a vector for contam and in PF tek its often a last resort to try colonise exposed sub before fruiting.
When you mix the spawn into the sub I don't believe its recommended to mist, this again is a vector for contam to uncolonized sub. I'm not entirely sure how the mono process goes but with shoeboxes you leave the tub closed off from FAE (or any considerable FAE) to colonise for ten to fifth teen days. The water from within the sub will feed the mycs efforts to colonize the bulk sub. Then put it in fruiting conditions. So moisture and FAE in fruiting.
While I cant imagine the laundry room will cause any adverse affects on the colonisation or fruiting of your tub im sure they'd prefer it without, but you can only do what you can do. Maybe just be mindful when doing the laundry and avoid throwing handfuls of washing powder around the room .
Also I've read people put colonizing tubs inside bin bags, which then the laundry rooms smell wouldn't matter so much.
Sorry I couldn't give a more certain response to your questions but im sure someone else can!
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After responding to your message I have since seen it may not have been mine to answer but nevertheless it is there.
In response to your new comment; When I first began, I too wanted bulk right away but I did read a lot and became confident that even with PF I'd have a large amount of mush to enjoy so with the hopes of being thorough in learning I jumped in. You can make as many cakes as you like, I never kept score of exactly how much I grew in total over many cakes but it was plenty enough to keep me going for a year, different cakes birthed at different times. Got into a cycle of one cake finishing fruiting the next was ready to harvest, and the next ready to birth and take the old ones place. But there is nothing wrong with going straight to bulk but the general recommendation here would be to do it with agar, that's not to say you cant try with an ms syringe because it is doable but as some say here its a shot in the dark.
Those spore syringes keep for longer than you'd think, and they last much much longer with agar work. As an example I've bought three in total since starting this hobby, the golden teacher and B+ went all on PF jars (20ml syringes) I recently started agar as I said and bought an A+ syringe to inoc my plates with, as of today I have 13 healthy plates of A+ and ive used less than 3cc of the syringe, it lives in the fridge.
In regards to dumping off some spores in your local area, why not, you may one day in the future stumble upon them ready to pick
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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Scared newbie
Cautiously Scarry


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26613322 - 04/19/20 04:23 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Is it okay 2 mix up spawn bag a second time???
-------------------- Scared Newbie, just trying to soak up all the skills I can while learning the trade... Sorry in advance for all my questions! I'm sure plenty are to follow...
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Scared newbie
Cautiously Scarry


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Scared newbie]
#26613344 - 04/19/20 04:32 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Spawn bags are on day number 12. This morning I noticed tiny bluish-green Spec's in a couple places. I mixed the bags up yesterday. Is it too late to start growing contamination or Never Too Late? Hopefully it's just bruising! But weird how it's only in small places facts are definitely too small for my camera here's a picture of my bag
-------------------- Scared Newbie, just trying to soak up all the skills I can while learning the trade... Sorry in advance for all my questions! I'm sure plenty are to follow...
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huangdeez
Newbie


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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26613576 - 04/19/20 06:37 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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yo that second photo had some pink that looked hella funky...
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rumfor69
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: huangdeez]
#26613869 - 04/19/20 08:54 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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You didn't need to shake it up a second time it's only going to make it take longer. Contamination can grow at any stage and any time
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Mellowbie
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Thanks! It is definitely tricky, for sure... Best of luck π
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26622410 - 04/23/20 01:44 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Sorry I took forever to respond, I've been pretty busy the past few days. I appreciate the information, I definitely will not be dunking or misting before the substrate is fully colonized and I might use a bin bag just to be safe.
I probably should have started off smaller, but it's definitely too late now. I think I'll try out a few jars too, especially since you've had a lot of luck.
My syringes have been in a cabinet for the past 5 weeks so I'll put them in the fridge then, hopefully it's not too late to store them in the fridge.
Yeah, it would be awesome to have some grow outside without me doing anything but the initial inoculation, it would be like Christmas lol.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Scared newbie]
#26622423 - 04/23/20 01:48 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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The little blue specs could be bruising of the mycelium. After I shook my bags, I was picking the bags up a couple times a day some days inspecting them and looking for progress and contamination. I noticed little blue spots about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen in random areas in my bags. I initially thought it was mold or something. I researched it and am pretty sure it was bruising from the shake and picking the bags up too often. Since I've left them alone, the spots have almost completely gone away. Hope I am right and hope yours is the same problem. Best of luck to you
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Htaeh
Immortal


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It's no problem at all. Go big or go home lol but just always learn as you go and things will just get easier and much more rewarding. I'd say the syringes are probably fine, my fridge is set to 3 degrees Celsius, I think it needs to be between 2-8.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26622763 - 04/23/20 04:07 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Ok very good, I appreciate it. I'm not sure if you read the above post, but I was wondering if you've have any information or could clarify this. After I mixed the bags, I was handing the bags like twice a day looking for growth and contamination. I noticed a few days ago that I had little circular blue spots about the size of a ballpoint pin in different areas throughout the grain bags. I thought it was mold or something, but upon further research, I think the spots are bruising from the mixing and from handling the bags too often. I also read that the bruising could be caused by condensation dripping and collecting and or from dry substrate from evaporation, so they kind of go hand in hand. I've left the bags alone and decreased the room temperature one degree which has reduced the swing in temps and condensation has improved, so I believe the moisture has been returned back to the grains/mycelium instead of collecting on the walls of the bag. Since leaving the bags alone, the mycelium has continued to grow and the small blue spots are disappearing. I really hope it isn't mold.
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Htaeh
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I believe if it was mold you'd likely notice a stall in growth, you'd certainly notice the mold grow. So if it has retreated so to speak then it was probably some myc bruising but that being said I don't know exactly if your grain myc can bruise, like I'm unsure if agar myc can bruise, but I don't see why not. I wouldn't be all that worried if I were you .
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26623047 - 04/23/20 05:57 PM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I did notice a stall in growth, but I think it was from the shake, moving the grain too much to check for contamination and growth, and from too big of temperature changes resulting in increased and decreased condensation throughout the day, at least I hope lol. I think I'll probably spawn it to my monotub in the next few days. I definitely did not see the spots get any bigger, they have just slowly gone away.
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Htaeh
Immortal


Registered: 10/14/18
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Yeah after a shake the myc needs some time to recover but if they go back to normal growing speed a little while after the shake then you're all good.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26624295 - 04/24/20 09:49 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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Ok so I'm kind of freaking out. I was checking my bags this morning and noticed little white spots in one of my bags. I'm not sure if its the mycelium forming pins and primordia or if its trichoderma or something else. I know if bags have been colonized for too long they can begin to show pins. I really hope to God that it's pins and not something else. If anyone could help me out I would greatly appreciate it.


If these are pins, is it ok to spawn it to a monotub or will the pins decay and cause problems?
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Htaeh
Immortal


Registered: 10/14/18
Posts: 320
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I'm probably not the best to ask but judging by that picture I think its knotting. Could be bacterial, hopefully someone else pitches in with their thoughts.
-------------------- "To write is to wage war" ~ Voltaire "The Drug Medical System cannot bear examination. To explain it would be to destroy it.." ~ R.T. Trall M.D. "A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity." ~ Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658), Spanish philosopher "We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the US public believes is false." ~ William J. Casey, 1981 "Fear always works to influence the population, when the population is uneducated." "The secret of freedom lies in educating people, the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant." ~ Maximilien Robespierre "Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave." ~ Frederick Douglass
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Htaeh]
#26624367 - 04/24/20 10:23 AM (3 years, 9 months ago) |
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I sure hope it's knotting and not infection. I wonder if it can still be mixed into a substrate without causing problems. I ended up making a new post about it so hopefully someone can help me out. Thanks again for always trying to help me out, it means a lot to me during this nerve racking first attempt at a grow lol.
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Mellowbie
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Do you have an update?
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26639004 - 04/30/20 01:17 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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They did not appear to be contaminated. They actually had little pins starting to form and one little tiny baby mushroom lol. I spawned them to a monotub last night, I hope and pray that the substrate fully colonizes contamination free and that I get a few good flushes.
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Mellowbie
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Picture? And what mono tub and substrate did you use?
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26639202 - 04/30/20 02:36 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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I used a 56 quart sterilite container. I used a substrate of pasteurized composted horse manure, organic coconut coir, vermiculite, and gypsum. I bought the grain bags and substrate from an online vendor shroomsupply.com


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Mellowbie
Newbie



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Right on π€πΌπ―
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26639224 - 04/30/20 02:46 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thanks, how is your grow going? Did you end up having to toss your grow?
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Mellowbie
Newbie



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No, still growing...
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26645866 - 05/03/20 12:17 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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very nice, hope all goes well
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Mellowbie
Newbie



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It started to fruit.
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aspiringmyconoob
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Re: are my grain bags contaminated? please help [Re: Mellowbie]
#26646309 - 05/03/20 03:38 PM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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hey that's awesome, congratulations
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Mellowbie
Newbie



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Thanks!!! Now Iβm having anxiety on properly transferring it to a FC. How is your grow coming along?
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