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chr0nic
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First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit?
#26868336 - 08/07/20 01:09 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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This is my first time attempting to cultivate mushrooms. I followed popcorn tek and inoculated two quarts of popcorn with a MS syringe. After full colonization of the grain it was put to substrate with a 1:2 ratio. The substrate is a mix of coco coir, vermiculite, used coffee grounds, gypsum, honey, and horse manure. The substrate was inoculated with colonized grain on 7/30 and it has been colonization since then, I’ve only opened the lid once to place the humidity/temp meter inside the tub and then once again today For a few seconds to take a picture of the progress. So far everything looks good, it smells like mushrooms and has a nice layer of mycelium all over the sub, it’s been colonizing for the past 9 days, do you think it’s time to switch to fruiting conditions, any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (Apologies for the bad English, it’s not my first language)

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Rapjack
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26868366 - 08/07/20 01:22 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Looks ready! I can't tell 100% from the picture but it might also need a mist.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Rapjack]
#26868406 - 08/07/20 01:40 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I did notice that the surface of the tub looked a little dry but then again it’s my first time so I don’t really know what the difference between wet and dry surfaces would look like. There is some water droplets pooling on the side of the sub between the sub and the plastic bag. Also the humidity meter has been showing 99% RH since the day it was inoculated. I did mist the lid and the sides when I inoculated the substrate. Should I mist again now even though the humidity is reading 99% with some droplets on the lids and the sides. Also I’m gonna try to upload the same pics in higher resolution for a clearer view of the conditions right now. Thank you
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Rapjack
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26868432 - 08/07/20 01:50 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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You want the whole surface to be covered in tiny droplets of water, it should sparkle. When the droplets start to disappear do it again. Keep doing that and you'll be harvesting in about 12 days. 
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/23999053
Very helpful thread with pictures
Ignore the RH meter. It is reading the air when what we're interested in is only the surface.
Edited by Rapjack (08/07/20 01:53 PM)
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Rapjack]
#26868458 - 08/07/20 02:01 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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There are no sparkling droplets of water on the sub, the top layer seems dry on the surface. There are only two or three tiny tiny pools of water (3,4 droplets) on two sides of the sub where it meets the trash bag. So at this point I should start misting and fanning? I have six holes in the tub, two on both sides right above the sub for FAE and two on the top of the tub for GE. The FAE holes have Micropore tape and clear plastic tape so they are completely closed for now as the tub is still in colonization. The two GE holes only have one layer of Micropore tape. Should I change anything in my setup at this point except for misting it to where droplets start to from on the substrate?
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XkrakenX
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26870737 - 08/08/20 10:10 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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It is also my first time cultivating mushrooms! I too am curious if the tubs I have are about ready to fruit? It has been 12 days mixing together fully colonized spawn bags and substrate. Since then humidity has been at 99%with temps in the mid-70s. I see water droplets forming on the surface layer. And have only been misting when those go away or the tubs actually look dry, or there is no condensation.
Today I tried cracking the lids but it brought humidity way too low. So I put the, back on. I guess I’m confused if I need to wait to see pinset, or wait until the casing looks fully colonized and change climate conditions to induce pinset?

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pitriot
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26870742 - 08/08/20 10:18 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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looks great. Can you keep us updated how these turn out? BTW how much substrate/spawn did you use?
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Inocuole
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: pitriot]
#26870809 - 08/08/20 11:44 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just a tip to anybody asking when is okay to fruit a monotub, the last few successful grows I did, I fruited immediately after spawning, with only a 3/4" top layer of CVG to cover the grains/bulk sub. I haven't had any bad experiences doing that and I felt that it helped induce pinning a bit sooner. And the fresh air in fact may help reduce the chance of anything else germinating in there.
So yeah go ahead, if you keep it adequately hydrated and don't drown it, fruiting is the easiest part.
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XkrakenX
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: pitriot]
#26870924 - 08/09/20 03:06 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
pitriot said: looks great. Can you keep us updated how these turn out? BTW how much substrate/spawn did you use?
Yep can do, don’t wanna hijack chr0nic’s post but figured both being new might help each other out idk. I bought both from Midwest grow kits. It was 2 x 5lb 5grain rye bags, 2 x 5lb bags bulk substrate they claim is “the perfect combo of Coco Coir, Vermiculite, Hydrated Lime, Gypsum, ph buffers, ph stabilizers, mineral water and a few other choice ingredients.” Ratio 1:1, I think next grow I’ll prepare my own material. I have a pressure cooker was just lazy.
Today I started turning on a 6500k light inside the closet the 2 tubs are in for 12 hours. This is with a fan blowing above and not directly at the tubs.
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26870942 - 08/09/20 03:35 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Look out you don't overdo fanning, even it's not directed to the tubs. You may dry them out very quick.
More air, as you see fruits.
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XkrakenX
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26871556 - 08/09/20 12:43 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Goatrider said: Look out you don't overdo fanning, even it's not directed to the tubs. You may dry them out very quick.
More air, as you see fruits.

I checked on both tubs today and see pins forming in the larger one. Pretty excited as a newbie. But with that I also see some “fuzzier” looking areas. Been reading that these may be the knots forming. But hoping it isn’t early start of cobweb.
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26871643 - 08/09/20 01:36 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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No, that's some aerial myc grabbing for nutrients. You mustn't be afraid of cobweb, yours looks a bit dry as far as i can see. Usually you get cob on drenched substrates, with stall air on top. So look in CBK's proper surface thread, and compare the pics with your surface.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26872341 - 08/09/20 09:00 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Two days later, nothing much has changed & no pins yet

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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26872356 - 08/09/20 09:09 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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With spawning on 30/07 you`re in time frame, just be patient. The surface moisture looks perfect.
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Inocuole
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26872389 - 08/09/20 09:32 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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It's beginning to knot. You'll have pins within 2-4 days.
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pitriot
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26872400 - 08/09/20 09:44 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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So these substrates are purchased and came in a bad and you emptied them into a tub? I thought that those that sold in bags are meant to fruit in the bag. Good to know. How long since your spawned?
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: pitriot]
#26872516 - 08/09/20 11:27 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Everything was bought separately and pasteurized, except the horse manure. That was purchased online with the pre sterilized grain which I had to throw out because of bacterial contamination and ended up making my own sterile grain using popcorn tek. sub was inoculated about 11 days ago, on 07/30.
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XkrakenX
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: pitriot]
#26872519 - 08/09/20 11:29 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
pitriot said: So these substrates are purchased and came in a bad and you emptied them into a tub? I thought that those that sold in bags are meant to fruit in the bag. Good to know. How long since your spawned?
I purchased everything pre-sterilized in sealed bags from a website. Kind of feel like I cheated, but overall the process has been incredibly simple. The instructions they provide say you can totally fruit in the bag if you wanted. But I wanted to go the monotub route.
I mixed the fully colonized spawn bags with substrate on 7/27. Yesterday 8/9 I noticed first pins in my larger tub. Pic below is update from today.
Chr0nic your tub looks like it is about to show pins. The knotting looks good.
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26872793 - 08/10/20 06:55 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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For your own sake, leave manure and all that unnecessary shit out next time. You can experiment with additives later on, when you gained experience. If your grow turns bad, as a beginner you won`t exactly know, why it happened. So it`s better you only work with stuff you really need. Just grains and coir for your first own grow.
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XkrakenX
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26873120 - 08/10/20 11:29 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Goatrider said: For your own sake, leave manure and all that unnecessary shit out next time. You can experiment with additives later on, when you gained experience. If your grow turns bad, as a beginner you won`t exactly know, why it happened. So it`s better you only work with stuff you really need. Just grains and coir for your first own grow.
Hey everyone, just checked in on my tubs today and notice a lot more pinning. I decided to replace the polyfil with micropore tape. The lids are still on both tubs currently.
Micropore tape is covering all holes currently. I also noticed some side growths in one of the tubs...should I pick these as soon as I see them to avoid aborts? I see some small pins growing down there.
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26873128 - 08/10/20 11:34 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Nah, leave them there. Sidepins are as fine as the ones from the surface.. If you get aborts, just pick them at harvest.
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pitriot
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: XkrakenX]
#26873130 - 08/10/20 11:37 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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My substrate if from 7/26 and while I have some pinning yours overall looks much better and much more promising!
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26873302 - 08/10/20 01:01 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I was following a tek from Myco madness on YouTube, it also included rice hulls but they arrived very late and my grain was already fully colonized so I made the substrate without it. Using so many ingredients did give me a pause but I figured as long as I pasteurize everything well and use correct ratios I should be alright. Now I think it might have over done it for my first grow and it would have been a better idea to just use coir and verm for the sub so I just inoculated another tub with just verm coir and colonized grain.
This manure tub dried out a little, even when I was inoculating the sub I noticed that the sub was a little dry (I had made the sub two days prior to using it) so I did give it a light misting while inoculating, but still the surface conditions were dry when I opened it up for fruiting and noticed that there was no water droplets/beads on the surface so I had to start misting in order to get some water droplets stay on the surface, I’ve only misted it two time and so far it look good but then I don’t really know. I’ll be happy if I get any fruit if not then lesson learned hopefully the other tub does better. Will see
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: pitriot]
#26873317 - 08/10/20 01:07 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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It looks great buddy! I wish I had that thick mycelium poking out like that but mine is thinner and whipsy. The pins look very nice as well, I’m very glad your grow is going so well, keep it up!
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26874042 - 08/10/20 08:27 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
chr0nic said: It looks great buddy! I wish I had that thick mycelium poking out like that but mine is thinner and whipsy.
You shouldn`t be worried about that. There`s no fully white myc carpet needed for a good pinset.
Quote:
chr0nic said: I was following a tek from Myco madness on YouTube, it also included rice hulls but they arrived very late and my grain was already fully colonized so I made the substrate without it. Using so many ingredients did give me a pause but I figured as long as I pasteurize everything well and use correct ratios I should be alright. Now I think it might have over done it for my first grow and it would have been a better idea to just use coir and verm for the sub so I just inoculated another tub with just verm coir and colonized grain.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26876113 - 08/12/20 12:01 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Beginning of a pin?

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Inocuole
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Inocuole]
#26876282 - 08/12/20 03:53 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Inocuole said: It's beginning to knot. You'll have pins within 2-4 days.
s'what I said ain't it?
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Inocuole]
#26876685 - 08/12/20 10:45 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Right on!! New pins are popping up
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Inocuole
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26877618 - 08/12/20 09:57 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Oh yeah knotted up real good now, lots of primordia there.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Inocuole]
#26878455 - 08/13/20 12:37 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Any tips on misting and fanning at this point?
I have 4 1/2 inch holes at substrate level covered with one layer of Micropore tape and two hole at the top also covered with one layer of Micropore tape. I’m keeping the lid closed for the most part, sometimes I crack it open after misting to let the water beads evaporate a little before replacing the lid but usually it stays on. At this point I’m fanning and misting twice a day.

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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26878603 - 08/13/20 01:44 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Don't mist anymore now. As you dialed in with micropore tape, you don't need to mist and fan this much. I'd perhaps open an upper hole for more FAE.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26878621 - 08/13/20 01:50 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Perfect! Thank you. I had something similar in mind but wanted to be sure. I’ll open up half of the top holes for more FAE
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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26878659 - 08/13/20 02:04 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: Goatrider]
#26880102 - 08/14/20 12:51 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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So,I’ve been reading up on monotubs, and I’ve come to realize that I messed up a lot during hydrating and inoculating my sub, the sub lost a lot of moisture from the two big GE holes which were covered only with a single layer of Micropore tape. If I had sealed up my tub properly and hydrated my sub to proper field capacity I wouldn’t have had to mist during fruiting. A correctly “dialed in” tub does not need to fanned or misted throughout the first flush, it allows just enough FAE to keep the shrooms breathing well and builds up humidity to keep them happy. After reading up on how to dial in your tub I was able to fiddle with the Micropore tape to the point where the bottom 4 holes allow very little exchange and the top holes allow for a good amount of fresh air, that way fresh air comes in through the top and out the bottom (I have a ceiling fan running 24/7 on low). I’ve had this setup for two days now almost and kept the lid closed. The pins are growing nicely and I haven’t felt the need to mist and fan at all. The sides and lid has a nice layer of condensation and things are going well. This grow so far has been a huge learning experience, I have more spawn that’s almost ready to put to bulk and this time I’m gonna employ what I’ve learned and hopefully this next grow will be better. I’m very thankful to all you guys who helped me along the way. You are the best. Mush love.
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pitriot
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26880163 - 08/14/20 01:32 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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that's what Pastywhyte’s Ez dialed monotubs Tek is all about

Quote:
chr0nic said: So,I’ve been reading up on monotubs, and I’ve come to realize that I messed up a lot during hydrating and inoculating my sub, the sub lost a lot of moisture from the two big GE holes which were covered only with a single layer of Micropore tape. If I had sealed up my tub properly and hydrated my sub to proper field capacity I wouldn’t have had to mist during fruiting. A correctly “dialed in” tub does not need to fanned or misted throughout the first flush, it allows just enough FAE to keep the shrooms breathing well and builds up humidity to keep them happy. After reading up on how to dial in your tub I was able to fiddle with the Micropore tape to the point where the bottom 4 holes allow very little exchange and the top holes allow for a good amount of fresh air, that way fresh air comes in through the top and out the bottom (I have a ceiling fan running 24/7 on low). I’ve had this setup for two days now almost and kept the lid closed. The pins are growing nicely and I haven’t felt the need to mist and fan at all. The sides and lid has a nice layer of condensation and things are going well. This grow so far has been a huge learning experience, I have more spawn that’s almost ready to put to bulk and this time I’m gonna employ what I’ve learned and hopefully this next grow will be better. I’m very thankful to all you guys who helped me along the way. You are the best. Mush love.
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chr0nic
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26880871 - 08/14/20 11:22 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Few more popped up

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Goatrider
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Re: First time cultivating mushrooms, is my monotub ready to fruit? [Re: chr0nic]
#26880902 - 08/14/20 11:58 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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You always have to dial in to your environment. Of course you can start off by following the hole placements to the tee, but in the end there`s no formula for everyone. You always have to tweak a bit.
Once you know about it, things get easy.
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