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treewitch
psychonaut/jr mycologist


Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 85
Last seen: 11 days, 20 hours
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shoebox grow, how am I looking?
#26877542 - 08/12/20 09:02 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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hello all
After struggling to get my last round of shoeboxes to fruit, I buried them outside and started over. I spawned 3 new shoeboxes 3 days ago, and followed BOD's Shoebox Tek and Bucket Tek. I made sure to pay closer attention to detail. My only concern is that they may be on the drier side, but I'm not messing with them or misting them this time.
curious to see what more experienced folks have to say about how this is looking so far.
Thanks in advance for the help


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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,688
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: treewitch]
#26877558 - 08/12/20 09:13 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Rather dry than too wet, any day of the week. Refreshing to see boxes not over hydrated. Maybe try to get them more level next time, but otherwise looking ok so far. Proof will be in the pudding as they say. Hard to tell much else at this point. Did you inoculate that corn with a MS syringe or use agar?
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Mad Hatter
10/6



Registered: 12/20/18
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When you spawn its best to save some substrate for top layer to cover any exposed grains as they can become a foot hold for contams.
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treewitch
psychonaut/jr mycologist


Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 85
Last seen: 11 days, 20 hours
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Excellent, thanks for that! My problem last time was partially that I packed my substrate down too much, so I was overly cautious to leave as much aeration as possible.
Also, this spawn came from a Golden Teacher I've been working with on agar for about 8 transfers
Edited by treewitch (08/12/20 09:23 PM)
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treewitch
psychonaut/jr mycologist


Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 85
Last seen: 11 days, 20 hours
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: treewitch]
#26877580 - 08/12/20 09:22 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Mad Hatter: I see! I read a few sources say that there wasn't a difference in a casing layer or none, I still have leftover coir. Would it be worth it to give it a layer now or should I just let it ride?
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Aablmd82
Mushroom mushroom man
Registered: 04/26/20
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: treewitch]
#26877591 - 08/12/20 09:29 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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IMO casing is something you should experiment with yourself as asking 5 different people will get you 5 different opinions.
-------------------- Clone -> agar -> UnBODified monotub (first attempt, left unattended a week before harvesting)
Thanks BOD 🙏
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
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Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Aablmd82]
#26877633 - 08/12/20 10:11 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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You can put a pseudocasing on if you want to help maintain surface conditions (just enough to cover the sub), but the goal is just that: maintaining surface conditions (not preventing exposed grains from contaminating). That's why we allow spawn to colonize completely and use clean spawn. Contamination isn't caused by "exposed grains".
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skullhuman
the skullman cometh



Registered: 06/15/09
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Aablmd82]
#26877634 - 08/12/20 10:11 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I never bother covering exposed grains anymore. They rebound so quickly that it's not an issue, plus I'd rather get the surface fully colonized sooner rather than later.
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Mad Hatter
10/6



Registered: 12/20/18
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: treewitch]
#26877644 - 08/12/20 10:22 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Adding a top layer over uncovered spawn at the time of spawning isn't consider casing. Its just spawning. Caseing is where you add another layer once your substrate has almost reached 100% colonizaion. The main purposes of a casing is to prevent overlay, add moisture content, create suitable environment for pinning, prevent blobbing, ect.
I honestly think casings for cubes are pointless when done in monotubs or shoebox (unless its put into a martha) as they dont loose much moisture at all and the humidity remains very high at all times. I always add a top layer at spawning. It doesnt have to be thick just enough to cover grains such a small amount doesnt delay colonization at a noticeable amount.
Edited by Mad Hatter (08/12/20 10:24 PM)
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Mad Hatter
10/6



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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Mad Hatter]
#26877649 - 08/12/20 10:28 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Dont take my word for take his......
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
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Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Mad Hatter]
#26877654 - 08/12/20 10:33 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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It's called a pseudocasing, as stated above. RR also states that you can "scratch your butt while spawning after colonization is complete". That's old, outdated info which was referencing casing with verm for time context... . As with updated techniques, it's since been amended. Any TC on here will tell you that and most don't use a pseudocasing. Not necessary.
Edited by alaskappalachian (08/12/20 10:44 PM)
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skullhuman
the skullman cometh



Registered: 06/15/09
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Mad Hatter]
#26877661 - 08/12/20 10:40 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Plenty of successful growers around here who do not bother with covering exposed grains. Now to be downright heretical- not everything RR has ever said is gospel.
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,688
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: skullhuman]
#26877668 - 08/12/20 10:50 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Yeah. If you have persistent troubles maintaining surface conditions, it's helpful. Not necessary at all if your sub was properly mixed to field capacity and your tub is dialed in. More of a crutch. They really need to cull outdated info on here. Everything from before 2015 or so on here is like reading through reddit... Seems like it would be easier than constantly saying "that's old info". It's like mopping up water while you leave a hose running water all over the floor. Makes no sense.
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Mad Hatter
10/6



Registered: 12/20/18
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Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Not saying everything RR says is gospel or that you can't be successful with exposed grains. Just sharing a info from a reputable TC. It may not be necessary but its beneficial. It was actually referring to covering exposed grains in a coir/verm bulk sub with the same sub not just verm.
But as you said its a crutch which helps if conditions arnt maintained for one reason or the other. Id rather have the crutch than not in the event a mistake happens rather it be my fault or out of my control and cause unnecessary stress that could of be avoided to the mycelium from something like the grains drying out. Just because your tub is dialed in doesnt mean there is no chance something coulnt happen that would alter it. Never had a sub dry out but id rather dial in my tub for any situation that may arise expecially if it doesnt take much extra effort.
Its all about personal preference and its good to have 2 view points so people can decide on their own whats best for them. many scientist dont agree unless there is irrefutable evidence which there is not. Theres people on both sides of most topics relating to science.
Ive grown with exposed grains with success and without successfully i prefer the latter.
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treewitch
psychonaut/jr mycologist


Registered: 08/31/15
Posts: 85
Last seen: 11 days, 20 hours
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Re: shoebox grow, how am I looking? [Re: Mad Hatter]
#26877962 - 08/13/20 06:52 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thanks for the insight, everyone
At this point, would it be worth it to go ahead and add a top layer or should I just let them ride?
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