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LumpyNuzz
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2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS)
#26891029 - 08/21/20 03:16 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hello I am attempting for the first time some "bulk" mushroom grows and I have a couple questions that I couldn't find in the many teks and forum posts I have read. I'll mention I'm doing a "shoebox" mini-tub style grow, pretty much fallowing bodhissatta's "How to do S3(shoeboxes stupid simple)" tek.
Question 1. How wet should my substrate be when I'm ready to fill my tubs and mix the spawn in? Is field capacity a good rule of thumb or should it be wetter? dryer?
Question 2. Since this tek doesn't call for and holes in the fruiting chamber; do i "seal" the tub completely for colonization? Does it need any fresh air at this phase? I have my couple tubs I've made so far with the tupperware lid on, AND wrapped in some black bags (tied up) to keep the light out. Im not going to suffocate them like this am I?
Thats all I need to know for now, and any other advice anyone has is also appreciated! Thanks
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jay.ach
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: LumpyNuzz]
#26891160 - 08/21/20 07:01 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I just went through this learning process myself. Based on the teks I read here and my experience trying to implement them:
1) If you pick up a handful of your sub, squeeze it as hard as you can and you get more than a few drops of water, it's probably too wet. You will need to add more coir or verm. If you have add verm, you may have to PC the batch.
2) Yes to the lid, no to the bag. I kept my lids on the shrooms almost touched the lids, then I unlatched them. And no need for the bag, 12 hours of natural light helps mushrooms.
Good luck and post pics of your results!
-------------------- “One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller LAGM v. 2.023 LAGM2021
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Goatrider
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: LumpyNuzz]
#26891166 - 08/21/20 07:06 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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1. Yes, you want field capacity. Another method would be under field capacity, but with a heavy sprayed top layer, look here: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26009662
2. You never seal your tub, never. If you have a "real" shoebox, there are venting holes on the rim. Also wobbly lids provide enough air movement. Never wrap them in bags, you make stall air and too much CO2 build up, which may be a call for contams. Ambient light is fine from the start.
EDIT: Ok, jay was faster
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Goatrider
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: jay.ach]
#26891170 - 08/21/20 07:08 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
jay.ach said: If you have add verm, you may have to PC the batch.
What you mean with that?
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redbee
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Goatrider]
#26891185 - 08/21/20 07:25 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Goatrider said: Another method would be under field capacity, but with a heavy sprayed top layer, look here: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26009662
I strongly second that tek (specifically heavily misting a top layer), especially if you're unsure about your moisture content in the general substrate. It means you're far less likely to get side-pins on the first flush, because the most ideal environment will be directly above and not along the sides of the tub. It also means that you shouldn't have to worry about misting the first flush at all, if you get it right.
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Roger Clemency
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: LumpyNuzz]
#26891195 - 08/21/20 07:33 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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You will suffocate them by sealing them up. Light is fine for colonization for cubes, it doesn’t cause side pins or anything like that either.
I haven’t read the tek you’re talking about but I do them like this https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26009662
Slightly under field capacity and then soak the top layer after spawning. That gives you good surface conditions until the first flush usually. I leave the lids unlatched with a fan moving air in the room and it’s just right.
Everyone else has already answered since it took me an hour to finish typing but here it is anyway. I’m not wasting my hard work ; )
-------------------- Sour grapes, sweet revenge Heaven starts right where hell ends
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Goatrider
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Roger Clemency]
#26891208 - 08/21/20 07:43 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Roger Clemency said: You will suffocate them by sealing them up. Light is fine for colonization for cubes, it doesn’t cause side pins or anything like that either.
I haven’t read the tek you’re talking about but I do them like this https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26009662
Slightly under field capacity and then soak the top layer after spawning. That gives you good surface conditions until the first flush usually. I leave the lids unlatched with a fan moving air in the room and it’s just right.
Everyone else has already answered since it took me an hour to finish typing but here it is anyway. I’m not wasting my hard work ; )
Yeah, that often happens to me, as i need to google the right technical terms for not typing bullshit sometimes, and somebody is faster then
But it`s always good for beginners to have the same answers from different people for insurance
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IndigoGinzo



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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Roger Clemency]
#26891429 - 08/21/20 10:05 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm a bit confused as I am about to do this very same tek for the first time as well. I thought that you were supposed to seal the box during colonization, but the shitty Sterlite shoebox lids that the tek calls for doesn't create a perfect seal so it allows just enough air in and won't proverbially strangle the mycelium. Is this right?
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Goatrider
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: IndigoGinzo]
#26891453 - 08/21/20 10:19 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Exactly. You place it direct into fruiting conditions with the wobbly lid latched.
Only open for misting if needed, and unlatch as cubes hit the lid.
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Roger Clemency
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Goatrider]
#26891531 - 08/21/20 11:03 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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You’re not supposed to seal cubes up at any time or colonize in the dark. That’s an old thing people once thought you needed for all mushrooms but cubes like air even during colonization.
The sterilite are the best shoe boxes in my experience. I’ve got a few white top types and a couple random off brand and they never work as well as the sterilites
For me I leave the lid unlatched now after a few days once they get near full colonization. During the colder months I had a heater pointing right at my stacks and enough air would get in even with them latched but now with just my ceiling fan on low I keep them unlatched and it’s g2g.
-------------------- Sour grapes, sweet revenge Heaven starts right where hell ends
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LumpyNuzz
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Goatrider]
#26892858 - 08/22/20 03:27 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just to be totally clear: I am at the part where I take my fully colonized jars, and mix them with my substrate in the shoebox. So the mix is NOT fully colonized yet. I must be wrong so please correct me, but I thought when you are waiting for this final spawn/sub mix you put it in a dark, warm cuppord or whatnot (like when colonizing jars). So this part DOES NOT require a sealed, dark, still area? So then am I supposed to put my tubs in fruiting condition NOW??? I thought u need to wait till this mix is fully colonized and THEN put in fruiting condition.
Sorry if I sound confusing but I;m a little confused lol.
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LumpyNuzz
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: Roger Clemency]
#26892864 - 08/22/20 03:30 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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thank you very much for elaborating you just answered my last post i just asked about this \/ before I got to reading your post. props!
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Goatrider
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Re: 2 Questions about Shoebox Monotub (COLONIZATION PROCESS) [Re: LumpyNuzz]
#26892870 - 08/22/20 03:39 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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No you don`t need. This is way outdated. You start out with ambient light with your jars. Fill your tubs, let colonize just as you put into fruiting conditions. People here in the shroomery walked that path of pioneers, and proved that sealing in the dark isn`t needed. You save time with going directly into fruiting conditions. Sealing up also may be a call for contams, due to stall air.
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