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DrCobalt
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Registered: 09/16/20
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Proper grain bag inoculation
#26940711 - 09/17/20 01:21 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hi Folks
I am relatively new to cultivation and will be using my first grain substrate bag from a reputable vendor. I have seen and read many versions of how to inoculate the grain bag, but I have come across some discrepancies...
I have two questions:
1- Is there a downside to adding too much inoculate to a grain bag? I have seen that anywhere from 1ml to 3ml is often recommended. I will have two 3 lb. bags and a syringe of 10+ml. Is there any reason I should not divide the syringe contents across the two bags - which will be about 5ml per bag?
2- As to how to inoculate the bags, some suggest just injecting the spores into the bag while the grain is still tightly packed without ever loosening the grain at all. The others suggests breaking up and gently shaking the bag after inoculation to distribute the spore liquid more evenly around the grain.
What might be the advantages and disadvantages of each technique?
Thnx
DrC
-------------------- "Some people are afraid of new ideas... I'm afraid or the old ones." - John Cage
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ArthurFungarelli
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: DrCobalt]
#26940714 - 09/17/20 01:24 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I would recommend not injecting spores directly into your grain bags since there's a high risk of contamination going from spores to grain. You'll likely have a lot better success if you put those spores to agar first, get some clean mycellium, and maybe make some LC to noc up your bags.
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WyoMX

Registered: 07/06/15
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Loc: PNW
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: DrCobalt]
#26940722 - 09/17/20 01:29 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Well buying premade bags then injecting with a syringe is bad news anyways. Even the most reputable vendors don't always have 100% clean syringes. You may get results but you may be wasting your time as well.
Having said all that I've done exactly what you want to do. I injected the bag through the injection port and used 3 to 4cc. Out of the 4 bags I tried to knock up 2 of them fully colonized and was able to spawn other 2 were gone a week later.
You don't wanna use to much of the syringe because too much moisture/extra liquid could be bad. I would let the bag open up and loosen the grains before injecting personally.
Then I would take the remaining syringe and put it on agar and learn to prep your own grain. Its easier then it seems once you have a bit of experience going through a cycle.
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DrCobalt
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: WyoMX]
#26940761 - 09/17/20 01:53 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Enlightening!
I didn't realize that spore injection of grain bags was not a preferred way.
I did an inoculation of 6 half pt jars from the same substrate and spore syringe vendor combo with no issues - lucky I guess. But then that means I used about 4ml spore solution per pint. I think that each 3 lb. bag could probably 5ml since that would be less than the jar method. Anyway, I feel like i'd waste the spores if I held back 2 or 3 ml - cheap to a fault perhaps.
I think I will give this a go and learn from my mistakes as necessary.
Should I break/shake up the grain before inoculation, after or both?
-------------------- "Some people are afraid of new ideas... I'm afraid or the old ones." - John Cage
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Forrester
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Registered: 02/05/13
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: DrCobalt]
#26940822 - 09/17/20 02:32 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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There's really no reason to use that much of the spore solution, just 1ml should be good - shake the syringe before, and the bag after inoculation.
There's loads of spores in every drop, the more you inject the more bacteria you're probably injecting in there with it. Less is better.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here. ------------------- Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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DrCobalt
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: Forrester]
#26942373 - 09/18/20 12:43 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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After reading around this site a bit more I realize I should take the advice and develop a liquid culture before inoculating the grain.
Thnx for the help
-------------------- "Some people are afraid of new ideas... I'm afraid or the old ones." - John Cage
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ArthurFungarelli
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Re: Proper grain bag inoculation [Re: DrCobalt]
#26942405 - 09/18/20 01:07 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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No problem dude! Remember to put the spores to agar before LC. Spores directly to LC has the same risks as going directly into your grains with spores. The agar lets you isolate good mycellium from contaminants.
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