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MountainAnnie
Noob



Registered: 09/08/20
Posts: 6
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it?
#26952217 - 09/24/20 06:16 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Six days ago I set this into fruiting mode... or so I thought.
This was Friday. 
This is today: 

I haven't seen condensation on the sides of the tub since Friday, and the substrate is shrinking away from the sides. I'm afraid it's drying out too much but want to check in with you folks before I do something stupid. I've read you can add water under the liner. Would this be prudent? Should I just be patient?
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mescalinechemist



Registered: 07/02/18
Posts: 189
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: MountainAnnie]
#26952240 - 09/24/20 06:52 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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First question how deep is that substrate, 4 inches is optimal, this looks far deeper than that. Too deep and you risk overheating inside and going anaerobic. Yes that is dry as a bone and does not look fully colonized at all. You should be checking to make sure it has the optimal surface conditions (glistening beads of moisture all over) and if it does not, give it a mist or two. Since it has dried out this much you gotta rehydrate it. If I was you, I would heavily heavily mist it 3 or 4 times in the coming day, let it drink up. Fine mist, don't squirt jets of water at the surface.
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MountainAnnie
Noob



Registered: 09/08/20
Posts: 6
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: mescalinechemist] 1
#26952258 - 09/24/20 07:11 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks for the response. The substrate is exactly three inches deep, the bottom of my bottom hole is at 3.5" and this is a 66qt tub.
I'll get on misting it. Has anyone had success adding water between the liner and the tub?
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mescalinechemist



Registered: 07/02/18
Posts: 189
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: MountainAnnie]
#26952264 - 09/24/20 07:16 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Very good! From the picture, the way it was zoomed made it look thicker than it was. Hmm, people normally put water between the liner and the tub to float the substrate out to do things with it (like harvest etc). I've never heard of people putting water between the liner and the tub to soak it. Get misting and if it doesn't bounce back then you might as well soak it for a couple hours. Best of luck!
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,674
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: mescalinechemist]
#26952327 - 09/24/20 08:26 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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It's normal for the sub to shrink. Also, you're not looking for condensation on the walls. That's not an indicator of surface conditions. You want microbeads evident on the substrate surface. Sometimes this moisture is hard to see. Additionally, you may have to adjust the tightness of your poly to get more ideal surface conditions. Never rely on moisture on the walls or lid as an indicator for surface conditions. Shine a light right on the surface and look closely to check for little beadlets of moisture. Adjust that poly and/or lid orientation until you achieve this. If it's really dry on top right meow, LIGHTLY mist at a distance, but you need to dial in your tub IF surface conditions aren't being met. Can't tell that from the pics obviously. You should never have to bottom water before first flush.
-------------------- "First we build the tools, then they build us." THE 49th MYCOJOURNAL: Exotics, Auroras, and Entities
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Pearl
Stranger


Registered: 05/28/20
Posts: 261
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: alaskappalachian]
#26952342 - 09/24/20 08:47 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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If you add water between the liner and the tub, all you're doing is floating it, not hydrating. So not much point in that at this stage...
As others have said, frequent, heavy mistings will get you back to where you want to be.
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,674
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: Pearl]
#26952350 - 09/24/20 08:57 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pearl said:
As others have said, frequent, heavy mistings will get you back to where you want to be.
No. "Frequent heavy mistings" will not get you back where you need to be. I literally said to observe and then adjust surface conditions as needed once they find out rather they are actually maintaining surface conditions, and if needed to LIGHTLY mist absolutely needed. Which you shouldn't have to do before your first flush. OP is relying on moisture on the walls to determine conditions which is not how you do it. Again, it's normal for your sub to shrink. Just be patient and refer to my first response in regard to dialing in your tub if needed. Do not "heavily and repeatedly" mist your tub.
-------------------- "First we build the tools, then they build us." THE 49th MYCOJOURNAL: Exotics, Auroras, and Entities
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Pearl
Stranger


Registered: 05/28/20
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Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: alaskappalachian]
#26952394 - 09/24/20 09:18 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dude, it's pulled away from the walls by at least half an inch before the first flush... I'm not telling him to go buck wild with it but lightly misting every now and then will not rehydrate the sub, which by the pics is now dry. You want to go heavier than that.
People have different opinions as to what heavy and light mean. Some think heavy means ending up with soup and some think light means 2 sprays from 4 feet above, letting it settle.
My suggestion, spray to rehydrate the sub and check status frequently as the water distributes through the coir.
Once rehydrated, don't spray as frequently as needed to maintain surface conditions.
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MountainAnnie
Noob



Registered: 09/08/20
Posts: 6
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Sub drier than a popcorn fart? Should I water underneath it? [Re: Pearl]
#26954923 - 09/25/20 06:47 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thank you all for chiming in! I'm keeping up with misting about four times a day, not heavily but just so there are droplets on the surface.
Unfortunately I might have spotted the reason for it's stall - besides being too dry I think I see some spots of trich in the corner I thought I was doing so well with my bucket tek.
Thoughts?
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