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Rat-a-Tat
Psychedelic Student



Registered: 07/11/17
Posts: 219
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The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid 1
#26953485 - 09/24/20 08:48 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have been growing mushrooms for about a year now, and after hours and hours of reading, I am just now scratching the surface of the infinite abyss that is mycology. Thank you to everyone on this message board for sharing so freely for this passion we all have. I have made a lot of mistakes and continue to make a lot of mistakes growing mushrooms. Learning from them and trying harder is the only way to grow. I thought that I would share a few pointers and pitfalls that I have learned along the way. I made all of these and I hope that you can learn from my mistakes.
1) Don't start the work if you are not in the right headspace or don't have ample amount of time. It seems like if either of these two variables are in play, I don't take adequate precautions and I mess something up. Patients is the only way in mycology. Get in the right headspace for the work and make sure you have ample time.
2) Don't get overwhelmed by all of the different teks out there. When you first start it's overwhelming looking through all of the teks, information and it's hard to know where to start. Pick something that speaks to you, decide to use it, try it out. If that one doesn't work, then move on a try a different one. Don't let yourself get decision paralysis. Pick a tek and go for it.
3) You can't cut corners in the SAB (Still Air Box). Not preparing properly can cost you money, energy and most importantly time. Make sure to scrub up properly, make sure to wet everything down enough, make sure and not work over open medium. Read up on proper practices to execute in the SAB and don't deviate from them. If you do, you'll most likely see contamination down the line. Don't cut corners in the SAB.
4) PC'ing Grains for 90 minutes is not enough, at least in my experience. 90 minutes is really the bare minimum. Some people get away with it, but I seem to always have problems with 90 minutes. I have had much better success now that I PC for 120 minutes. PC your grains for 120 minutes.
5) Don't try and buy a pressure cooker in the middle of a fucking COVID pandemic, because there is a nationwide shortage and you will lose your shorts in an EBAY auction ($300 for a Presto 23 quart). Buy your pressure cooker before a pandemic.
6) Don't try to start with Pan Cyans. They are difficult for seasoned growers and you will have much better success with Cubes. Stick with Cubes until you get the proper knowledge.
This board has given me so much and I haven't really given anything back in return. I hope this small post will at least reach one person starting out. I hope to continue to contribute as I learn more. Thank you to everyone who has given advise, done write ups or just tripped in general. These substances are truly something else, and they deserve to be spread and shared. Much love - Cole
Edited by Rat-a-Tat (09/24/20 08:52 PM)
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Rat-a-Tat] 1
#26953806 - 09/25/20 02:57 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Rat-a-Tat said: 4) PC'ing Grains for 90 minutes is not enough, at least in my experience. 90 minutes is really the bare minimum. Some people get away with it, but I seem to always have problems with 90 minutes. I have had much better success now that I PC for 120 minutes. PC your grains for 120 minutes.
Are you venting your PC correctly? Because 90 minutes is enough. I think there's an issue with your pressure or you're not venting correctly if you have issues with 90min.
-------------------- 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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tryptkaloids
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Forrester]
#26953817 - 09/25/20 03:30 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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also overprepped grain
-------------------- "Remember, kids, the difference between science and screwing around is writing it down" -adam savage Flowchart for Recommended plan of action. Learn the tried and true way to grow mushrooms Use the Damn search engine After you know what you're doing, take a break Pick a book, Make some chips! Josex said:Don't take the site seriously bro, ain't worth it.
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Rat-a-Tat
Psychedelic Student



Registered: 07/11/17
Posts: 219
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Forrester]
#26953861 - 09/25/20 05:04 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Forrester said:
Quote:
Rat-a-Tat said: 4) PC'ing Grains for 90 minutes is not enough, at least in my experience. 90 minutes is really the bare minimum. Some people get away with it, but I seem to always have problems with 90 minutes. I have had much better success now that I PC for 120 minutes. PC your grains for 120 minutes.
Are you venting your PC correctly? Because 90 minutes is enough. I think there's an issue with your pressure or you're not venting correctly if you have issues with 90min.
How do you mean venting? I turn it on, get it to 15 PSI, and let it run for 90 minutes. Then come back about 5 hours later and take out the jars. Is there another step in venting besides just putting your weight on and letting it run it's course?
Edited by Rat-a-Tat (09/25/20 05:07 AM)
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Rat-a-Tat
Psychedelic Student



Registered: 07/11/17
Posts: 219
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: tryptkaloids]
#26953863 - 09/25/20 05:06 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
tryptkaloids said:
also overprepped grain
I use Hamloaf's super simple rye tek. cold water, bring to boil for 10 minutes, turn off, let steep in water for 10 minutes, drain water, cool, load up jars.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/25047342#25047342
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LotKid
Never.Trust.A.Prankster


Registered: 01/07/17
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Loc: Shakedown St.
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Rat-a-Tat] 1
#26953890 - 09/25/20 05:31 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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If you dont know what "venting your pc" means then i'm gonna guess that you dont do it and that's why 90 min doesnt work for your jars. 90 min for jars is what i do.
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sporecap
Shedding...

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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Rat-a-Tat]
#26953891 - 09/25/20 05:34 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I think there is only one noob mistake to avoid when getting started; that is, not reading the most important sticky post in the Getting Started section Getting Started, Up To Date TEKs, Trusted Cultivator links
Everything you need to know is explained in there, including venting, grain prep, agar work, etc. I think I devoured the linked threads more than 3 times each before I got started one year ago, and it answered basically all my questions and so far I never really had a failed grow.
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LotKid
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Registered: 01/07/17
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Loc: Shakedown St.
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Rat-a-Tat]
#26953892 - 09/25/20 05:36 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Rat-a-Tat
Psychedelic Student



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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: LotKid]
#26953913 - 09/25/20 05:59 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
LotKid said: If you dont know what "venting your pc" means then i'm gonna guess that you dont do it and that's why 90 min doesnt work for your jars. 90 min for jars is what i do.
I have not been properly venting then... I can't believe with all that I've read, I missed that in so many threads.
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Roger Clemency
Smile


Registered: 03/23/20
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Rat-a-Tat]
#26954222 - 09/25/20 10:17 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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There are so many little gems that get missed in a lot of teks. When I first started I read the “front page” of the Shroomery. The lists of teks and stuff in like 05 was rough man. Then I came back a few years later and started to look at the same stuff but found things missing and that led me to the forums where my mind was blown with all the misinformation and missed information.
I still find gems just by reading through random threads and BSing on here.
Watch bodhisatta video about operating the PC. With the presto 23 you can put the 3 quarters on the weight and rock 17-18 psi with almost no noise and water loss and that will definitely sterilize your grains in 90. With proper venting ofc
-------------------- Sour grapes, sweet revenge Heaven starts right where hell ends
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Fuddyduddy
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Roger Clemency]
#26954480 - 09/25/20 01:10 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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All the pedantic parrots that assume you're not properly using your pressure cooker overlook basic science like atmospheric pressure.
15psi at 90 minutes is standard @ sea level. You have to adjust preparation based on your environment.
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tryptkaloids
Learner



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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: Fuddyduddy]
#26954518 - 09/25/20 01:37 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Well, he wasn't using it properly, so that greatly effects the pressure ratio between the pc and atmosphere
-------------------- "Remember, kids, the difference between science and screwing around is writing it down" -adam savage Flowchart for Recommended plan of action. Learn the tried and true way to grow mushrooms Use the Damn search engine After you know what you're doing, take a break Pick a book, Make some chips! Josex said:Don't take the site seriously bro, ain't worth it.
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trippleblack
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: tryptkaloids]
#26954529 - 09/25/20 01:51 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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in the begining i don't think i vented my jars in the presto, and i'm pretty sure that worked fine.. i been running 90 minutes atleast 6 years no issue.. of course i do vent now.
spawn bags full stuffed, thats a different story. i tried 2.5 hours with possible issue, things went well at 3.5 hours.
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tryptkaloids
Learner



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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: trippleblack]
#26954554 - 09/25/20 02:09 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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People get away with less than ideal methods all the time.
-------------------- "Remember, kids, the difference between science and screwing around is writing it down" -adam savage Flowchart for Recommended plan of action. Learn the tried and true way to grow mushrooms Use the Damn search engine After you know what you're doing, take a break Pick a book, Make some chips! Josex said:Don't take the site seriously bro, ain't worth it.
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alaskappalachian
Entitiologist

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,674
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Re: The 6 Biggest Noob Mistakes to Avoid [Re: tryptkaloids]
#26954591 - 09/25/20 02:34 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
tryptkaloids said: People get away with less than ideal methods all the time.
Absolutely. People used to do 60min runs and call it a day. So 90min without venting might work in the right circumstances and you get lucky. Doesn't make it less true that there won't be unsterilized areas after a cycle. There will be.
Bod explains it pretty well:
Temperature doesn't do the sterilization, energy does. Air has dramatically less energy than steam of the same temperature.
Try cooking a turkey at 250F in an oven. Then put the same size turkey in a pressure cooker at 250F One will take all day one will take under an hour.
^^^ You vent to ensure that you don't have pockets of dry air. Sooner or later it will affect your jars if not.
-------------------- "First we build the tools, then they build us." THE 49th MYCOJOURNAL: Exotics, Auroras, and Entities
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