|
psycho_nauticus
Stranger



Registered: 01/26/20
Posts: 779
Loc: Incognito on Cloud 9
Last seen: 7 months, 5 days
|
Substrate compaction?
#26999662 - 10/23/20 12:37 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Well I spawned my shoeboxes today, but since I'm OCD about them being really level, I pressed down and compacted when spawning to make everything nice level and to reduce side pins. I didn’t use any liners, and to get rid of side pins I’ve read it’s about substrate compaction. I know it was more than just a light "tamping", I actually pressed it down firmly once or twice with my hand. How will this affect my shoeboxes, colonization, and results? Because now I'm concerned I've screwed them up.
--------------------
Edited by psycho_nauticus (10/23/20 01:29 PM)
|
Rhizomorph
Psychedelic Researcher



Registered: 04/24/20
Posts: 785
|
|
They will be fine - might colonize marginally slower but I doubt you'd be able to tell much of a difference.
Plus slower colonization can be a good thing sometimes since it allows the mycelium to consolidate for longer before pins form. This can lead to bigger fruits. I'm just postulating in terms of the bigger fruits though.
The main takeaway is that as long as the substrate is reasonably flat/level you have nothing to worry about.
Edited by Rhizomorph (10/23/20 01:30 PM)
|
A.k.a
Stranger



Registered: 10/27/19
Posts: 16,782
Loc: Gaming the system
Last seen: 2 hours, 51 minutes
|
Re: Substrate compaction? [Re: Rhizomorph]
#26999785 - 10/23/20 01:55 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I pack my edges down super tight. Then spread the raised middle out and do it again and then level the surface.
It helped me a lot without liners and especially with liners cuz it’s pressed so tight everything sticks together with no folds or bubbles.
--------------------
LAGM2020     
|
psycho_nauticus
Stranger



Registered: 01/26/20
Posts: 779
Loc: Incognito on Cloud 9
Last seen: 7 months, 5 days
|
Re: Substrate compaction? [Re: A.k.a]
#26999841 - 10/23/20 02:24 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Right, but I did it without liners this time to see if I could achieve it without side pins on my own. Not only did I pack and compact the sides down tight, but I did it to the whole thing all over center and all. That's what I'm worried about, if I compacted everything down too tight and much.
I did two singe shoeboxes of RW each with just one quart in each, and then a third shoebox with both of my 2 quarts of PESA.
--------------------
|
A.k.a
Stranger



Registered: 10/27/19
Posts: 16,782
Loc: Gaming the system
Last seen: 2 hours, 51 minutes
|
|
It’s fine man the myc pulls it all together anyways.
Plus cubes are unstoppable.
I’ve had some cultures where the edges took longer to colonize cuz they were packed in but most of the time it doesn’t seem to matter.
--------------------
LAGM2020     
|
psycho_nauticus
Stranger



Registered: 01/26/20
Posts: 779
Loc: Incognito on Cloud 9
Last seen: 7 months, 5 days
|
Re: Substrate compaction? [Re: A.k.a]
#26999897 - 10/23/20 02:57 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
AKA - Well this time I'm going to try my hardest and take your advice that you told me on another thread about I should do a shoebox and just leave it be somewhere for 2 weeks and not even look or go back to it. That's what I'm planning to do with these 3, but I'm just going to set them all just under my window so they can at least get light. All my lids and latches are snapped shut and latched down, but before I always introduced straight to fruiting by popping the lids and latches and having a gap for FAE immediately when spawning. It is my understanding that I don't even have to do that since they are designed to receive FAE anyways with the lid shut correct? Keeping the lids shut and latched won't affect pinning? Literally just keep it shut and latched the whole way through?
--------------------
|
One of Us
Stranger



Registered: 03/12/12
Posts: 1,140
Last seen: 6 days, 15 hours
|
|
I keep mine snapped shut the whole way through. Once the fruits are touching the lid I'll swap it out for a grocery bag, tho. Shoeboxes are super easy and set and forget in most cases. As long as they aren't in direct sunlight for a long time or something else that'll dry them out. I once had an led light sitting directly on the lid. I think it dried that one out a little, but other than that, they work perfectly for me.
|
psycho_nauticus
Stranger



Registered: 01/26/20
Posts: 779
Loc: Incognito on Cloud 9
Last seen: 7 months, 5 days
|
Re: Substrate compaction? [Re: One of Us]
#27000059 - 10/23/20 04:43 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
One of Us - Well I'm keeping it by the window but with the blinds shut so it gets the 12/12 light cycle. With the blinds shut that should be sufficient ambient light. Really I would like to just stuff them in a closet or a different room somewhere where I'm not tempted to look at it, but if there's no light then they grow all messed up from the pictures that I see. So it will be hard having them in my bedroom and not constantly looking at them or taking the lids off lol. So you only unsnap the lid and introduce more FAE when they're about to mature? Also, when you go back up and read from the beginning of the thread, what do you think about my substrate compaction problem I've been worrying about?
--------------------
|
One of Us
Stranger



Registered: 03/12/12
Posts: 1,140
Last seen: 6 days, 15 hours
|
|
Honestly, I only unsnap the lid just to not impede the growth of the fruit. It doesn't hurt anything to leave it snapped tho. You'll just have some crooked fruits. There is plenty of air exchange even with the lid snapped.
The compacting issue isn't anything to worry too much about. It may just slow it down a hair, but that's it
|
psycho_nauticus
Stranger



Registered: 01/26/20
Posts: 779
Loc: Incognito on Cloud 9
Last seen: 7 months, 5 days
|
Re: Substrate compaction? [Re: One of Us]
#27000118 - 10/23/20 05:22 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Well 2 single shoeboxes of RW, and then a third shoebox with 2 quarts of spawn of PESA (that's the one I'm worried about), so hopefully double the spawn will help somewhat to counteract that... I got 3 shoeboxes, it would be nice if I got one of each variety, but hell all I care about now is if one shoebox even makes it...
--------------------
|
|