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beargeek
Dabbler


Registered: 06/13/20
Posts: 4
Loc: United States
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Success!
#27057169 - 11/25/20 01:52 PM (3 years, 2 months ago) |
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FIRST REPORT
Greetings.
After four unsuccessful attempts (two grow bags, several Uncle Ben's, and a couple of miserably rotten PF Tek cakes), I finally found some sweet, sweet Fungal Love!
Upon analysis, I believe the fails were caused by the particular environment in which I live.
I can attest that owning a one hundred and thirty year-old antique Tudor-inspired Victorian (in great shape, thanks for asking) has its challenges, not the least of which is the impossibility of creating a contamination-free environment.
"Try and try again" is my motto, don'cha know. (Or perhaps "Try and be obnoxiously trying" might be more apropos.)
So, back to the Instant Pot I go, to sterilize--for one hour under full pressure--two more PF Tek cakes comprised of one part each of
- large form vermiculite
- finely ground vermiculite
- BRF, and
- tap water.
The result of which you see before you: my (albeit small) crop of P. cubensis ("Golden Teacher") which I expect to replace our Thanksgiving turkey this year. These tiny beauties fit my purposes perfectly, as I have no interest in producing any more than my husband and I can consume ourselves.
I had previously harvested ten or so others just as their vela broke, which you'll note in this picture in a small steel bowl placed so just for this picture.
I estimate the total production of this first flush to be 15-17 grams dried.

The only innovations I might humbly add to canon (if I can call them that) are:
* one layer of heavy aluminum foil with the standard cross-pattern of and secured around with autoclave tape, with a second layer of foil on top--both layers sterilized together--to reduce the possibility of contamination while injecting: Lift, stab, & replace...repeat, and
* the re-purposing of a cheap-o CVS ultrasonic mister with an old CPAP hose...


...to both aerate and humidify.
You may note a few variations from the standard:
1. Once I had two completely populated cakes, I cut one in half width-wise (those are the ones with the happy little shrooms lifting their tiny faces to heaven), and sometime later, cut another length-wise (the smaller cakes just beginning to pin in the front) so they could fit my scaled down SGFC.
As a first experience, this made the grow more manageable in a smaller space, and it is noteworthy that cutting the cakes so had no apparent deleterious effect.
2. I also cut out a chunk of sporulating penicillin (blue-green) mold from the larger cake--with good margins all around--before the aforementioned intercision--a not-so-subtle nod to Mr. Pullman & His Dark Materials.
You will note the missing chunk in the upper right cake in the first image. From research, I've learned that you can safely consume the mushrooms without dyspepsia , unless the penicillin has spooged all over, and even then, as long as you wash them thoroughly.
And so the saga continues... yesterday, I inoculated three more jars.
As I had all but run out of spore liquid for the third, I was only able to stab one of the targets; it will be interesting to see how that one evolves.
My theory is that it will, ultimately, fully populate, only in four-times the duration as the other two. "We are patient, precious. Yes, we is!"
My heartfelt thanks to —REDACTED— for their truly excellent product and sterling customer service. Their spore liquid was super-extra chunky! Tell them Beargeek sent you. (Msg me for identity of supplier.)
All best, health and happiness to you and yours.
Yr obt svt, B. Geek
P.S. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not a biologist (though I have some background there), a doctor (ditto), nor is anything I write about here to be taken as authoritative advice. The risk is all yours, friends. I only report here my experiences for your amusement. Excelsior!
Edited by beargeek (11/26/20 12:27 PM)
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starbones
I'm an alien, I eat uranium.



Registered: 03/04/20
Posts: 1,131
Last seen: 2 months, 17 days
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You talk like you grow, needlessly complicated.
That out of the way welcome to Shroomery, here is some helpful links:
Ultimate Tek Compendium: For Noobs And Onward https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/23310889/fpart/all/vc/1
TEKs Trusted Cultivator Methods & Mushroom + Cultivation Info LINK LIBRARY https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=24297804&page=0&vc=1#24297804
The modern, organized and tested information in these links will give you better insight into the ins and outs of cultivation as well as give you established trusted information from which to work from so you can take the same amount of inputs you've used now and vastly increase your outputs compared to now.
A proper SGFC will take care of its own humidity and fresh air exchange requirements without need for any jury-rigged fire hazards.
-------------------- Listen, I'm steel fisted with the iron lung Heavy metal ballads out the guitar where lions run.
 
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beargeek
Dabbler


Registered: 06/13/20
Posts: 4
Loc: United States
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Thank you for the warm welcome, starbones.
I must say, your title seems apt.
All best.
B. Geek
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bigfootscreepyuncl
Stranger


Registered: 11/15/20
Posts: 3,717
Loc: Gamehenge
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Quote:
starbones said: You talk like you grow, needlessly complicated.
LOL!
Anyway, @Beargeek, nice looking mushrooms! I'm an even bigger noob so I won't/can't comment on your grow but compared to many of the unmodified tubs/shoeboxe TEKs it does seem like there's a LOT happening in that picture. Enjoy the fruits of your labor though!
With that being said, it would likely be wise to follow forum rules and not mention, especially not link the company to your post with pictures of you hobby. That's a quick way to get booted from here. Cheers, mate!
--------------------
I 5318008 NOT a virgin!
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Shakedown Street
Friend


Registered: 09/05/20
Posts: 383
Last seen: 2 months, 22 days
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Congratulations on your success, beargeek! Your success inspires me.
Edited by Shakedown Street (11/25/20 05:23 PM)
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beargeek
Dabbler


Registered: 06/13/20
Posts: 4
Loc: United States
Last seen: 1 year, 7 months
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Thanks for the pointer. Post updated.
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