rumfor69 said:

I read almost all of it. I had a similar
issue recently in my Zero to 50%
thread...kinda

I had weak slow wispy growth and even
contams seemed to struggle. I suspect
it's something in the agar ingredients.

Despite everything being fine maybe you
should try some different brands.

Go for the Living Jin Agar Agar
https://a.co/d/5ePFQRN

And the Maltoferm LME
https://a.co/d/bjcWM6D


I don't know if this will fix your problem
it can't hurt to try and isn't expensive.
These two exact products saved my ass and
my cultures.

---

Smellyhobbit said:

At this point i wouldn’t be surprised. I read here about 6 hours a day. I’ve heard stories about bad agar, so it’s certainly possible. Pinky has given me good advice on how to further tighten up my process, but nothing that would explain a total lack of growth. It’s like things actively resist growing on it at all.

---

Smellyhobbit said:

When you say potato flake, do you mean like boxed instant potatoes? Like food? Dumb question I’m sure but I want to confirm. That’s an easy buy.

---

mushboy said:

whip up some mashed taters while ur at it the flakes are not that bad. use a bit of milk and some roasted garlic bulbs and you got a meal.

you could boil potatoes as well and use the water but thats a pain in the ass and your stuck with all those potatoes

---

wild_aussie said:

So in theory i should be able to slip this guy into a sterile lc jar and it should work same as agar since is going from one sterile enviroment to another right?


Also I just found some grain cook water in my fridge from about 2 weeks ago is it safe to use since it gets sterilized or toss and wait until I prep some more?

---

nektar61 said:

Smellyhobbit said:

At this point i wouldn’t be surprised. I read here about 6 hours a day. I’ve heard stories about bad agar, so it’s certainly possible. Pinky has given me good advice on how to further tighten up my process, but nothing that would explain a total lack of growth. It’s like things actively resist growing on it at all.

---

I also use Living Jin agar, plus activated charcoal, and use potato flakes, not malt.

Here's my tek, I get nice ropy mycelium almost every time. (But not too ropy.)

Might be other factors, but this works for me:
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/27551422#27551422

I think of many agar recipes having similar results, but someone else was having trouble, then followed my tek and stopped having trouble and also got ropy plates.

---