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Dsb7796
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Struggling to grow gourmet
#28383364 - 07/03/23 09:11 AM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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I’ve grown cubensis plenty of times and have had great results each round, but when it comes to gourmet, I have had the exact opposite of that luck.
I’ve tried oyster, turkey tail, Reishi, lions mane, and shiitake. All of which have contaminated either in the grain jar or grow bag…
I don’t understand where I’m going wrong, I’m essentially doing everything the same as I do with cubes, just transitioned into bags rather than tubs.
My bags always end up looking really gnarly and bacterial (a layer of slime / water, yellowing, metabolites, etc.)
The jar is my current attempt at turkey tail.


The bag is my last attempt with Reishi, threw it out a whole back.

Thank you for any response.
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RockinRobot
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28383380 - 07/03/23 09:22 AM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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My guess would be the brown rice. Try Rye or millet. Lot of threads on here on prep for both. Save the Rice for Cordyceps
Contamination ALWAYS starts with your spawn. Proper Sterilization, Good technique with transfers and better spawn should get you better results.
Edited by RockinRobot (07/03/23 09:23 AM)
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Dsb7796
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: RockinRobot]
#28383413 - 07/03/23 09:51 AM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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Thank you, will do!
Off your last statement, I just wanted to add… sterilized a jar of brown rice and let it set for 2-3 weeks. No signs of bacterial growth what so ever. As soon as I inoculate however, I get continuous moisture and condensation, as well as slimy grains.
Not sure here. Used NS liquid culture, properly sterile.
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RockinRobot
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28383477 - 07/03/23 10:43 AM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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I always send vendor LC to agar to make sure it's clean then use the fresh agar culture to make my own LC. Not saying I don't trust vendors but I don't trust vendors to be perfect.
For myself I use Rye for everything, including cubes. Overnight soak, 10-15min boil then spread out on trays till outsides are dry again then into jars and PC 2 hours. 90 min PC is sufficient but I give it the extra time. Rather spend an extra 30 min here than loose a couple weeks when shit contaminates.
Also even with clean LC there is always a chance of contam if your sterile technique is bad during inoculation. I have found opening jars and squirting in has been better than using an injection port (less contam).
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deadmandave
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: RockinRobot]
#28383844 - 07/03/23 03:07 PM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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I also feel that rice may not be the best grain, if you're having problems use an easier grain like wheat or rye.
Why'd you toss the reishi block? Some water/metabolites exiting the sub during colonization/incubation is pretty normal.
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Mycolorado
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: deadmandave]
#28383935 - 07/03/23 04:44 PM (6 months, 23 days ago) |
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Yeah, reishi looks downright funky in bag.
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SHROOMSISAY01
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Mycolorado]
#28384208 - 07/03/23 09:09 PM (6 months, 22 days ago) |
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I have never grown turkey tail b4 so someone help me out here. The top of his jar looks heavily colonized without the bottom being colonized at all. I think the grain is too wet. It looks way too colonized on top for nothing to be happening at the bottom. It's been over 20 years since I grew from a syringe so maybe that is what is going on. Someone, please correct me if I am wrong.
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Stromrider
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I kind of think the rice is a big part of the problem but I don't know for sure. I've never used it. Buy some rye, wheat, or oats and give that a try
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Dsb7796
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28384525 - 07/04/23 07:54 AM (6 months, 22 days ago) |
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Thank you all for your responses. I’ve only ever done inoculations from syringe, whether spore or culture. Just ordered everything I’ll need for agar, it’s time!
Everyone seems to be in agreement that the rice is the most likely culprit, so I will have rye berries to experiment with as I grow my agar cultures.
Between new grain, starting from agar, and using a STAB (never needed prior, lucky I guess) I should be in better shape correct?
Using maple dust as bulk.
Anything else to add?
Thank you all so much for your time!
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Dsb7796
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28384540 - 07/04/23 08:10 AM (6 months, 22 days ago) |
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Another question while I’m at it. Should I get PP5 dishes, pour my agar in, then pressure cook?
Or should I perfect my still air box transitions? Just transition sterile agar to normal Petri dishes?
Just curious, don’t want to accidentally melt Petris in my pressure cooker…
Thanks again!!!
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deadmandave
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28384543 - 07/04/23 08:16 AM (6 months, 22 days ago) |
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No pour agar tek
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26374264/vc/1
Or pour in a sab. With good technique you will have high success rate.
Maple dust is fine but wood pellets are much easier imo.
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RockinRobot
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28384561 - 07/04/23 08:45 AM (6 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
Dsb7796 said: Another question while I’m at it. Should I get PP5 dishes, pour my agar in, then pressure cook?
Or should I perfect my still air box transitions? Just transition sterile agar to normal Petri dishes?
Just curious, don’t want to accidentally melt Petris in my pressure cooker…
Thanks again!!!
I was afraid of agar when I started, but once I poured my first set of plates I was shocked at how easy it was. A lot of people like no-pour in PP5 but for myself I don't use PP5 and simply pour in SAB. The more work you do in SAB the better your aseptic technique will become. Regular petri come sterile so you PC the agar then pour when it's almost cool.
I used this link for my agar I use LME at 1%
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21922023
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Dsb7796
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: RockinRobot]
#28395008 - 07/14/23 05:34 AM (6 months, 12 days ago) |
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Hey all, back with my dishes and a couple of questions if someone wouldn’t mind.
Here are two turkey tail plates from my newest LC syringe, 36 hours old.
Two growths, one I’m assuming is mycelium and another is an obvious bacteria.
Questions. Is that actual mycelium? Looks a little like cobweb but I’m sure mycelium looks different here than grain.
Also, both plates appear to have the same bacterial growth as well as mycelial (hopefully), each plate got 3 drops across, is this likely from syringe or SAB procedures?
Do I need to make a transfer to find out?
It would make a lot of sense actually, if that WAS, what’s contaminating the grow. Tiny bit of bacteria compared to the amount of mycelium in the culture.
Anyways, thank you so much for your time and here are the pictures. Apologies for quality.

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Dsb7796
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Re: Struggling to grow gourmet [Re: Dsb7796]
#28395010 - 07/14/23 05:35 AM (6 months, 12 days ago) |
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First picture, dot on the right towards edge, second, down and to the right a bit.
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