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ArkaNaut
Grumpy Meat Goblin


Registered: 05/13/24
Posts: 244
Last seen: 5 minutes, 25 seconds
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First timer encouraged
#28779798 - 05/19/24 09:48 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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I started uncle ben tek in march. My rice bags took ages to colonize, probably because I only used needlestick openings for free air. After cutting a larger opening and covering with micropore, colonization proceeded. In April I broke up one bag into a monotub with sterile substrate ordered online. For weeks I watched the mycelium spread, but it seemed to stall. Then I was excited to see a patch of white dots. Hurray! It’s pinning! But then I saw there was a patch of green next to it. Despair. Brought the tub carefully outside and neglected it for a week. Planned to dump it into the compost or mix it into potting soil or something. Today I found the tub, on the ground, the mycelium all broken up , and one tiny pin sticking up. I was so happy! My first ever mushroom. Thought about watching it to see if it would grow, but decided this was the mycelium’s way of telling me not to give up, have a treat. So three months after starting, I popped this little delicious nutty nugget of magic in my mouth. My wife has been starting a container garden. I read about people planting their mycelium along with other plants. Some say that trich actually protects plants against other molds. So I broke up the mycelium and mixed it with fox farms potting soil abd worm castings. Trying to decide what to plant. The rich mushroom smell was so rewarding and comforting. Even though my work gas yielded just a single tiny mushroom, I think it’s all going to be worth it! I have a few larger grow bags going, and four colonized uncle bens to spawn to bulk. I’ve avoided interacting with any of them for fear of spreading trich, but I think it’s time. The little nubbin I ate is kicking in, no visuals but a general sense of wellbeing is setting in. Excited to see what the future holds!
Edit: added picture
Edited by ArkaNaut (05/19/24 02:39 PM)
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wosbit
Stranger
Registered: 03/02/23
Posts: 222
Last seen: 8 days, 17 hours
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: ArkaNaut]
#28779827 - 05/19/24 10:02 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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So, for me, the logical step after UB, and a huge step up, is the rich man's guide to growing mushrooms. It can be found on the Hitchhikers Guide here at Shroomery. Basically, buy a spore syringe from a reputable vendor, buy premade grain bags from a reputable vendor and use that. Uncle Ben's CAN work, it worked for me, but I found it a lot less convenient and not that much cheaper. If you do want to continue doing UB, I can give you some pointers on that too. As for the more advanced stuff, a new member will have to jump in.
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alligator


Registered: 03/28/24
Posts: 199
Last seen: 2 days, 19 hours
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: wosbit]
#28779841 - 05/19/24 10:09 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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I think wosbit meant a liquid culture syringe and not a spore syringe into grain. Spores should only be injected into PF Tek and not grain.
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milkboy
Child



Registered: 05/01/21
Posts: 2,455
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: alligator] 1
#28779848 - 05/19/24 10:14 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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Based on his post I dont think he meant LC. Pf tek would be a great option to skip buying premade bags though if you intend to just shoot spores.
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alligator


Registered: 03/28/24
Posts: 199
Last seen: 2 days, 19 hours
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: milkboy]
#28779897 - 05/19/24 10:43 AM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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I agree. I started with PF Tek and am finding it incredibly beginner-friendly. I'm also not a rich man, though.
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wosbit
Stranger
Registered: 03/02/23
Posts: 222
Last seen: 8 days, 17 hours
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: alligator]
#28780066 - 05/19/24 12:41 PM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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I've used both LC and spores. I think vendors have come a long way. I have gone spore syringe to grain many many times without contam. The only times I have had issues is when I used a syringe and stored some for later. Otherwise, everything has been clean. Slower growth for sure, but no contam. I also brought up premade grain bags because they can be good for a beginner or someone who isn't sure about the hobby. You can get 3 3lb bags for $25 shipped. Also, never had issues with premade grain bags.
Only contam I had from a syringe was a p mexicana that never took off and got wet spot. Every other vendor has been 100% clean.
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ArkaNaut
Grumpy Meat Goblin


Registered: 05/13/24
Posts: 244
Last seen: 5 minutes, 25 seconds
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Re: First timer encouraged [Re: wosbit]
#28780237 - 05/19/24 02:47 PM (1 month, 6 days ago) |
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As it happens, I also have some bags going. After inoculating LC of B+, APE, and GT into 2 uncle ben bags each, I added the rest of each syringe into three different grow bags. Getting a sense of which kind I like the most.
I had essentially given up on the whole grow after my monotub seemingly failed. After getting that one little pin (picture added above) I was inspired to dive back in. My rice bags were between half colonized and completely colonized, after 8 weeks. One downside to uncle ben tek is you can only see through the window at the bottom, so it’s pretty hard to know how much has colonized. I already had some shoeboxes ready with pasteurized coco, so I dove in and broke em up.
I had thought the bags were just inject, wait, harvest. Turns out you have to break and shake with them as well. So I did that as well, and I’m excited to see where it goes!
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