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Shrewmbie
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Registered: 07/28/24
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When should I give up on a grow bag?
#28890768 - 07/28/24 01:18 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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I am new to mushroom cultivation, I inoculated a grow bag with a GT spore syringe, about a month and a half ago, maybe 2 months. Everything was going good, I got to about 30% colonized, did the break and shake, and that was about 3 weeks ago now, it has looked the same since day 7 after the b&s. There is and has been a lot of condensation in the bag since the beginning, if I touch or move the bag in any way, it rolls down the side. I’m trying to hold out but as the days go by it’s becoming less promising. When should I give up? Or should I keep trying to coax it along… another b&s maybe? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
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Coconutz
Yes, I do need to do better



Registered: 06/24/24
Posts: 28
Last seen: 4 months, 6 days
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890786 - 07/28/24 01:30 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Share some pictures.
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Shrewmbie
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Registered: 07/28/24
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Coconutz]
#28890817 - 07/28/24 01:50 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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I’m not quite sure how to share pictures on here yet 🙃 I will try to figure it out
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Coconutz
Yes, I do need to do better



Registered: 06/24/24
Posts: 28
Last seen: 4 months, 6 days
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890860 - 07/28/24 01:56 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Hit reply, click on the picture icon, click select file and then hit upload, and then post.
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Shrewmbie
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Registered: 07/28/24
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Coconutz]
#28890931 - 07/28/24 02:02 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Edited by Shrewmbie (07/28/24 02:04 PM)
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Coconutz
Yes, I do need to do better



Registered: 06/24/24
Posts: 28
Last seen: 4 months, 6 days
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890938 - 07/28/24 02:12 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Definitely some growth going on. What are your temps like?
Also maybe it's just the picture but I'm seeing some green maybe it's brusing and looks green in the picture or a reflection or something.
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Shrewmbie
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Coconutz]
#28890943 - 07/28/24 02:18 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Temps fluctuate between 72ish to 77ish, i bought a reptile heating pad for it to try to keep temps more steady. It might be a reflection, in person I don’t see any green but it’s quite hard to see completely through the wetness.
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Bigdogg
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890956 - 07/28/24 02:27 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Time to trash it.
There is mold in there. It is green and looks like mold spores stuck to the bag. Definitely something besides mycelium growing. (Green circle).
There are metabolites in the bottom left corner indicating the mycelium is fighting off some type of contaminant. (Yellow circle).

The July 1st pic looked a little too wet. Maybe too hot?
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Bigdogg
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890963 - 07/28/24 02:32 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Quote:
Shrewmbie said: Temps fluctuate between 72ish to 77ish, i bought a reptile heating pad for it to try to keep temps more steady. It might be a reflection, in person I don’t see any green but it’s quite hard to see completely through the wetness.
Get rid of the heating pad. I'm struggling to keep temps down in July.
You posted this as I was posting my previous reply but that looks like green mold. Could be lighting or reflection or something. It should have been opened a week or two ago so go ahead and cut it open and get a better look. It doesn't look healthy tho.
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Coconutz
Yes, I do need to do better



Registered: 06/24/24
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Bigdogg]
#28890964 - 07/28/24 02:33 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Yeah no heating pad like he said
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Shrewmbie
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Coconutz]
#28890969 - 07/28/24 02:37 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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I hoped for the best but I kinda figured it was time, do you have any recommendations if I try again, where to keep it and how to keep the temp stable? Also the heating pad is about 12 inches from the bag itself, regular temp in the space it’s in is about 68 because of air conditioning, I was having a hard time keeping it warm enough, only have had it about 4 days, I’ll ditch it for next time!
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Coconutz
Yes, I do need to do better



Registered: 06/24/24
Posts: 28
Last seen: 4 months, 6 days
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890976 - 07/28/24 02:41 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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I'd give up on the grow bags all together and make your own PFTEK jars. It's cheap and easy for beginners. It's what I'm currently doing while I keep learning and waiting to buy a PC.
Heres the guides I use
Edited by Coconutz (07/28/24 02:41 PM)
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Bigdogg
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28890987 - 07/28/24 02:47 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Make your own bags or jars is my first recommendation. No PC? Do PF Tek.
The July 1 pic had too much condensation in the bag but healthy mycelium. Either too hot or contaminated from the supplier.
In a 68° house, putting it in a cabinet or closet or a high shelf, etc. will bring it into the 70's and mycelium makes its own heat and will bring the sub up a couple degrees.
Starting with agar and verifying contamination free mycelium from the start is the best way but PF Tek works very well.
Looks like Coconut beat me to the post again but good advice.
Good luck
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Shrewmbie
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Bigdogg]
#28890990 - 07/28/24 02:49 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Thanks for your advice!
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AzureCultivator
Shaman



Registered: 04/23/24
Posts: 2,023
Loc: PNW
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Re: When should I give up on a grow bag? [Re: Shrewmbie]
#28891045 - 07/28/24 03:27 PM (5 months, 17 days ago) |
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Great advice and great paths forward. What follows is looking back a bit so you can see these things. Hope some of this helps future grows
Spore syringes going to grain has a low success rate. This is due to your mushroom spores being in it as well as mold spores and bacteria spores. You’re basically setting up a race and hoping mycelium wins. PF Tek and agar are the cures
Heating pads are good for bacteria and bad for mycelium. Heat. So, you’re encouraging bacteria with that. Yep, out
Shaking causes all bacteria to spread around and allows bacteria to take over. It also sends the mycelium into regroup mode so they can’t fight. Mycelium fight by building walls around any grain that is controlled by bacteria. Shaking breaks the walls, lets the prisoners free and cripples the guards. Shaking is good when there is no contamination as it allows for quicker colonization
Water is excreted by bacteria. Mycelium keeps water internally. So, a wet bag is a sign
And, metabolites are a sign. You will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that your mycelium is fighting when you have metabolites
In this bag’s case, it didn’t even get to building walls — which is that thick white mycelium (ECM). The mycelium lost the race before the shake. Then, the shake sealed it
This all sounds terrible, I’m sure. On the other hand, it’s just a bag. Best wishes on the next round. You get an infinite number of tries
-------------------- Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Shroomery “Clean spawn is easily the most critical component of the entire cultivation process.”
Drink the Water of Life and become Paul Muad’Dib
Edited by AzureCultivator (07/28/24 11:28 PM)
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