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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
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Seeking advice on pin formation
    #29265154 -

Introduction:
I am on my 3rd Golden Teacher (Psilocybe Cubensis) grow cycles.

Each grow cycle that i do usually involves multiple grows with slightly different
grains (popcorn,grain,rice)
spawn/choir %
choir moisture
Misting/LITFA
Single shoebox/double box
Agar variations etc.

The problem:
The only constant (besides contamination) is that i always get most of my pins either on the bottom or on the sides of the boxes.

I never, ever, achieved a full top canopy, with mostly uniform hyphal knots and pins forming on the top of the substrates.


The same thing happened during winter grows, spring grows and summer grows, so i don't think that ambient temperature is the biggest culprit.


On this 3rd cycle i am starting to see the same problem again, where on my most advanced grow, timing wise, all the hyphal knots and initial pins are developing on the sides and bottom of the boxes.

I really cannot identify the cause, and i would apreciate if someone could help me pinpoint my mistakes, especially if you also had the same problem and solved it.

Thank you.


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

Edited by AlexandrDughin (06/30/25 03:40 PM)

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin]
    #29265161 -

Your surface conditions are not great if you get side pins.

Work on your surface conditions. Also upload photos and it will help people a lot to give your better information.

Also a liner will help a lot but is not necessary at all once you get better in this hobby:rockon:

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: Puduwoke]
    #29265165 -

You can get an ideea of the surface conditions/methods by checking the 2nd and 3rd grows in my signature.

Attaching current run:







Even if i have the small boxes inside a big box containing water, somehow idk why the top moisture evaporates too quickly... and if i mist constantly, my surface goes mat.

I added the clingwrap in an attempt to keep more moisture but idk if it will work

I know the surface conditions are not good, but cannot pinpoint why.
even when they seem good i still end up getting bottom and side pins


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

Edited by AlexandrDughin (06/30/25 03:53 PM)

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: Puduwoke]
    #29265167 -

Puduwoke said:
Also a liner will help a lot but is not necessary at all once you get better in this hobby:rockon:


I tried to put a liner (black/thick plastic) and got the same results, more pins on the side and bottom than on top


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin] * 3
    #29265178 -

I had side pin issues until I actually compressed the sub enough at spawn to bulk. I thought I was doing it good enough, but I managed to get it really squished last time, and it did great.

Get a trowel / tile float / bacon press / etc to really put the screws to it.


--------------------
"For the powerful freedom-takers who rob justice from us all, that's why I keep my pistol loaded, powder, cap, and ball..."
Read more, post less!
...turns out, I'm an amateur at everything

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: KlarnEvil9] * 1
    #29265180 -

Hmmm, interesting.
I only lightly tap it, with my hand, pressing a little but not really pushing, like putting my weight down on it.

i am going to try and press really hard a few boxes of the next spawn.

Thank you for the idea.


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: Puduwoke]
    #29265181 -

Uploaded the current run


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin]
    #29265187 -

The shoebox in my signature is the actual tub that I did this with correctly. I compressed the sub well, then added a top layer of coir (pretty thin) and pressed it some more.

I kinda wonder if running the ratio at 1:1 helped it to compress more. Coir feels kinda springy to me when I run it at higher ratios.


--------------------
"For the powerful freedom-takers who rob justice from us all, that's why I keep my pistol loaded, powder, cap, and ball..."
Read more, post less!
...turns out, I'm an amateur at everything

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: KlarnEvil9]
    #29265200 -

That is a wonderfull result you achieved in that box :smile:

While scanning for hyphal knots on my boxes i kinda noticed that they always form NOT on top of the grains, but on the mycellium that has colonized the wet rich choir (pieces).

On the attached photos i have just mixed choir+grains and put them in a box, but on others i added like you, a very thin layer of choir on top. I'll see what happens to those ones in the next 7-10 days


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin]
    #29265220 -

I'd wager a guess that the chunky coir you're using is affecting how it holds moisture. How are you preparing it? Would you be able to try soaking it in hot water and breaking down the chunks by hand for the next grow?


--------------------
Feeling lost here? We get it. Here's the most up-to-date guide as of 2026.


I know I'm a fool, but that's why I keep trying to learn.
:peace::heart::mushroom2:

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: MethodMyst]
    #29265233 -

Had same issue with chunky choir and fine choir, but you might be right about it.
I say this because of my previous observation of knots forming mostly (only) on the mycellium that colonized choir, and not straight on top of the grain.

I usually let the choir sit for about 10 minutes in hot water, then i drain the water, and squeze it out by hand pretty hard, untill only a few drops come out.

I then mix the spawn with that squezed choir.

I only have this chunky choir on a few small boxes, i managed to find fine one and used that on the rest of the boxes.


--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin] * 1
    #29265242 -

Im far from a pro so hopefully somebody else will chime in but your coir method definitely seems like it would lead to anomalies. 10 minutes in water isn't anywhere near long enough for it to get properly hydrated. Its likely that the mushrooms are just growing where they can get water. Try something like this out next time

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28507557#28507557


--------------------
Where to start?

Are your plates clean?


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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: boxtrotalpha]
    #29265259 -

Word, leaving it overnight or even for 8+ hours really helps to even out the hydration. And always give it good stir when you open it to check for field capacity.


--------------------
"For the powerful freedom-takers who rob justice from us all, that's why I keep my pistol loaded, powder, cap, and ball..."
Read more, post less!
...turns out, I'm an amateur at everything

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: AlexandrDughin] * 1
    #29265474 -

AlexandrDughin said:
Hmmm, interesting.
I only lightly tap it, with my hand, pressing a little but not really pushing, like putting my weight down on it.

i am going to try and press really hard a few boxes of the next spawn.

Thank you for the idea.


I first use my fingertips to really compress the substrate edges for about 1/2 inch around the box walls, then use the trowel to level and compress the entire tub.  But the extra compression along the edges seemed to help the few times I’ve tried it so far.


--------------------
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Shroomery - BeefSupremeJr
A Love Letter to New Growers - Smellyhobbit

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Re: Seeking advice on pin formation [Re: nocap]
    #29266087 -

I am starting to see some hyphal knots appearing near the top after i covered the small boxes with clingwrap.

I am starting to think that one way or another i do not end up with enough humidity kept in the bigger box, even if it is unmodified.

Hyphal knots forming near the top while on the bottom is starting to pin already.




--------------------
Psilocybe Semilanceata Experiment

Saving GT contaminated spawn

Golden Teacher 3rd grow

Golden Teacher 2nd grow

πŸ…ƒπŸ„΄πŸ„°πŸ„Ό  πŸ„²πŸ„»πŸ„ΈπŸ„½πŸ„ΆπŸ…†πŸ…πŸ„°πŸ„Ώ

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Shroomery

Edited by AlexandrDughin (07/01/25 05:29 PM)

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Shop: Sporeworks.EU Spores for European Microscopy   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck   Mushroom-Hut Mono Tub Substrate   North Spore Bulk Substrate   Original Sensible Seeds Bulk Cannabis Seeds   Myyco.com Golden Teacher Liquid Culture For Sale

Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
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