|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
DarkFluFFy
Vapid Soul
Registered: 01/04/05
Posts: 151
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
|
Perlite contamination?
#3615472 - 01/11/05 10:49 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
This is probably a really stupid question but I'm new to growing. I'm using a tek that uses perlite as the surface of the fruiting chamber. Is it ok if your cakes touch the perlite in your fruiting chamber? Would that effect contamination? I always see pics of cakes on top of foil or something. Also I have another question about how easy it is to get your shrooms contaminated in the fruiting chamber. I mean the fruiting chambers don't really seem to be that heavily sterilized. Thanks
|
JaRRn
Lost in Space
Registered: 05/20/04
Posts: 1,155
Loc: Standing on the Cosmic Sh...
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3615483 - 01/11/05 10:52 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Just sit the cakes on something, and you can put H202 in the perlite water
|
GNIOM1498
Death Cup
Registered: 12/15/04
Posts: 945
Loc: My home is where my spiri...
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3615507 - 01/11/05 10:55 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
perlite there for moisture i believe (don't quote me though I'm new too and haven't reached that for in growing). Just rub with vinegar in the growing chamber before hand kills 99% bacteria and is not harmful to organics. The cakes should be completely covered with mycelium so it will be harder for contams to get a foothold. I hope what i said is all correct!
-------------------- ----ALL MY POSTS ARE FICTIONAL-------
|
JaRRn
Lost in Space
Registered: 05/20/04
Posts: 1,155
Loc: Standing on the Cosmic Sh...
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3615527 - 01/11/05 10:57 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
I meant to add, I use a small cap full of bleach in the perlite.
|
LuvWallyWorld
Slack-jawedgawker
Registered: 11/15/04
Posts: 112
Loc: Midwest
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3615539 - 01/11/05 10:59 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
The most common solution is to add some hydrogen peroxide to the water you pour into the perlite; That cuts down on contams. Also you could use 99-cent-store bottles of purified water. As for the dilution ratio, most drugstore peroxide you buy is already at 3% so dilute it straight out of the bottle an additional 1:10. Once your chamber is set up it never hurts to spray all the surfaces with iso alcohol. Make sure cakes never come in contact with iso alcohol. I believe it's a good idea to put your cakes on something like a teacup saucer so the cake doesn't wick water up out of the perlite and saturate the cake.
I'm somewhat new so somebody please correct me if I'm wrong on that last point.
--------------------
|
DarkFluFFy
Vapid Soul
Registered: 01/04/05
Posts: 151
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
|
|
Could I just wipe the chamber with soap to kill the bacteria?
|
LuvWallyWorld
Slack-jawedgawker
Registered: 11/15/04
Posts: 112
Loc: Midwest
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3615614 - 01/11/05 11:13 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
no, soap doesn't have the bacterial/fungal killing power simple alcohol does. Soap is meant to dislodge and break up dirt and oils. Also soap will leave a nasty residue which will change the PH of your fruiting chamber. Alcohol will fully evaporate in minutes leaving no residue and no contams, that's why they rub you down with it before getting a shot instead of handing you a bar of Ivory.
--------------------
|
DarkFluFFy
Vapid Soul
Registered: 01/04/05
Posts: 151
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
|
|
haha alright man thanks alot!
|
SoK
pimpin sincebeen pimpinsince beenpimpin since..
Registered: 12/25/04
Posts: 619
Loc: ohio river valley
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3619166 - 01/12/05 04:12 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
i'm using cakes at the moment and my first flush came w/ cakes directly on perlite, but i'm finding that a jar cap w/ moist verm. in it (and even holes through it) with the cake on top fruits much better. GL
|
DK1
Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 247
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3619694 - 01/12/05 05:49 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
You can put your cakes directly on top of the perlite without a problem. Thats what I do. Some people use the lid from the jar and put moist vermiculite on it and then set the cake on top of the lid and also put moist vermiculite on top of the cake. If you prefer to grow them on top of a lid or tinfoil I hear it is best to put them directly on top of the perlite after each flush for a few days so that the cakes will absorb more moisture and then go back to fruiting cakes on lids after a few days have passed.
|
DK1
Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 247
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DarkFluFFy]
#3619720 - 01/12/05 05:54 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Also the more fully colonized your cake is the harder it is for contams to grow on your cake.
|
Slatch
Stranger
Registered: 04/03/06
Posts: 5
|
Re: Perlite contamination? [Re: DK1]
#5598392 - 05/06/06 05:55 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Table salt can be used to keep contams out of your Perlite. 1/3 cup will work for most tubs. Mix it with the Perlite when it is hydrated. You only have to do it once, unless you remove the Perlite and rinse it.
If you do cakes then keep them off the Perlite with a plastic dish or lid. Myc doesn't like to be saturated with salt water. The salt will also eat holes in metal (canning lids and aluminum foil) so always use plastic.
Despite the small drawbacks, table salt works very well and is so much cheaper than H2O2. 1 box of table salt is about $0.50.
|
|