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OfflineYoruyonaka
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Registered: 10/27/05
Posts: 32
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
n00b question (s)
    #5384645 - 03/10/06 07:59 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

Okay, first lemme give a little pretext for why I'm a bit worried.  This is my second grow.  On my FIRST grow, I made several dumb mistakes.  The first was that I used some material in a bag I found in the shed labeled "vermiculite."  I thought it was especially ODD looking vermiculite.  Turns out it was casing mixture my bro put in the vermiculite bag after he had used all the vermiculite.  I, being a dumbass, just thought it was special. Then, I got a mold in a few jars.  At the time I didn't realize it was a mold, cuz it was pretty white. Well, it ended up turning greyish, and by the time i realized I had a plaster mold it had spread to every jar except two through the needle holes. THEN, in an effort to nurture those two poor jars I bought a heat pad which was supposedly temperature controlled, and would have an even temp w/ no hotspots.  The lowest setting stayed around 80 degrees, so I put that in with them.  I come home to check on them on day to find my hygrometer reads a max temperature of 95 friggin degrees and my (about half colonized) cakes have bled all their water out.  A few days of no growth verified that they were dead as dirt. 

So, I'm naturally a bit nervous about this grow :laugh:  I bought verm for this one, I was as sanitary as I could be, I couldn't get a pressure cooker but I steamed them in a pot for quite some time.  They've been growing now for about six days, andI'm getting some growth.  The only thing is, i'm not absolutely sure about it.  It's all around the needle holes (starts there and goes down), but then that's where contams would get in too (though i'd think the verm barrier would spread them a bit).  It's very thin, just starting, but i dunno it looks a bit too fuzzy.  My question is, what SHOULD the first growth look like?  Does it start right out as nice thick mycelia which slowly spread, or does it start out as a weaker kinda fuzzy stuff.  I'd really hate to think that every jar I have is infected AGAIN.  Lol. But this stuff is too thin to even verify that it's pure white.  It LOOKS white, but it's so mixed with substrate that it's hard to tell. 

Also, another question.  The tek I read didn't really mention much about the air exchange, but if you followed it directly then you would leave the needle holes in your lid open to the world when you're done.  I assumed this was to allow a bit of fresh air to get into the jars, but am I right?  Or was the tek just a little too vague.  Cuz I'd love to put some seran wrap and rubber bands over the top of it to cut the chance that anything will get in, but I'm afraid of choking my babes. 

Lol, I know someone's probably going to be rolling on the ground laughing after reading my post, but after you wipe the tears from your eyes, please help :laugh:  I'm really kinda worried here.


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Offlinejamman
SCI fan

Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 280
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: Yoruyonaka]
    #5384658 - 03/10/06 08:09 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

I would find a new tech for your next grow. The PF-Tek is really simple and I've heard it has good results. In regards to your current grow, we would really need to see some pics in order to tell you if it was mycellium or not... but since you're only filter is saran wrap and rubberbands, I would venture to guess that its contamination of some sort. My best suggestion would be to wait a week or so, see what happens. In the meantime, browse this site. It will be your best friend if you're serious about growing. Start with the top of the page, Getting Started or Cultivation FAQ


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OfflineSinthetic
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Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 812
Last seen: 15 years, 6 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: jamman]
    #5384667 - 03/10/06 08:13 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

First signs of growth are almost always very light and fluffy. Once it gets established some strains will show the stringy rhizo growth. I think you're ok. Good luck.


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OfflineYoruyonaka
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Registered: 10/27/05
Posts: 32
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: jamman]
    #5384680 - 03/10/06 08:20 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

I don't have anything over it now.  The tek was vague, but they never said to cover the holes.  I have read elsewhere that air exchange is important, so I didn't mess w/ it.  I used PF Tek for simple minds, but I have read most of the others in the beginners section (since that's definately what I am).  Looking at the pic in the main pf tek, though, it does look like their original growth



which is a relief.

But what CAN I do to keep out contams, keeping in mind that I'm very low budget and keeping this pretty damn hidden (in a locked compartment for the jars, not airtight but locked).  I was thinking of putting a bit of rubbing alcohol in a shotglass orsomething and leaving that in there.  The alc should evaporate and create a deadly engironment inside the compartment.  The only prob is that that would ALSO get in the jars.  Or would the layer of dead verm stop it?  Orwould the alky even get in? 

But CAN I just cover the holes?  Or will that starve them. I mean, losing my FIRST grow was discouraging.  Losing my SECOND as well would be like a kick in the head.  I don'tmind losing a few jars (i've been told that's more or less a given with pftek) but all of them would really suck. 

As a side note, I AM planning on moving up to something better in the future.  I'm going to create lots of syringes from whatever I grow here.  But for my first few grows I'd like to keep it simple.

Oh, and I don't have a digital camera :frown:  I have a PPC w/ a camera, but it's very low quality image (dunno why, the damn ppc was expensive as hell). 


Edited by Yoruyonaka (03/10/06 08:23 AM)


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OfflineSinthetic
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Re: n00b question (s) [Re: Yoruyonaka]
    #5384696 - 03/10/06 08:31 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

Don't worry too much. The verm layer wil keep contams out. When you get a contam it either wasn't sterilized properly or it happened during inoculation. As long as you keep them in a resonably clean environment, you don't need any extra precautions.


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Offlinejamman
SCI fan

Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 280
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: Yoruyonaka]
    #5384698 - 03/10/06 08:32 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

You don't have a lid or anything on it? Lids are essential, you can get enough air exhange through holes in the lid with say a band aid over it. Swipe it with rubbing alochol first, then cover them with coffee filters.

If that is your jar it looks damn good


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OfflineYoruyonaka
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Registered: 10/27/05
Posts: 32
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: jamman]
    #5384963 - 03/10/06 10:05 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

Yes, I have the lids (came w/ them).  And are you saying put a bandaid over the holes, or around the lid?  B/C the lids have rubber seals to keep them airtight. 

I sure as hell shouldn't have had them contaminated beforehand :laugh: I dishwashed them and then washedthem out with rubbing alcohol by hand.  Flame sterilized the needle as well.  I sure hope you're right and I won't get any contams.

EDIT:  No, that's the jar from the pf tek guide.  I'm saying that's the kind of growth I have.  I have one jar w/ a bit morethan that, then the rest have lines like that (tho not as even, and not at all holes, I had a bit of a probblem with the syringe clogging really badly)


Edited by Yoruyonaka (03/10/06 11:58 AM)


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Offlinejamman
SCI fan

Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 280
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: Yoruyonaka]
    #5385242 - 03/10/06 11:34 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

You have a hole in the lid to stick the needle through right? because thats the hole that i'm talking about


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Invisiblecappa
Nerd
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 854
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: jamman]
    #5385246 - 03/10/06 11:37 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

Yes, if nothing else, swap it with alcohol and just cover it with a sterile bandaid.


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Their are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary, and those who don't.
~Cappa.


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OfflineYoruyonaka
Stranger
Registered: 10/27/05
Posts: 32
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: cappa]
    #5385293 - 03/10/06 11:59 AM (17 years, 10 months ago)

yes, I have holes for the needles. So you're saying swab the lid with alcohol and cover the holes with bandaids right? Gotcha. Would the thing with alcohol evaporation work?


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Offlinethenewguy05
The Mushroom Man
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Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2,123
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Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
Re: n00b question (s) [Re: Yoruyonaka]
    #5385309 - 03/10/06 12:07 PM (17 years, 10 months ago)

Quote:

Yoruyonaka said:
Also, another question. The tek I read didn't really mention much about the air exchange, but if you followed it directly then you would leave the needle holes in your lid open to the world when you're done. I assumed this was to allow a bit of fresh air to get into the jars, but am I right? Or was the tek just a little too vague. Cuz I'd love to put some seran wrap and rubber bands over the top of it to cut the chance that anything will get in, but I'm afraid of choking my babes.


Well. some people use coffee filters rubber banded over the mouth of the lids because they feel the same way you do. others place on the band aid or micro-pore tape over the holes. when i started out i used the Johnson & Johnson breathable cloth tape. after extensive experience i have come to realize that the tape and coffee filters are unnecessary. everyone on this board and everyone who cultivates has their own preferences but IMO as long as you have a top vermiculite layer you should be fine.


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