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xile


Registered: 10/04/07
Posts: 63
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First timer
#7486344 - 10/04/07 08:17 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hello everyone. This is my first post, I've looked around and read quite a bit and decided it was about time to join the discussions. Just a few weeks ago, I came upon the idea to start cultivating, due to the fact that it's next to impossible to find halfway decent mushrooms, and it'd be a fun little hobby to learn. I've read through several guides hosted on this site, I have made decisions on what to do and I actually just sent in my order for spores earlier today.
Starting off with the basics, I ordered 4 syringes total; Hawaiian, Amazon, Malaysian, and Ban Phang Ka. I ordered from Ralphsters, and decided that these four looked and sounded promising to be my first cultivation experiment. I'd like to hear if any of you have had any personal experience with these four species. I believe I've had Amazon before, and if it turns out to be the same I had, I can't wait to have them cultivating.. 
I've read several guides for first time cultivators, and the guide I am going to be going with most is the Magic Mushroom Grow Guide (http://www.shroomery.org/8411/The-Magic-Mushrooms-Growers-Guide). It seems to be the easiest to understand with my absolute zero knowledge standpoint. I plan on cold shocking 1 jar of each, making a total of 2-3 jars of each depending on if I can fit them in my terrarium.
I've decided to go all out and get an Ultra Sonic Humidifier. Does anyone have any specific model / brand they would recommend? Cost is not an issue, I'm actually splitting all of the expenses with a good friend of mine. I also am not sure what kind of container to get. I'm thinking just a fish / reptile tank. Again, if anyone has any suggestions please, feel free to share. This is my first time, and I'd love to have a successful run.
If you have any advice or ideas, please feel free to share. Thanks for reading, and hello again..
Edited by xile (10/04/07 08:26 PM)
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ThePyschonaut52
Stranger


Registered: 04/24/07
Posts: 982
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Re: First timer [Re: xile]
#7486373 - 10/04/07 08:31 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I wish you the best of luck. As for advice... I suggest you don't do cakes...do grain. You'll get a higher yield and much more bang for your buck.
The hawaiin strain is a wonderful strain, its quick, pins good, and gives nice visuals.
For the terrarium, I suggest a clear fish tank, or a clear plastic container, as you'll be able to view your shrooms without opening it up and letting in contamns.
And finally, be patient, as a man without patience is a man without strength(old saying my grandpa says)
-------------------- "In god we trust..." -I guess we're screwed.
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xile


Registered: 10/04/07
Posts: 63
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Quote:
ThePyschonaut52 said: I wish you the best of luck. As for advice... I suggest you don't do cakes...do grain. You'll get a higher yield and much more bang for your buck.
The hawaiin strain is a wonderful strain, its quick, pins good, and gives nice visuals.
Nice, sounds good on the Hawaiians.. Grain, gotcha. I'll take a look into that. So far all the guides and information I have read has been with rice cakes, but if I can get more with grain, that's what I'm reading up on.
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ThePyschonaut52
Stranger


Registered: 04/24/07
Posts: 982
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Re: First timer [Re: xile]
#7486413 - 10/04/07 08:45 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Happy reading
-------------------- "In god we trust..." -I guess we're screwed.
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xile


Registered: 10/04/07
Posts: 63
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So after reading a bit on Rye, it does seem like a better bet. Seems a lot more complex though. This is the guide I've been doing a lot of reading on http://www.shroomery.org/8432/From-syringe-to-print-using-rye .
It's very thorough, and has a lot of good ideas I just don't know how much of it is necessary. Do I really need to construct an incubator? Does that just speed up the colonization time? Also, by using the rye, it seems to make more than the rice cakes because it's put into a plastic bin. I like that idea, but again do I need a complex storage system like he has? I love the setup, but I don't want to cash out that much and get that kind of a getup for my very first cultivation attempt.
This is the ultra sonic humidifier I picked up today. I plan on running it through some 2 liter coke bottles. (http://www.allergybegone.com/windchaser-hul23-ultrasonic-humidifier.html?gcid=C11639x011) Figured it'd be a nice small easy one to start with. Also got a fairly large plastic tote which I was lucky to accidentally find. Another concern I had is the fact that the guide uses two humidifiers.. I was planning on just having one, and using a heating lamp to keep the temp between 75-80.
If anyone could help me out, i'd greatly appreciate it. I plan on getting this built tomorrow, my spores should be here wednesday, so I'd like to have this all tested and running a few days before I put them in.
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dysphoria
lost soul


Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1,651
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Re: First timer [Re: xile]
#7492783 - 10/06/07 09:47 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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incubator: not needed unless your ambient room temperature in your house is sub-70 degrees. it does speed up colonization time, but only by a week or so.
fruiting chamber and humidifier: a humidifier for a small bin is going to be overkill, a better solution is damp perlite in the bottom, and casings sitting on top of that, with you manually misting once a day (or as needed), and fanning several times a day.
most of the stuff magash has in the syringe to print in rye is geared towards automation. so yes, you can leave out his incubator and fruiting chamber in lieu of your own favorites. but his techniques for rye are spot on, and you'd be well advised to follow them until you have a grasp of what you're doing.
p.s. the humidifier will be best used for a multi-tiered greenhouse used for lots and lots of bulk trays.
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xile


Registered: 10/04/07
Posts: 63
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Re: First timer [Re: dysphoria]
#7492846 - 10/06/07 10:07 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Sub 70? I thought colonization temps were 70-80. Also, after reading the Martha Tek guide, I would like to do that, I'm just afraid I'm going to have ounces and ounces on my hand before I know what to do with them. I would like it as automated as possible, since I am a full time student with a full time job. Would I have to manually fan / mist in a terrarium? Or is the Martha the best bet?
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dysphoria
lost soul


Registered: 06/04/03
Posts: 1,651
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Re: First timer [Re: xile]
#7492879 - 10/06/07 10:18 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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if your ambient house is below 70(sub-70), incubate it to 80-82. if your house is NOT below the low 70s, dont worry about incubating it. in other words, if you live in a developed country with adequate heating/air conditioning, and fairly ok insulation to keep it in, then you can NOT incubate and be fine.
if you go with perlite in a bin, its recommended to poke hundreds of small holes in the bin, to allow for air exchange. thus you wouldnt have to fan, and probably not mist.
you can also use a PMP(poor mans pod), which is a large bin, lots of lava rocks /geolite/hydroton/perlite, with bubble rods and air pumps (for aquariums) in the bottom, with water submerging the rods.
or, optimally, the multi-tiered green house, which is as automated as it can get, but a bit more complex in setup (not THAT complex, but a bit harder than air pumps and hose)
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