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pfunk517
Stranger
Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 9
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
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Possible Complications...Please Advise
#7518217 - 10/15/07 12:39 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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So dude man has two casings that have just gone into the grow chamber...however there are some concerns.
The first casing mix was made with peat moss, vermiculite, bone meal, blood meal, and lime. (now know why some of those ingredients were not smart, just wanted to give a good background). it was nuked in the microwave for 3 back to back 10 minute sessions. two days later, there was what appeared to be cobweb and some other green spots. the green spots are most likely from the blood meal (not a contam), however cause of cobweb is still unknown.
Dude man quickly scraped off the top casing layer and discarded it. the new casing mix was made from coco coir, vermiculite, and lime. while this batch of casing was nuking in the microwave (this was done in a partially open ziplock bag)a steam pocket was created between the bag and casing mix which caused that portion of the bag to melt onto the casing mix. the casings were then dunked and left in the fridge for two days.
there are obviously several things that went wrong, non of which can be reversed or corrected (right?). in spite of this things are moving forward as planned. dude man was just wondering if any experts out there could tell him if this project is potentially fucked or what. Thanks for reading/helping.
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jeetered
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Registered: 07/07/06
Posts: 3,055
Loc: no clue
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Re: Possible Complications...Please Advise [Re: pfunk517]
#7518270 - 10/15/07 01:27 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I think you already realize that failure isn't out of the question, considering the fact that you scraped the existing casing layer off, be sure to give it 5-7 days to recover, before you give up. Personally, I would have covered the scraped substrate with foil, before applying another casing layer, in order for it to recover. Then I would have placed a casing layer on, then place foil over it again, and let that recolonize, then into the fruiting chamber.
since you did it differently, I would suggest covering the existing tray with foil, and place in incubator, until your new casing layer is colonized, and follow through with patching as necessary.. until the casing layer is colonized appropriately. When this is achieved placing it into the fruiting chamber would be your next step, while light and a temp drop help in triggering pins, be sure to give PLENTY of fresh air exchange, as it's the key trigger.
Good luck and keep us posted.
At this point, just accept failure as an option, and hope for the best, and let it run it's course.
I am assuming you understand that a casing layer should not contain any nutrients right?
you do realize that everything you put into your casing layer, EXCEPT the vermiculite and lime is nutritious. A casing layer, being non nutritious, protects the substrate from potential contaminations as well as maximizes real estate for a better pin set. When something nutritious is in your casing layer, it becomes a vector for contamination, which defeats the purpose of applying a casing layer. If done properly, and with practice, using straight vermiculite can provide you with a non nutritious contamination free casing layer every time. Very reliable.
keep us posted!
Edited by jeetered (10/15/07 01:29 AM)
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pfunk517
Stranger
Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 9
Last seen: 16 years, 3 months
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Re: Possible Complications...Please Advise [Re: pfunk517]
#7518308 - 10/15/07 02:14 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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dude man does not currently have an incubator so he'll just put the casings into the fruiting chamber. he does not have the time or the resources to do it anytime soon, or anytime for it to make a difference with the situation at hand.
he was also wondering if you could elaborate/explain your previous post in a little more detail. Specifically about the colonization of the casing layer. what happened in between the two days that the colonized cakes were broken up, placed in the casing, and the first casing mix was scraped off that would require the casing layer to need to "recolonize?" dude man is still new to the game and willing to assimilate any information thrown his way.
Also, dude man is using a rubbermaid tub with a tropicaire humidifier. whats the best/simpliest way to guarantee good air exchange? could it be as simple as opening the lid from time to time? thanks again.
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jeetered
Stranger



Registered: 07/07/06
Posts: 3,055
Loc: no clue
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Re: Possible Complications...Please Advise [Re: pfunk517]
#7518786 - 10/15/07 09:32 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
pfunk517 said: dude man does not currently have an incubator so he'll just put the casings into the fruiting chamber. he does not have the time or the resources to do it anytime soon, or anytime for it to make a difference with the situation at hand.
he was also wondering if you could elaborate/explain your previous post in a little more detail. Specifically about the colonization of the casing layer. what happened in between the two days that the colonized cakes were broken up, placed in the casing, and the first casing mix was scraped off that would require the casing layer to need to "recolonize?" dude man is still new to the game and willing to assimilate any information thrown his way.
Also, dude man is using a rubbermaid tub with a tropicaire humidifier. whats the best/simpliest way to guarantee good air exchange? could it be as simple as opening the lid from time to time? thanks again.
Well, you did damage to the underlying substrate when you scraped off the casing original casing layer, that mycelium needs to recover. THat's what i mean about letting it.. recover..
once it's recovered and you place a new casing layer on, before fruiting the casing, you need to let the casing layer re colonize, meaning, allow mycelium to grow throughout the casing layer, and come to the top, before initiating the fruiting cycle.
You can use a forum search, to get all your answers to this, just forum search "hyphae's pinning strategy" he explains this in detail and what to do if you have to "deep scratch"..
in my opinion, my entire reply was in pretty much great detail, if you have specific questions about it, please ask , as i don't want to simply copy and paste my original reply here.
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mycocurious
Mike O. Kuerias



Registered: 02/09/07
Posts: 1,265
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Re: Possible Complications...Please Advise [Re: jeetered]
#7518968 - 10/15/07 11:05 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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don't use the microwave to pasteurize your casings, you're not pasteurizing them but rather partially sterilizing them - but what's worse, you're making them even more nutritious by cooking it.
Secondly, there is no reason to add any form of nutrients to the casing material in the first place, you want it to be as non-nutritious as possible to prevent contaminations. Not that bloodmeal and bonemeal would be good for our mycelium in the first place. You're not growing flora, you're growing fungus, they don't benefit from any non-organic nutrients and for the sake of this argument, processed down bloodmeal and bonemeal could be considered synthetic because of their highly refined/concentrated natures.
Store bought Jiffy Mix and Miracle Grow Moisture Content (MGMC) potting soils are fine to use right out of the bag, provided you pasteurize them properly first.
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Don't mistake my tone for a "matter-of-fact" attitude. I'm just presenting what I believe to be correct, until I'm corrected... - How Myco-Curious Prepares Coir & Compost Substrates - How Myco-Curious Builds A Bulk Humidifier - How Myco-Curious Builds An Automated Greenhouse ------------------------------------ figgusfiddus said: Keep in mind that inoculating or whatever in front of a flow hood won't help your bad substrate, your bad inoculant, your bad sterile procedure, etc. etc. etc. It's not a +3 flowhood of magic, it's just a tool.
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