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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Shiitake Woes
#7679074 - 11/25/07 05:33 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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So I've had my shiitake block for about a month now. I received it at the beginning of October. Soaked it for 24 hours and put into my FC. The temps stayed right around 75 degrees. After about 2 weeks of inactivity from the block I took it back out, put into a pot of water and then into the fridge for two days. Returned to FC this time the temps are around 65F. There still seems to be no activity.
On my block there seem to be mushroom caps or some other spongie material growing in between substrate cracks but no pins. One of the caps looked shriveled so I tried to remove it to discover that it had apparently filled up a very large crack in the substrate and was far larger and deeper than I wanted to dig. So I removed the top layers and put some wet vermiculite on it to keep out contamination. You can see the verm in the first pic. Any suggestions? Should I remove from the FC and try to cold shock in the fridge again for longer this time?
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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might have too much humidity... i see you are using perlite. im about to fruit a shiitake block as well, and am only going to use misting as a source of humidity for my FC. How long did you cold shock yours?
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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tahoe
Noob Slayer



Registered: 11/26/03
Posts: 6,274
Loc: N38.93829W119.98108
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7680128 - 11/25/07 10:49 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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86th the perlite. Shiitakes like it dryer. i fruit mine on a plate with a 1 gallon crystal gyser bottle covering it. I spray it directly twice a day. Your log is ready to pin, it has pins on it. Those brown lumps are the mushrooms
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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FreeSporePrints


Registered: 03/06/05
Posts: 1,139
Loc: Rome, Italy
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Hi, in my opinion is not the humidity (in the first pics the block seems dried). I'm spupposing the cause is the cold shock: you need a week of fridge! Put it into a plastic bag, not closed, and store it in the fridge at a low temp (4°C), then soak it overnight in cold water, put some weight to keep the block under the water and put to fruit. In something of 2-4 days you should see the first fruits.
Do not put the block directly on the bottom of the FC, but put it on a wire or something similar.
RogerRabbit suggests to wash the block every 2 days under the faucet to remove the spores of molds that can attack the block (especially the green ones).
Fabio
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
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Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Well I finally swallowed what little pride I have a mushroom grower and just used the damn humidity tent they sent with the block . There's a picture of it. Those things impaled into the block are some sterilized chop sticks to keep the tent inflated. It's currently sitting on a sterilite tub lid. Anyone see any issues with this setup if I mist frequently?
[image] [/image]
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tahoe
Noob Slayer



Registered: 11/26/03
Posts: 6,274
Loc: N38.93829W119.98108
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looks fine
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: tahoe]
#7682850 - 11/26/07 05:52 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Exciting news mycelio-philes! I don't know what did it, but there are several areas on the block now that are breaking apart like some cheesy alien bursting forth from the chest of our harsh heroine! Some of the caps/pins on top also look like they are going to separate and become mushrooms . I don't know if moving it to the bag did it or letting it dry out or all the handling I did to it today, or finally letting it know I was serious by impaling with not once, not twice, but THRICE. But it appears I'll be misting it 5-6 times a day now and letting it go like it currently is.
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tahoe
Noob Slayer



Registered: 11/26/03
Posts: 6,274
Loc: N38.93829W119.98108
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I know what you did, you raised the humidity. I told you thre were pins just waiting to come out, those crusty brown lumps.
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: tahoe]
#7683499 - 11/26/07 08:50 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Doubtful on that front tahoe. I had it in an shotfun FC that had about 5-6" perlite on the bottom and it sat in that for about 2.5 weeks. Nada. But I'm not going to argue with results so I'll just leave it where it is and mist 5-6 times a day. Could be any number of things. There is one thing I'll say for my shiitake block, it has lead a varied and multiple conditioned life here. And I have some pins that are pretty much exploding out of the side. Like they CREATED a crack and are being birthed . I'll take some pics here.
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RogerRabbit
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Registered: 03/26/03
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Shiitke responds well to humidity cycling. Mist well a few times, but then let the block dry out for a day or so. I rinse mine every second day under the faucet with a pretty strong stream of water. Shiitake blocks are tough as heck and can take it, even after fruits form. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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is tap water ok for the myc? the directions say only use spring water and such
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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orchidfanatic
retiree




Registered: 08/12/07
Posts: 832
Loc: where the wild things are
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7692497 - 11/28/07 08:16 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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may I ask where you got the block? I need a good shiitake culture and if it requires me getting a block ,thats cheaper than a sterile culture plus I get to fruit it .. thanks
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orchidfanatic
retiree




Registered: 08/12/07
Posts: 832
Loc: where the wild things are
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7692511 - 11/28/07 08:19 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
poot said: is tap water ok for the myc? the directions say only use spring water and such
I used well water or rain water on my shiitake log . if you boil the water for a good 30 minutes then let it cool that should be enough to drive off the chlorine and chloramines .. thats what they dont want on your mushroom .. course you dont want water with any heavy metals in it either.. so go with the spring water bottles if in doubt
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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www.fungi.com is the place to go!
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7692977 - 11/28/07 10:18 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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I got it from a company called Fungi Perfecti.
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Well here are some pictures of how the block is doing. I have about 7 good sized pins, 1 monster pin, and 10-15 places where it's cracking to release pins.
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[image] [/image] Monster pin
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[image] [/image] Sharpie for comparison.
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RogerRabbit
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There ya go! RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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nice! can't wait for mine to pin
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7709133 - 12/02/07 11:41 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quick question for those in the know: I currently have 3 chopsticks (I think they're bamboo) stuck into my shiitake block because they were being used to keep the tent inflated. I now have my shiitake block in my FC and I'm leaving the lid with about 4 inches of space to try and approximate the high humidity to low humidity shiitake seems to enjoy.
My question is this: It looks like mycelium is actually growing on the chopsticks. If I removed them and put them into bran, sawdust cakes, would they colonize? I might experiment once this block runs out of nutrients. Have to find hardwood sawdust now .
Oh and poot the block is pretty forgiving . You just go about your day until you think "Oh shit! Forgot to water" Spritz the block and inside bag with fine mist. Take out and wash every two days. I've got some pretty decent sized caps that I'm hoping open up. Got one or two aborts I think.
Sorry another question: When they turn brown and kinda scaley and shrivel up, that's an abort for shiitakes correct? I'll get some pics later.
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orchidfanatic
retiree




Registered: 08/12/07
Posts: 832
Loc: where the wild things are
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I think when shiitake are scaly thats from the humidity cycle on the dry side. for me it was hard to find out when the right time to pick is. I think when the edges of the cap start to unroll. maybe RR will come in soon
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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So here's my biggest cap. It's about 3-5 inches in diameter.
[image] [/image]
Here's the underside of the cap. Almost pickins time! 
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Almost archetypal look for a shroom 
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Here's a mushroom cap on the back of the block. More pics to come.
[image] [/image]
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makaveli8x8
Stranger


Registered: 02/28/06
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get some more humidity in there i see some cracks, other than that lookin good
--------------------
  We were sent to hell for eternity Ø h® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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I have 5-8" in perlite, but it was last soaked a while ago. I try to cycle between a dryer climate and a wetter climate because that's what the shiitake seems to enjoy. I fan and mist the walls about every 3 hours or when I think about it.
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Here's your daily update of mushrooms pictures. My room mate was making fun of the puny size of one cap in particular with several jests about "size" and how they're supposed to be bigger. Well today I told him to suck and suck it hard! 
[image] [/image]
Also, I believe I'll photoshop queen Amadala's face onto this, cause the afro reminds me of her hair do in Star Wars 
[image] [/image]
And then this funky customer. I don't know what to do with him. He's just odd.
[image] [/image] [image] [/image]
And finally, the mushroom with a cap that looks like a little hat/sombrero thing.
[image] [/image]
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RogerRabbit
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That's ready to harvest. If you wait for the cap to flatten out, quality is reduced. The scaling/cracking on the caps is desired. Growers in Japan deliberately lower humidity to create those, which bring a higher price at the market. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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BlargIAmDead
Shroom Samurai




Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 550
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Well bah. I waited one more day. But I picked them today because, well the guide told me to. I got caught up in the "Holy forkin mushroom Batman!" moment and wanted to see how big they'd get . Pictures of my caps, I may pick the others today and stop misting to let it hibernate. How do you store the block for a rest period? I'll be gone from it for a month. Plastic garbage bag? Fridge? Room temp open air?
EDIT: I just had a "DIE SCUM!" moment. As I was picking the rest of my flush when I separated two mushrooms that had grown around one of the bamboo skews all that met my eyes was green. The mushrooms had been harboring a traitor! I immediately removed the skewer, bleached the crap out of it and threw it away. I then gave the entire block a thorough bath underneath the bath faucet. I'll keep an eye on the center hole where the skewer was but it didnt' appear that the trichoderma had migrated that far south on the skewer.
More pictures.
[image] [/image] [image] [/image] [image] [/image] [image] [/image] [image] [/image]
Edited by BlargIAmDead (12/06/07 11:07 AM)
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orchidfanatic
retiree




Registered: 08/12/07
Posts: 832
Loc: where the wild things are
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thata a pretty large shiitake good job!
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RogerRabbit
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Registered: 03/26/03
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Loc: Seattle
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Trich on shiitake logs and substrate blocks is almost just on the surface. A forceful stream of water should wash it away easily. More spots will come up if you're keeping it indoors, so watch for them and wash off. In fact, it's a good idea to wash the log under the faucet every couple of days anyway, whether you see mold or not. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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what if you have chlorinated tap water?
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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tahoe
Noob Slayer



Registered: 11/26/03
Posts: 6,274
Loc: N38.93829W119.98108
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7745782 - 12/11/07 04:33 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
poot said: what if you have chlorinated tap water?
even better. There isnt enough chlorine to cause damage in tap water
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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poot
bottom feeder



Registered: 11/24/07
Posts: 212
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: tahoe]
#7747050 - 12/11/07 08:58 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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this is the first time someones told me that chlorinated tap water is ok... RR would you say so as well?
-------------------- possibly the last post of mine.
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: poot]
#7748301 - 12/12/07 08:11 AM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yes, I use tap water for everything but making agar. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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tahoe
Noob Slayer



Registered: 11/26/03
Posts: 6,274
Loc: N38.93829W119.98108
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: Yes, I use tap water for everything but making agar. RR
You know what, I think i will start using distiled water water for my agar. I have noticed that my plates have a calcium build up on them
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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makaveli8x8
Stranger


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Re: Shiitake Woes [Re: tahoe]
#7749343 - 12/12/07 01:17 PM (16 years, 1 month ago) |
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i boil my water, and then mix my agar, then pour into jars, and then pc them. If you do it this way you can use tap as the chlorine boils off alot of it.
edit: I don't think this will work if your using plates however
--------------------
  We were sent to hell for eternity Ø h® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
Edited by makaveli8x8 (12/12/07 01:19 PM)
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