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Nibin
Getting there



Registered: 11/29/05
Posts: 4,480
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: Nibin] 1
#9285876 - 11/21/08 02:37 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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METHOD 1 THE PF TEK The PF tek is a system of growing mushrooms that has been around for a few decades and was developed by Psylocybe Fanaticus, hence the name. You will prepare jars full of vermiculite and brown rice flour on which the mushroom will grow. The steps are as follows: 1. Prepare your jars and inoculate(inject spores) them 2. Wait for colonization 3. Place in a fruiting chamber 4: Harvest and enjoy The procedure is very well explained here and in other articles in the basic cultivation guides section of the site and can also be seen as a video here so I won't explain how it is done, just give you general tips for each step of the procedure. Just read the above mentioned articles first so you will know what we are talking about. 1 PREPARING JARSMake sure you don't overdo the amount of water you put in the jars. The proportions are 2 parts of vermiculite 1 part of brown rice flour and 1 part of water, but I recommend you add just a little less water to avoid over wetting your mix, as it will slow everything down considerably and maybe even stop growth. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. Procedure is critical here. 2 COLONIZATIONWhile you will read about incubators and incubation in many places for your jars, this is not at all necessary if your house is in a normal temperature range (above 65F) Incubators add cost to your setup and can increase the contamination rate, as the higher temperatures also increase the growth of contaminants that might not have grown if you hadn't incubated. If you really want to incubate do not have temperatures above 80F. The values given in many teks of 86F are outdated and optimum growth is attained at around 80F. This is because the jars produce a little heat which brings the temperature up to the 82-3F optimum. BE PATIENT. While growth can be seen after a few days sometimes, it can take a week or more to see anything. 3 FRUITING CHAMBERA new development since the original PF Tek is the Shotgun terrarium. It is called this because it has lots of holes so it looks like someone fired a 12 gauge shotgun at it Here are instructions on how to make one. For good pinning (pins are baby mushrooms) you need the correct pinning triggers that tell your cakes to start producing mushrooms. The most important ones in order of importance are - Full colonization. Once the mycelium (that is the white stuff that produces the shrooms) has fully colonized the cake it will know it is time to fruit. - High humidity. It has to be over 95%, ideally 99% for PF cakes - Fresh Air Exchange A.K.A FAE. Mushrooms need lots of fresh air. You need as much as you can without reducing the air humidity - Light. Mushrooms grow towards light. A few hours is enough and they need some dark period too. Most people go for a 12h light 12h dark regime. Indirect sunlight is best but close second is a CFL (compact fluorescent light/energy saving bulb) in the daylight(also known as white light or around 6000K) range. Do not use a normal light-bulb as they produce the wrong kind of light and produce way too much heat. DUNK AND ROLL: This is another addition to the standard PF tek. Basically you dunk your cakes in water for 12 to 24 hours (to replace water lost during colonization) and then roll them in DRY vermiculite, place them in the fruiting chamber and mist them well (the verm acts as a water reservoir). A search will give you more info on this procedure. One last tip. I recommend you place your cakes close together in the fruiting chamber. That way the humidity coming off them creates an even better micro-climate for fruit growth. Here is what it would look like This post explains the procedure plus another very interesting one. 4 HARVESTINGPick fruits just before or just after the cap opens and the veil at the bottom of the cap tears to avoid spores falling everywhere and making a mess of your fruiting chamber Make sure you learn to make spore prints as you will then become self sufficient and not have to buy spores each time. Also, if you do decide to make spore prints please consider donating some to the Free Spore Ring as they try and make spore prints available to everyone for free and rely on donations.
-------------------- Newcomers guide-----> For all things shroomy
Edited by Nibin (11/22/08 06:35 AM)
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beng
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Registered: 04/13/09
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: 13shrooms] 1
#10156573 - 04/13/09 07:29 AM (14 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hi all, fist time grower trying not to kill myself!
Got some Psilocybe cubensis Puerto Rican Liquid Culture Syringes in Jan 09. Took about 5 weeks to colonize in vermiculite and BRF.
I then dunked and rolled and placed them in a clear tub with holes all over. (recently introduced a cool mist humdifier)hope that helps them pine.
Out of 6 cakes 1 fruited with 3 mushroms on it, took 4eva.
Reason im worried is that they do not bruise blue or any colour??? Is this Psilocybe cubensis Puerto Rican?
Please have a look at these pics & help.

  
Thanks Beng
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firebeastm
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Registered: 07/24/09
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: noobieshroomie]
#10734158 - 07/24/09 04:57 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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great articles for the newcomers like me! Thanks, Nibin.
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hey_im_a_fungi
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Registered: 10/02/09
Posts: 9
Loc: farm
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: noobieshroomie]
#11170328 - 10/02/09 02:47 PM (14 years, 3 months ago) |
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Im wondering if anyone can give me some tips. I have a home setup in which you should be able to see the picture. My first flush came in real nice but I staggered the cakes so hopefully I could have a revolving schedule. I have noticed, it seems that the fruiting process did not begin on newer cakes and growth significantly reduced. I used Pf tek, with large fruiting chamber and heating pad. my thermo and humidity gauge are garbage but theyll be replaced. if you could take a look and let me know what may be causing this decrease in growth i would be very appreciative. Also any suggestions on preservation, drying, and minimal loss of potency????

Pic1: Topview of FC, should I cut and place plexiglass????? does chamber need holes for ventilation??? Pic2: Topview between container and light.(just an aqurium light for cichlids, is this is ok? pic3: inside of fc (topview), cakes lay upon wire meshing cage, cage lay upon 1/2" layer of perlite. perlite has been soaked enough to where no free standing puddles exist. i have a feeling chamber may be to much. bottom left corner is thermo, and humidity gauge.pay no mind, im going digital as soon as i get money. PIC4: Comfort heating pad for pulled muscles... lay under chamber. not sure if its keeping the temp i need. the bottom of chamber stays warm but thats all i can tell, may change that setup as well. thanks for taking the time to look.
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Bucknaztee
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Registered: 11/21/09
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: mushroomhunter10]
#11680454 - 12/19/09 12:06 PM (14 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks Taco, In the last 24 hours, 3 pins have formed in one jar, one almost over 1 cm long, with about 6 more popping up in a cluster. Thing is, the bottom doesn't look completely colonized; there's still verm showing. Is this just verm trapped between the jar and the cake? These pins literally showed up while i was sleeping last night! Do i birth this guy? Remove pins before dunking? Check the pics and see what you think, this is my first time.

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Aradar
GuyOnTheCouch

Registered: 01/26/10
Posts: 150
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Re: Thank You All My Friends [Re: CH HELL]
#11908552 - 01/26/10 09:46 PM (14 years, 4 days ago) |
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by the looks of this dose it look like it will go the distance ? im optimistic but it only goes so far.
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     Once you have eaten a magic mushroom you will dream. When you wake up the dream never ends, what you do with that dream is the real magic. DISCLAIMER * I do not, in any way, shape or form buy, sell, trade, cultivate, manufacture or use ANY illegal or questionable substance. Any and all postings made from my trade name or user name is purely for entertainment purposes. Any pictures uploaded under my trade name or user name have been created by artificial means and/or from images gathered from the internet and other sources. ANY STATEMENTS MADE ARE FORMED FROM THEORY AND REGURGITATED FROM SOURCES FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND/OR BOOKS, MEDIA AND FILMS, and should not, in any way, be considered truth
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untouchable4206
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Registered: 02/20/10
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Last seen: 13 years, 10 months
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The picture shown was inoculated on 12/10/2009. Still is not pinning. I had in a 80F chamber and now in a clear Rubbermaid container at about 70F to try to pin. Only one jar is fruiting and still can't figure this out. Jar has lid on it with 4 holes that i used for inoculation and foil top. I recently poked holes in the foil thinking maybe its the gas exchange. any help would be great.
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untouchable4206
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Registered: 02/20/10
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Re: NEED HELP - Been months! [Re: Quirrel]
#12066125 - 02/20/10 03:39 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hopefully this pic turns out better. Can someone take a look and tell me if i should start to birth these or not?? My previous post a few replies up. Original inoculation date was 12/10/2009.
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truskool
WTF?? FTW!!



Registered: 06/28/09
Posts: 11,194
Loc: Over the rainbow
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Quote:
untouchable4206 said:

Hopefully this pic turns out better. Can someone take a look and tell me if i should start to birth these or not?? My previous post a few replies up. Original inoculation date was 12/10/2009.
You need to leave the pics up if you want anyone to help
-------------------- Ask AMU for the best mycology advice out there
Roll it While I troll it. I don't mean to boast, but dam if I don't brag.
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Product Z
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Registered: 01/10/10
Posts: 13
Last seen: 13 years, 7 months
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Early Primordia? [Re: Nibin]
#12080547 - 02/22/10 09:54 PM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hi guys. Im a newb with lots of ambition. This is my version of a mono tub horse poo/straw sub inoculated with WBS. I know what Ive done wrong but im still excited about the growth I do have. What can I do to save this batch? I have two more of these and another FC for cakes. I have about 25 jars being incubated that I am very doubtful of for various reasons I wont go into. I have 2 cakes sitting in that FC for the first time but Im not sure they will fruit because I could smell that sour apple smell and theres a good chance I am contaminating my whole area with bacteria. Im not sure if Im paranoid or in denial. I dont want to talk about it. I want to talk about this mono tub. I didn't cover this substrate with foil, what else could I have done wrong to cause this early Primordia? It is sitting at about 73 degrees and 70% humidity. Also, an incredible amount of condensation collects. Too much FAE? Too little? What to do next?
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Product Z
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Registered: 01/10/10
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Last seen: 13 years, 7 months
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Re: Early hyph knots [Re: CH HELL]
#12081851 - 02/23/10 06:22 AM (13 years, 11 months ago) |
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can you enlarge this one? The bright white spots are the flash reflecting off the tiny water droplets of condensation. My substrate was at correct field capacity. Do I not want too much condensation? Thats more of a contam risk correct? I used a different kind of filter for my mono tub instead of polyfill and I wonder if this has something to do with it. Precisely how much FAE or GE do I want during colonization?
Edited by Product Z (02/23/10 03:21 PM)
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13shrooms
Lightning Shaman



Registered: 01/01/09
Posts: 26,719
Loc: IN ETHERS TORSION FIELD
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: JBurnt]
#12400355 - 04/15/10 09:36 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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first make a cheap still air box (glovebox) for a place to do your sterile work in like this.

then (clean your self very well) take your print and do this. http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Sporeprinting-Syringes
then get your PF-tek supplies together and ready then "monkey see monkey do" this. http://www.mushroomvideos.com/BRF-Pf-Tek
leave them be till they are 100% fully colonized then wait 5-7 more days then do this.
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Terrarium-Tek
thats what most begginers do. 
OR
for lots of mushies (bulk grow) you can do this.
first make a cheap still air box (glovebox) for a place to do your sterile work in like this.

then (clean your self very well) take your print and do this. http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Sporeprinting-Syringes
then you need to get rye berries or wild bird seed or winter wheat or wheat berries and prep them like this.
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Grain-Preparation
inoculate just like the PFtek in a glove box using 1-2cc each quart of grain.
then build you a monotub like this.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/8231041#8231041
then pasteurize your bulk sub of choice (manure, coco coir, straw) like this.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11540675#11540675 <-- 4 coir
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Straw-Pasteurization <-- 4 straw
http://www.mushroomvideos.com/Horse-Manure-Substrate <-- 4 manure
once your bulk sub is pasteurized and cooled mix your grain spawn very well with your substrate and cover and let colonize like this.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11533613#11533613
let it get 100% fully colonized and put it into fruiting conditions and you should have mushies to harvest a few days after you put it into fruiting conditions. 
anything else that I may have missed should be covered in one of the links I posted above. patience will be rewarded. 

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A M U Click here ^ for the AMU forum VVV AMUs Free Active/Edible/Exotic Spore Print or Syringe or Edible Culture Trade Thread VVV "Man is the sex organ of the machine world" ~ Marshall McLuhan
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santaclausmush
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: Feed Your Head]
#12410192 - 04/17/10 05:00 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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  THIS GETS IT DONE 100% DONT FORGET UR LATEX GLOVES WITH ALCHOHAL.
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IamTempest
The Guru



Registered: 06/17/10
Posts: 27
Loc: USA in the Deep South Bit...
Last seen: 13 years, 5 months
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: stonesun]
#12775475 - 06/20/10 07:41 PM (13 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hey, do you think i could turn one of these into a good fruiting chamber?  Im new to this, I just ordered some spores from Ralph, I got the John Allen strain. And instead of using perlite, can i use damp paper towels or something similar?
--------------------
Lab Partners
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job." "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." Douglas Adams
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mtfunguy
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: misfit78] 1
#12824171 - 06/29/10 03:18 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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First time grower here with some questions. I posted some earlier but I'll repost:
PF tek, now my cakes are in the FC (shotgun). One of them I thought had contam while still in the jar, but it seemed to disappear so I birthed the cake with the rest. It had been out in the light and I got some shrooms quickly from it, the others are coming along slowly but seem to be doing well. On the possible contam cake, I started noticing bluish stuff on the cake, and the biggest shroom had a split/tear in the cap, with some blackish coloring around the tear. one of the other shrooms also had some black on the cap. I decided to isolate the cake, noticed more blue/black on the shrooms, so I picked them and cut open the cake to see...didn't seem to be much contam, just slight blue color on the cake. Threw it away, maybe I shouldn't have. Any thoughts on if it's actually contam would be great. Also, can I eat these shrooms? there was some blue on the inside/cross-section of the stems immediately when I cut them, so I don't think it was bruising. And I don't think the blue on the cake was bruising because it developed slowly after being untouched for awhile in the FC. But really I have no idea.
Anyone out there have any ideas? Did I just waste a good cake? Also, when I harvest the first flush, do I need to get the whole stem off the cake before re-dunking for another flush? And one last question, one of my cakes right now has one big shroom, can I pick it and just let the cake keep going for a while, or should I only harvest the shrooms on a cake all at once?
Thanks for any thoughts/help you can offer!




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misfit78
Critter



Registered: 06/07/10
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: misfit78] 1
#12841310 - 07/02/10 06:50 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Kapo
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: misfit78]
#12902221 - 07/15/10 08:44 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Hi got kinda new starter question, that is probably answered several times on this forum i guess. One or lets say 2 because they are grown tog ehter, they have matured and are early risers, should i pick those 2 so all the other once get in to the right flush? or let it be and pick those later.
One of them is quite big. he stretches across the newbie box =). here is a picture to make it easier.
 The one to the left is the biggest one of all the others but thouse 2 infornt of you are the mammuths you could say.
Hope the picture aint to bad for any information.
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misfit78
Critter



Registered: 06/07/10
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: Damion5050]
#12921125 - 07/19/10 08:15 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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dose anybody know what that is idk help is it mycelium
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truskool
WTF?? FTW!!



Registered: 06/28/09
Posts: 11,194
Loc: Over the rainbow
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: misfit78]
#12921129 - 07/19/10 08:16 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
misfit78 said:
dose anybody know what that is idk help is it mycelium
No picture
-------------------- Ask AMU for the best mycology advice out there
Roll it While I troll it. I don't mean to boast, but dam if I don't brag.
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misfit78
Critter



Registered: 06/07/10
Posts: 481
Loc: Earth
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Re: The Shroomery and mushroom cultivation, a newcomers guide. [Re: misfit78]
#12921231 - 07/19/10 08:37 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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