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Messages - jobes

#1
Cultivation / The benefits of lime?
March 07, 2010, 06:36:27 PM
What are the benefits to using lime during a pastuerization bath(w straw)? Also I read an old discussion on mycotopia that lime would help the casing layer resist trich by adding it to the water that you initially get ur casing layer to field cap.  I assuming this all has to do with ph.

Even though I am now sterilizing my casing I still am losing 1/3 to 1/2 my pans to trich in fc.

I have agricultural lime and used it with the straw past. because it was suggested. I just havent seen much dicussed on its benefit or necessity.

#2
Cultivation / Re: Cracked corn
February 19, 2010, 09:14:16 AM
Just make sure you adequately cover the lid area with foil. Also make sure there is a buffer between the bottom and the glass. Should be fine. U want to be certain that no additional moisture can get to the grain during pc. The one thing I am grateful to have spent a little money on is a large pressure cooker. I can do 10 quarts(9 widemouth) at a time. it was $100.
#3
Cultivation / Re: Cracked corn
February 18, 2010, 10:08:01 PM
I had trouble getting it properly hydrated.  Even following simple instruction on the shroomery.  I ended up with slime and mush. Not to mention the only contams I ever had in a jar.  Shame cause the stuff is abundant and cheap where I live.     
#4
Cultivation / Re: Substrate question..Experience needed.
February 17, 2010, 01:51:27 PM
I have had good flushes with the straw and huge fruits.  I also have had lots of contam problems.  Mostly green mold showing up on the casing layer.  I will report back as to the fruits with rye only.  I thought that yeild might be the trade off.  I have another 10 days or so to decide what to do with the next run.  When using straw I did use a depth of 4 inches.  Thanks
#5
Cultivation / Substrate question..Experience needed.
February 16, 2010, 11:00:19 PM
I posed similar question previously.  Maybe a more in depth explanation will render a tried response.

I have been placing my rye (fully colonized of course) directly into pans. 2 quarts per pan.  It creates a layer approx 2-2.5 inches in the pan. I then case with sterile verm about .5-1 inch.  Cover Incubate 4-7 more days then fruit.

Previously I had been past. straw adding grain letting that colonize, case, incubate, fruit. 

I read a tek on shroomery that demonstrated results without the use of the straw step.  But the "conventional thinking" is to go the substrate method.

What are the drawbacks to eliminating straw?  I have plenty of colonized jars in the rotation.  So I do not have to stretch anything.  I simply was trying to reduce a step, therefore save time and reduce contams/exposure.

Any suggestions or insight as to what I might expect? I can very easily switch back on my next run.

I feel as though I'm getting really close to getting this thing. Just a little advise needed.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 
#6
Cultivation / Using rye as substrate?
January 30, 2010, 11:31:58 PM
Theres a tek on shroomery where colonized rye goes directly into the pan cased and incub for 3-5 days. Then to FC. 

What is gained by taking the extra step to colonize straw and then case.  Is it yeild?

The speed to FC sounds really appealing.
#7
Cultivation / Rye berries vs. Popcorn
January 29, 2010, 04:46:14 AM
Okay so I'm very comfortable working with rye preparation with a high success rate.  I happen to live in an area where I cannot get rye berries.  I usually pick them up in another town when traveling. Not gonna be traveling for a while and out of berries.  So I'm thinking of switching to popcorn for a run or two. 

My question is how does this differ from rye in preparation. And does  myc grow as quickly and easily on popcorn? Basically is it a suitable substitute? I wasted 4-6 weeks using cracked corn and was not pleased... mushy, difficult to properly hydrate, contams, etc.

My rye prep is as follows:

Rinse thoroughly>Soak 24-36 hrs w/ tblsp or so gargen gypsum>boil 10 min>strain let air dry 2-4 hours>load into jars>pc for 90min. 

What would differ if swithching to popcorn?
#8
I cased several trays, covered with foil let colonize for 5 days.  When I removed the foil to put into FC several were contam with green mold.  I would say 1/3 of my trays.  My G2Gs and application to straw are 90% succes. that would cause me to believe it coming from my casing layer.  This is what I am doing:

I do my g2gs in a glove box.

When I add colonized rye to pastuerized straw I do so without gloves. and any enviromental sterilization aside from washing hands, cleaning work area. etc..  Once thats colonizes (2 weeks for 1qt to lasagna pan with straw, sometimes 10 days does it.)....

After pastuerizing my coco/verm casing I add it to my pans in much the same way I did the straw.  I dump it onto the colonized straw and spread in out then cover.  Any flags go up based on what i said about my process?  What was about a 1/3 of my pans is now half and I'm afraid every day another one will bite the dust.  They are in groups of three per terrarium so I dont think its spreading in fuiting area.

Thanks.
#9
Forgive me for having additional ???s. But when you say soak and drain following harvest....do I have to allow the myc time to recover before heading back to FC after this.  And do i re apply casing? Thanks mal for the informative response btw.
#10
My casing layer is 50/50 p/v. 1/2-3/4 in of case over 3-4 inches of colonized straw. its been 5 days and it is popping up everywhere. Do you mist at all before or during fruiting? Or just at flush?
#11
I cased several foil trays containing straw.  This is my first time doing trays. I seem to recall reading somewhere to expose to fruiting conditions when the casing layer is 30 percent colonized.  Is this true? or should i wait til its fully colonized?

I plan to place these trays into clear rubbermaid terrariums for fruiting. About two to three per. I was thinking of lining the bottom or each terrarium with perilite.  In these conditions what is my misting schedule going to be?  And are the misting limited to walls of terrarium or the casing layer itself?

Lastly once i harvest how are subsequent flushes handled with Brf cakes i just dunked.  What do i do with trays? Do they need re hydrating in some way? Additional casing etc?

Thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read and respond.

#12
Cultivation / Straw Basket Casing / Flushing
November 14, 2009, 03:08:27 PM
I'm a newbie. I pasteurized my straw and layered 5 quarts of colonized cracked corn in a small basket.  I placed a brownie pan (rectangular) on the top layer of straw and placed a bag of perlite on it for compression and placed in a large clear rubbermade tub that's ventilated with holes.  Its been one week and its very colonized.  Most info i gathered said it would be 14 days or so for it to fully colonize.  My questions are these:

When I am ready to fruit this what do I do? Ive only done Brfs.  It seems to be a success to date I just don't want to screw it up.  Some things I'm not clear on: How do you hydrate the basket to flush.  Does casing mixture factor in this tek if so how. Also how do I accomplish subsequent flushes.