Fungifun - Forum

Mushroom cultivation => PF - Tek => Topic started by: dub504 on June 09, 2009, 09:16:54 PM

Title: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: dub504 on June 09, 2009, 09:16:54 PM
Should they be sealed, slightly open or something like that?
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: MT on June 09, 2009, 09:20:22 PM
You don't want to open them until they are ready to birth.
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 09, 2009, 10:34:17 PM
Sealed until ready to fruit.

PW
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: Blue Meanie on June 10, 2009, 01:07:18 AM
I've been meaning to ask the same thing.  So after puncturing the micropore tape with the syringe, you just put the jar in your warm dark area, right?  I mean with the puncture holes there.  Where contaminants can get in.  If I tape those holes over, does the mycelium starve for air?
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: dub504 on June 10, 2009, 07:40:16 AM
blue meanie said it better than I, but that's exactly what I wanted to know...
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: dub504 on June 10, 2009, 02:40:29 PM
I just read a Tek on this site www.fungifun.org/English/Importance-Of-Gas-Exchange (http://www.fungifun.org/English/Importance-Of-Gas-Exchange) on the subject of gas exchange. I inoculated my kerr 1/2 pint jars, going w/ the "triple foil" PF Tek. I sterilized the screw on lids and closed the jars up tight.(Was this overkill?) After reading the Tek on gas exchange I wonder if by trying to close off any possibility of contamination that I am hampering the mycelium growth... It's been 4 days and there is definite activity. 
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 10, 2009, 03:02:08 PM
Micropore tape is unecessary for pf-tek,  the 1/2-1 inch of verm is for blocking contams.

PW
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: cugak on June 11, 2009, 09:02:16 AM
What about grain jars. Do they need FAE?
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: malabar on June 11, 2009, 09:34:59 AM
  Yes, grain jars need to breath, but they need a bare minimum of air.  If your mason jars have lids over the foil, or sealing system, all you need to do is lightly tighten them and leave them alone until fully colonized.
  With the proper temperature, they colonize rapidly, and need little attention, unless you get happy and start shaking to break them up.   Far warning, ..if the grain was prepared correctly, they will break up nicely when it is time to spawn.  So, best to let nature do its job.  We all have one.
   :ph34r:
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 11, 2009, 01:02:53 PM
When using grains you make an access point for used gases to be released and fresh gases to be taken in, either polyfill wads or tyvek filter disks.

PW
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: cugak on June 12, 2009, 03:07:41 AM
Hey malabar, but everywhere they say that you need to shake them every 5 days , that grains dont stick togheder! Can i use instead of polyfil a absorbent cotton as a filter?
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: malabar on June 12, 2009, 05:21:21 AM
Cugak,... 
  I have worked with grains since Homestead sold kits in big plastic tubs, back in the 80's.  I have learned that it's a good/bad scenario.  Shaking the jars will help distribute the mycelium throughout the container, which is good, but then there is that recovery time involved to get back on track with growth. 
  However, if the grain has been properly prepared, it will be fluffy, and allow aeration, and rapid colonization. 
  At any given time, I have at least 50 pts, and probably 30 qts colonizing.  Some I spawn outside into compost, some cased in mono tubs, some are cased, and some just left to fruit in the jars,.whether cased or not..  And I rarely shake them, unless they for some reason don't seem to be colonizing evenly.
  Just as a personal thing,... not that I am Vegan, but my girlfriend is Latin, and makes brown rice with a great percentage of our meals.   I can always have her show you how to prepare that grain so it works like a charm if you need!  lol
  Good growing, friend!
     :mellow:
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: malabar on June 12, 2009, 05:24:32 AM
Cugak,
  And as PW stated earlier.  Polyfil wads, or Tyvek lids are great.
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: cugak on June 12, 2009, 07:51:30 AM
Thanks man!You do this since 80s, nice. I was born in 80s.You spawn some outside. Do they grow nice(is there enough rh in the air, and do u spawn cubensis)!
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: malabar on June 12, 2009, 08:07:34 AM
Cugak,
  You are probably my kids age if not younger, but that's cool,.....they are into growing as well.
  Yes, I spawn outside.  I spawn Cubes right in my veggie garden, and they grow wild all around the area.  They grow quite handsomely.  As for RH,....  Hell, I live in Florida! There are showers almost like clockwork daily, and with that said, the frogs, ducks, and shrooms are in their glory!
  Later.   :mellow:
   
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: Davie K on June 12, 2009, 08:53:59 PM
Now thats a man who loves his state
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: Blue Meanie on June 17, 2009, 12:37:54 AM
Excuse me for pointing out that you guys got onto grain and the subject was PF tek.  Fresh air exchange if my memory serves.  As for Florida, ain't there crime there?  I'm from North Queensland, Australia.  Similar climate but not so many douche bags.
So... how can it hurt to put a little tyvek filter over the jar?  My contamination rate is like 80 - 90 %
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: malabar on June 17, 2009, 04:40:37 AM
Blue Meanie,
  We probably have  drifted away from the subject, but Shit happens.  As for the law,..  Hell yeah it's against the law.  Here in Florida, as well as the rest of the USA, but there is a higher tolerance for the Creative Minds that can do for themselves, and utilize talents such as Mycology, and Biology. 
  And, I have been to Australia.  As you said, the general climate is very similar a good majority of the year, but nowhere in the world are there as many Assholes, Rednecks, and Dumb Asses as there are here in Florida.  Thank God for cheap beer, and booze so they can stay can stay drunk and let us do our thing.  And the Police have bigger problems than to worry about Shroomers buzzing around like lightning bugs!
    Life is Good!    :mellow:
      Later

*** And your tyvek can't hurt.   Just a matter of extra labor, and expense.
Title: 13 days. DA DA DA!
Post by: dub504 on June 19, 2009, 12:09:21 PM
So far sooooooo goooooood! Alright, I inoculated these on Sat. 06/06/2009. From left to right they are B+, Penis Envy, & Thai Koh Super Strain. The B+ and P.E. have been at full colonization for a couple of days. It seems that I'm right on track with the average colonization rate. It's hot and humid where I live right now...
(http://www.imagecabin.com/?view=245443434030ca6c511b2ffcc)
   Granted, this is my first time and I've learned a few things.
   I packed the verm a little too loose in some of the jars which may have slowed the Thai myc down reaching across those holes.
   I sterilized with an Electric Food Steamer. (Worked like a charm!)
   I was heavy handed with the spores in my first couple of jars and used too much inoculate. (I just don't have any experience using syringes!)
   I also did use the half strength coffee water and trace amounts of gypsum Tek that veda suggested. Which is probably kind of pointless for the PF Tek, but that's open to debate...
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 20, 2009, 02:37:51 PM
I forgot are you planning on fruiting them as cakes or in casings, if you want to try a mini casing you could always use left over vermiculite w/out anything else...thats if you wanna get a lil extra outa em. (It's almost impossible to f*** up using only verm, when Ive done it I never even had to steralize it)

PW
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: dub504 on June 20, 2009, 07:32:59 PM
PW, Are you talking about the dunk and roll Tek, with verm? That's what I had planned on doing. Is there another preferred method for the cakes?
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 21, 2009, 07:07:47 AM
I ment an actual casing, i may have said mini since they are 1/2 pint cakes.

PW
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: dub504 on June 21, 2009, 09:30:19 AM
I need to learn more about casing...
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: fattrout on June 21, 2009, 10:07:23 AM
"I need to learn more about casing..." start here, http://www.fungifun.org/English/Casing
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: fungiguy on June 21, 2009, 11:51:05 AM
hay pw, you do not sterilize your verm for casing???
Title: Re: Do PF Jars need to breathe?
Post by: psilocybin warrior on June 21, 2009, 01:25:44 PM
I have have, but I always keep it in the bag closepinned so that might have a little something to do with it.  If you want to try it just put some verm into a mixing bowl and add water until it is moist..NOT WET, if its too wet it will sufficate the mycelium.

PW