Hello all,
I recently purchased a Mycobag and a B+ spore syringe. I innoculated the substraight yesterday and placed in the airing cupboard (laundry/linen cupboard). I have done a fair amount of reading, but can't seem to find an answer to the following questions:
1. Can I fruit (with the B+ strain) directly in the Mycobag?
2. If so, do I leave the bag sealed until the first flush is complete?
3. After the first flush, can I/should I 'dunk' the substraight?
Any help would be fantastic,
Many Thanks.....
1. Yes but I'd put a casing layer of some kind on it.
2. No you should open the bag and leave about a couple inches of plastic so you can put a casing on it of some kind.
3. you can and should dunk it after the 1st flush
Brilliant, thanks Baph!
The instructions (supplied with the bag) weren't very helpful, but I guess I understand why (legallity etc). I purchased a book (The Mushroom Cultivator, A Practical Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home) and I am just getting started reading it.
When you say a 'casing', do you mean a covering?
Thanks again,
Sozu....
I've just read (and watched an online video), and I now see what was meant, newbie questions eh?
Vermiculite etc.
One more thing though (if you would be so kind):
Since I'm a newbie, do you think I risk contamination if I open the sealed bag to case the substraight? Or is this risk minimal once the substraight is fully colonised?
As ever, any help would be much appreciated - Thanks....
"do you think I risk contamination if I open the sealed bag to case the substraight?"
ya a small amount. Thats why you pastuerize the casing layer in a microwave(let pastuerized casing sit for at least 12 hrs to cool down.) Don't forget to make sure the casing is at feild capacity.
"Or is this risk minimal once the substraight is fully colonised?"
After the bag is 100% colonized you want to wait at least 4 days to let the mycellium digest some of the nutreints from the substrate then go for the casing.
have you thought about what your gonna use as a FC?
you will need one after casing the bags.
Baph
Thanks Baph.
FC - Field Capacity?
I intend to use Vermiculite for the casing.
On a slightly different note, when I inoculated the bag I hadn't done too much reading. I placed in a warm dark location (as the intructions suggested). But I didn't realise that it was photosensitive and it should remain in complete (100%) darkness until its fully colonised etc. Since I inoculated (two days ago) I have briefly checked it daily (in ambient light).
Do you think I could have messed things up by not ensuring 100% darkness?
I'm not expecting to see (nor have I seen) any mycelium growth yet, but I'm just hoping that I haven't triggered anything. I guess I should have done some thorough reading first, I'll be sure to keep reading & learning from now on.
Thanks,
Sozu
I think I see what you mean...
FC - Fruiting/Flushing Chamber?
If so, no, I hadn't given it much thought. Any suggestions here would also be fantastic. Can I build something?
I've just ordered a submersable aquarium heater, don't know if that would help me build one. Don't know if thats just used for colonisation?
FC = Fruiting Chamber
you can use a tub/tote
Tub/Tote setup :
1. A plastic rubbermaid tote,drill a series of holes about the size of a pencil on all 6 sides.
2. A wire mesh or something to keep the cakes off the perlite.You can even use the lids from your jars to keep them off the perlite.
3. Perlite. You will need a layer at least 3 inches thick
4. Hygrometer for visual aid to see humidity levels.The best ones are the ones used for cigars.
Thats it for the tub/tote method.
Light is not a triggering factor until 100% colonization,so checking on them and having a light on won't hurt them.
Excellent Baph - thank you.
I have purchased a plastic box with a lid, very similar (almost identical) to a rubbermaid, its white and semitransparent.
I already have some perlite, I'll make sure theres enough. Sorry for all the questions, its just great to able to converse with somebody who's in the know. So here's a couple more:
1. I assume that I would sterilise the perlite in the oven first?
2. Would you sterilise the box also, if so how?
3. I was considering using the colonised grain to inoculate another bulk medium such as pasteurised straw, but bearing in mind its my first attempt, do think I should fruit directly from the grain?
Don't worry, I don't have anymore question for a while :0)
Many Thanks,
Sozu.
1. No, you just put the perlite in a collander and strain it.
2. Yes,it's always wise to sterlize or clean your FC
3. 1st attempt, Keep It Simple.
Do what feels comfortable for you.
Baph
Thanks Baph - I shall keep you updated.
Its been 5 days since inoculation, but I can't see any mycelium yet. Temps are between 22C and 27C, I'll stay patient.....
Regards,
Sozu.....
yeah it just took me 9 days to see a little colonization so dont get worried if it takes to long
Thanks psilocybin warrior. Thats good to know, as I was just starting to wonder if I'd messed-up something. I'll keep you posted....
fo sho
Almost seven days and still no visible mycelium :(
I'm still hopeful though, I'll let you know if/when I see something.....
brf can take a long time to colonize.
I don't do brf but I've had jars that have taken 2 weeks to notice mycellium.
this is a hobby of pateince.
good luck.
baph
I hear you Baph, on the whole I'm usually quite patient, but since its my first attempt I'm probably a bit more edgy about it.
I'm not sure that my Mycobag is BRF, as it seems to be all grain, maybe rye grain?
ahh my bad.
I thought it was brf.
I forgot you was doing a mycobag.
I'm doing a few bags as we speak,and it took almost 10 days to see anything.
where did you get the bag from?
I got my bag from http://www.entheogenius.com/
I live in the UK, but I think they are the exact same bags that are sold in the US (I think they are manufactured by a US company), as I've seen them on a US website but I can't remember which one.
The bag has the black rubber circle that you inject through.
On a different note, do you have any recommendations for the type casing that I should use?
Thanks,
Sozu....
Checked again, still no joy (almost nine days), but I'll keep checkin'. Still optimistic ;)
WooHoo!
Its been around one month, but I finally have some Mycelium growth. Thought that i had blown it for a while, but all seems to coming along nicely now.
A big thank you to psilocybin warrior & Baph for your input.
I'll keep you posted of any further developments.
OK, just so I'm ready for when the colonisation is complete (although I know it likely to be at least 3 weeks before I can progress), I would like to explain what my plan of action is. This way at least people can stop me before I do something silly - lol.
I am about to prepare the fruiting chamber, so that will be ready in time. The box I'm using is only 10 inches high (hope thats enough).
A. Wait for colonisation to complete.
B. Wait a further 4 to 6 days to allow for consolidation.
C. Cut the Mycobag, so there is only an inch left above the substrate.
D. Apply a layer of pasteurised Vermiculite (pre-soaked and drained) to the substrate.
E. Place in fruiting chamber on a layer of (pre-soaked and drained) perlite, ensuring it does not touch the perlite.
F. Place the fruiting chamber on the floor where it will receive indirect sunlight & monitor temps & humidity.
G. Mist twice per day and fan chamber to expel CO2.
So any comments on the above would be most welcome, please may I also ask the following questions.
1. Is a height of 10 inches enough for the fruiting chamber?
2. At what point should I breakup the mycelium in the bag, or should i bother with this?
3. I assume the substrate should be left in the mycobag after colonisation? or can it be completely removed in order to fully case?
4. How thick should my casing layer be?
Sorry for the babble, as ever any help would be very welcome.
Thanks....
10 inches may not be big enough.
I've had mushies get 10 inches tall before.
B+ can have some big fruits.
If it's staying in the mycobag you can place it directly on the perlite.
How often have you broke up the Myc in the bag?
3. Do you mean transfering the sub to another container? i.e tray,tupperware
If it's a 3lb bag it will fill up 1, 2 quart tray. But you can fruit it from the bag.
Casing layer should be around 1/4 inch no more than 1/2
1/4 inch is about how thick I make mine.
Thanks Baph, I'll get a bigger box for the FC.
I'll leave the substrate in the Mycobag while fruiting (if you think that as good). I'll place the bag directly onto the perlite.
I haven't broken up the Myc at all so far, but there is only about 1 inch square (from what I can tell) of Mycelium growth so far.
Thanks again...
OK, I have a much larger Fruiting Chamber now. I've also decided to change my plan slightly. Any advise just before I go ahead would be much appreciated.
I have a grain Mycobag that is full colonised. I plan to breakup the mycelium and place in a tray (possibly two trays depending on how deep it is). I was then planning to case the mycelium with 1/4 inch of vermiculite (although I could mix the verm with something else, if somebody could please advise).
After reading a little, it seems that I should then place back in dark incubation (at 27C) until I see the mycelium starting to appear (a little) through the casing.
My final step would then be to place in the Fruiting Chamber.
If anybody sees any problems with this, please let me know before I do something silly ;0)
Many Thanks,
Sozu