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HELP!  I noticed that some small ants (piss ants) have found their way into my box of colonized staw / manure  (hope they OD - lol).

Has this ever happened to anybody else?  Anybody out there know what I shoud do?   What could happen by their presence?

THX,
p4p

Thx 1ce again anno.  Your guidance and opinions are appreciated.

p4p

 If the sub is too wet, does it kill the spores?  If you can suspend spores in sterlized water, is it possible that these could just be suspended in the sub?

Being a nu b to growing my own  - but not to the collecting of the wild magical fruit - i have always used a dehydrator at its very lowest setting , 90 F,  or with heat turned off and air only.  With low heat, it takes only a little over an hr and w/ air only about double that - these were all pretty small fruits tho and wll probably take longer with the big fat 1's I'm hoping to harvest in the very near future.

However, this certainly sounds like a good way if pressed for time, with high humidity and / or if no dh is available.  Will certainly keep in mind for future reference should (lord forbid) anything happen to my dh.

Thx for the post!

This is my first try at posting pics so I hope this is correct procedure.



The first pic is from experiment after trying to use the fine verm in pf tek.  After no signs of growth, I tried again by
adding a 1/3 of crushed cob to recipe, sterilized and innoculated.  (Psilo Warrior - I think I may have not judged water content correctly and was too wet on my original attempt with tek.) Growth appeared after just a few days and spread quickly throughout jar.  As it began to coloize, growth slowed and appeared to pause. Removed jar lid, repaced with coffee filter and let "breath" for 10 mins or so and replaced lid. Growth picked back up and began colonization again.  I'm hoping it continues to colonize and no contams as this is all that is left of B+ syringe.   




These pix are using straw / manure as bulk and spawning by layering colonized WBS.









Now should I wait before top is completely covered with myc before casing?  Or is it time to case now?

If this turns out to be successful, I'll propbably never try brf cakes again!!




THX to Psilo Warrior, anno and Baph for their help and guidance!! 

It has been almost 30 days since I innoculated my first jars made with the fine verm and no sign of growth.  I fear that possibly too much water may have ben used and medium was too wet - as it was very difficult to judge correct amount using the fine verm.  Two weeks afterward, I used same formula (brf pf tek) and also added crushed cob to see if it would act as a "spacer" for the fine verm.  After innoc and approx 2 weeks, this jar is almost fully colonized, so it was not spore syringe.

Is all lost with my jars?  Is there anything that can be done to the innoculated contents that may spur growth?  I think I will mix one of the jars in a tray with sterilized wbs and see what happens.
Thx
p4p

The first is better.

Confused on last step - when cased sub is ready to fruit, am I to cover tightly with plastic instead of foil so light will initiate pinning and fruiting with no holes?  I will need to exchange air 1 - 2 times  day, right?  Are we together here or did I miss something and veer off track? 
THX!
p4p

Accidently posted in General Topics - so please excuse my redundancy.

My WBS jars are near 100% colonized after 8 days and almost ready for bulk spawning.  (Still no signs of any growth after approx 23 days with the PF Tek and the fine verm).  Am using the straw/manure as bulk and am uncertain about a couple of things that I hope I may get a little input on.

A.  After I add spawn to bulk sub, I lay on top of bulk a cover of plastic wrap with many puncture holes and leave alone in darkness for full colonization, about 5 days. Is this correct?

B.  Once the bulk is colonized, I then add my sterilized casing and again as before, lay piece of plastic wrap on top and put back into dark for approx 3 - 5 days and until I see uniform growth poking through top of casing (patching where needed) and begin fruiting process.  Is this correct as well?

C.  When fully colonized sub w/casing is evident, do I then add my trays of bulk into fc? Or do I cover w/ plastic wrap - no holes - and fruit directly from the tray? 


Just wanted to confirm my steps and need a little clarification on what to do with cased trays ready for fruiting.

Thanks in advance for any info or tips anyone may have!!
p4p

Very useful and much appreciated!! Both of you have been very helpful and patient with this newbie and I hope i can one day repay the favors.

My best to you both,
p4p

I recently tried the wbs tek and all my jars are colonizing very quickly  (much quicker than brf cakes). Am about ready to case my wbs but, have had difficulty finding coir.   I tried searching for other types of growing caing methods but could only find spawning teks.  Can anyone help with another growing / casing method?
Thanks!
p4p 

thanks warrior dude. more patience will be required, i can see and guess i'll just have to wait a little bit longer than normal before i can enjoy the "fruits" of my labor.   'preciate the tip.

p4p

well, my *$#@!$%! verm turned out to be fine.  i know a medium grade is recommended.  nowhere on the bag does it state as to texture / grade.  so, will it still work?  can i use a little of the brown rice (no brf - have to grind me own) or perlite or anything that wil help from compacting? or should i just go with it?  i hope ya don't tell me i have to back up and  $%!&%#  punt and start over - try  to locate a courser grade.  whats your 'sperience with the fine verm?

thx,
p4p

hey, i was just stating what i was told.  being a smoker, don't think it could be anywhere close to causing what cigs can.  thanks for input.

Wit a few minor modificatins, couldn't one use a microwave for sterlization of substrate?  wouldn't the microwaves eradicate any contams?

FINALLY found verm.  Dome  Hepot no longer carries, nor Wallyworld due to carcinogens.  However, Lowez did have a few bags left, so I bought 'em all.  GOT EXTRA!!

Then if I can not find verm. would wild bird seed be the next best product for sub? or do u have any other suggestions?

Can perlite be used instead of vemiculite for substrate?

Hell I don't know if I'm doin' this right or not, but what the hell - here goes nothing.  Yes, another newbie here and confused as to the best method for casing and fc.  My climate is such that temp and humidity are not concerns and as such was wondering which are the best methods that are most idiot proof and high yielding?  I've read just about everything I can find on the net and it was enough to thorougly confuse me.  Anyone care to offer their opinion?
THX!
p4p