Ok I am a new grower; so far I have been having very good go at it. here are something I have changed when doing honey water, 1/2pint jars with classic ver and bwn rice.
I use lunch bag plastic Baggies to cover Honey water 1/2pint jars ASAP after they come out of the microwave. 2 jars I have used plastic Baggies and both worked fine and still are working fine even tested them and 2 out of 2 jars are colonizing now. Why a plastic bag? Because I can poke a small hole with syringe and inject/make syringes. I use rubber band to keep plastic on until it cooled off then just put on the rim lid that comes with bell jars. well keeping the plastic baggie on.
Money tip: money saved is money spend, go to your local dollar store (phone book). You can find Plastic containers 5 or $1 that are microwave safe and freezer safe, plastic bag 100+ for $1. 1/4, 1/2 1cups and other sizes, they also got water too 3 for $1. u can also find them Push lights that are like 3inch around, 2 AA batteries needed (yes u can even get batteries for $1 too)
Use throwaway fork to pat down your mix of ver/b rice in jar.
brown rice:
use 1/2 the mix powder like brown rice and 1/2 mix little chunky works good for me. (note 1/2 is not 1/2 a cup, it mean if you are using 1/4 b rice in ur mix 1/8 is powdery looking other 1/8 has little bit bigger rice grain.)
Mixing tip:
use big (~7in) plastic container with lid to mix ur vermiculite and brown rice in, all u have to do it close with lid and shake it up, this will reduce clumping. also use a fork if needed to scrape bottom. Add water on top of brown rice to reduce clumping on the bottom. also use 1/2 the water then shake then add more then shake again to also reduce clumping.
Light:
Computer/TV screen light works good for 1 to 2hr.
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zap