Popcorn Spawn to Monotub Soon

[GadgetGuy]

Sweetness man!

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

You can buy silica gel envelopes, get them out of pill bottles, or make your own with Drierite and PO Tyvek.

Could you expand on that "make your own" part?

Will silica gel crystals and po tyvek work?
What do you do, just fold, staple, or glue?
How much desiccant is needed?

[Scratch]

Whoomp! (There There They Are)



This is one of those "OMG it really works" days.

Congrats!

[BuckarooBanzai]

Silica gell, drierite and dry white rice will all work.

Ever make a little coke envelope out of a square of paper?

Same thing, just a lot larger.

If you don't know how to origami a bindle, staples would be your best bet. Tape/glue will cover the Tyvek and keep it from breathing so don't use too much. You just want a little paper container made of Tyvek and filled with some kind of dessicant.

A simple folded piece of Tyvek with a little tape around the edges would work.

The amount of dessicant depends on how much you are keeping dry and how often the container is opened.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by Scratch

This is one of those "OMG it really works" days. Congrats!

Yes it is! I've tried bulk three other times and think it may be right enough this time.

Such a living wealth of information around here. Gotta luv this place!
Thanx, guys.

[AGAMA]

A day later and at least 80 pins/small shrooms!
Yipee!!! Never seen this many in one container.
If only half of them make it to maturity..........!
Moisture building up. Droplets on surface.
Will leave lid cracked for a while and monitor.
Should I consider blotting with paper towels at this point?
Or should the water evaporate quickly enough with lid cracked?
Opinions appreciated.

[GadgetGuy]

Tough call, Im sure others know better but I haven't used a paper towel on any of my subs so far and no complaints. I guess it would depend on the water build up. I am home all too often due to unemployment so I get to fan 4-5 times a day and that seems to keep the water droplets from really forming on my sub. Tubs looking good man!

[fungusfarmer]

I got 5 half gallons of popcorn colonizing and hoe it turns out as well as yours has. First timer corner lol

[BuckarooBanzai]

Don't worry about moisture droplets unless they are large. Little tiny suspended droplets are nothing to worry about (they are actually good). If you see droplets the size of a pencil (and you are really worried) touch them with the corner of a paper towel or napkin.

I would say just keep doing exactly what you have been doing. Don't change anything at all at this point - it is working.

You have pins!

Happy pin dance, happy pin dance, AGAMA is rockin', he be rockin'...



And sling us more pics, man! We love the mycoporn!!!

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by fungusfarmer

I got 5 half gallons of popcorn colonizing and hoe it turns out as well as yours has. First timer corner lol

Geez, I had 5 or 6 qts pcorn and thought I had a lot. Made two bulks(one with sheep poo, which failed). You ought to be able to get a couple of decent bulk grows from those, if that's your plan. Or one VERY big one. Be sure to have a bulk sub depth of at least 3.5 to 4 inches to get the bigguns!
Best of luck ff.
I'll be watchin' to see what you do.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

Don't worry about moisture droplets unless they are large. Little tiny suspended droplets are nothing to worry about (they are actually good).

I would say just keep doing exactly what you have been doing. Don't change anything at all at this point - it is working.

And sling us more pics, man! We love the mycoporn!!!

They are droplets about the same size as milo, or slightly smaller(think: head of pin). Thanx for the anxiety relief!

At this point, I don't want to change anything till it's time to dehydrate!


P.S. I'm a slingin'

P.P.S. That last photo has a little guy that looks like it's about to open. I expect I'll pluck it pretty quick. Didn't expect that!

[dascylus]

Good stuff. Thanks for all the pics. I am looking forward to trying popcorn soon. I have had good luck with WBS as bulk. Keep up the good work.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by dascylus

I have had good luck with WBS as bulk. Keep up the good work.

Milo will be ripening here soon enough. Think I'll try it then. It's part of WBS. We'll see.

[BuckarooBanzai]

That sub looks excellent. Fluffy, white and healthy. Don't even worry about those little head of a pin droplets.

Those droplets help to keep a 100% humidity microclimate right on the substrate surface (where the next flush is already starting to form as early hyphal knots).

Keep doing exactly what you are doing and get ready to start doing some printing and some drying!

[GadgetGuy]

Thats actually a pretty good pinset, better than I've been getting as of recent with my B+

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

Those droplets help to keep a 100% humidity microclimate right on the substrate surface (where the next flush is already starting to form as early hyphal knots).

The sub is still generating more pins each day(over 100 at this time!)
I still stare in amazement, but it probably doesn't take much to amaze me.

More mycoporn below. Quite a development for one day.

(Appreciate the compliment GG)

[BuckarooBanzai]

Hells yeah, man!

Congratulations!

[AGAMA]

The photos say it all, so let me explain them.
The first three had popped their veils this morning, so I snagged them.
The next ten photos represent the bulk when I got home(minus one cap).
The next one is of course the main one I want to print.
The next four are shots of two guys that are misshapen. Is this something that is normal, or is it a mutation, deformity, or perhaps attack by some disease or infection? If it is common, someone please enlighted me.
The next two are two shots of what came out when I got home.
The next two are what's left(including two to print when they drop spores.
The last three are what's getting read for the freezer(minus this w/e!).

Will report more when there's more to report.
Later.

[P4ulada]

Wuh, nice bro, really nice
Got a pin dance

Huhu

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by P4ulada

Wuh, nice bro, really nice

Thanx.
Will post pics of rest of first flush when last two start dropping spores so I can print them.

Notice the shit-eatin' grin? I know what I'll be doing for part of the upcoming weekend!

Will try to relay the "experience". Have never tried to do this in the written form before.
Until then,
Later.

[Hippie3]

have a safe trip

[AGAMA]

I will.
It'll be one of those "and never leave the farm" kind of things.

[AGAMA]

Well, here's pics:
#1) Last 3rd of flush, minus the next 2 pics
#2) Largest one
#3) Best clumper
The last four are repeats of the first three(different settings).

Will print and attempt LC and mycowater innoculations this eve.
I'm happy as a puppy with two, well, you know!!!
Later.

[Irishlion]

when printing make sure you maintain cleanlyness, by keeping the jars over the prints, its a wise idea to let the caps print for say 6 hours and toss that as any contamn will fall during the first printng cession, then place cap down again and continue, make sure you place a nice iso whiped tooth pic or small finishing nail under jar or glass covering the cap, then will allow for moisture evap, then after around 12 to 14 hours (whipe you another section of tinfoil down with ISO), lift jar or such remove cap, place jar back over print and while toothpick or such still under jar so the prints dry, then place cap on cleaned section of tinfoil then cover with another jar or such with a tooth pick, then allow that to set for another 12 to 24 hours and repeat this will allow you to take picture perfect prints that are gaurented clean, also unless using prints right away allow them to dry for 3 to 4 days so they won't smear in the baggie, then with jar still over the print cut, tinfoil with exacto knife or utility knife, whipe your baggie down really well with ISO, make sure you get the lip really well, set baggie down, whipe off tweezers, set them down to dry then wash hands with ISO (also wash hands with ISO every time after every print) then open baggie and take clean tweezers and pick up print and place gently in baggie and close and repeat of every DRIED print. This will ensure you have very very clean and beautiful smudge free prints.
.

Hope this helps
IL

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by Irishlion

unless using prints right away allow them to dry for 3 to 4 days so they won't smear in the baggie, then with jar still over the print cut, tinfoil with exacto knife or utility knife, whipe your baggie down really well with ISO, make sure you get the lip really well, set baggie down, whipe off tweezers, set them down to dry then wash hands with ISO (also wash hands with ISO every time after every print) then open baggie and take clean tweezers and pick up print and place gently in baggie and close and repeat of every DRIED print. This will ensure you have very very clean and beautiful smudge free prints.

Hope this helps
IL

Indeed, it helps. You filled in the gaps of what I knew with what I wasn't sure about. Should be producing usable prints soon, if all goes right.

Thanx a bunch IL.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Nice big'un there, man! G'luck with the prints!

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

Nice big'un there, man! G'luck with the prints!

That puppy was 48g and was bigger around than a w/m jar!
Had to cover with a small plastic container.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by AGAMA

These four are shots of two guys that are misshapen. Is this something that is normal, or is it a mutation, deformity, or perhaps attack by some disease or infection? If it is common, someone please enlighted me.
Thanx in advance.
Later.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Hard to tell from the pics, but I see one stem that looks kind of gnarly and stirated. Funky stems like that are associated with verticillium.

[AGAMA]

Will research verticillium. Thanx for the pointer.

Any suggestions(from anyone) about the easiest way to dunk/rehydrate the roasting pan of colonized substrate that just gave up over 470g of magical fun?
Maybe fill it up, then punch a set of holes in bottom to drain?
Perhaps I better check that out in the archives too.

Anybody grow on just straw these days? Haven't seen anything lately to suggest anyone is(for cubes).

[BuckarooBanzai]

Fill the tray up and weigh it down in the fridge (bulk subs will float).

After about 3-4 hours, pour the excess water out and return it to the FC. Check it the next morning to make sure you don't have water pooling in the tray. A hole or two in the tray is a good idea.

Straight straw works great for cubies. I can't think of anybody specific who is a straw only grower, but I've seen good results from it in the past.

[AGAMA]

Dude, once again I'm grateful for your most qualified suggestions.
Once I take care of some mundane matters, looks like the rest of my day will be research and application. And more application.
I'm now developing LC isolates from this first flush, even as I print and dry them.

Any suggestion of what to hold the sub under water? I'll be thinking about this for a bit first.

Am also developing a LC of PE as a side project(Will probably start a new thread, though). Did innoculate a few BRF jars as an initial trial. We'll see.

This hobby really helps to develop patience!

Never knew one could have this much fun in a room alone....

[BuckarooBanzai]

I use double gallon Ziploc bags filled with lead shot and sand. But I have a bunch of those already as soft weights for gluing sheet balsa to plane wings.

Anything heavy that you can put in a gallon Ziploc bag (cleanliness) will work. A brick or kitty litter would work just fine.

You've got the addiction, man...

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

You've got the addiction, man...

Yeah, much preferred to the nicotine addiction I walked away from a month ago!
Well, got to go get busy. Got pcorn in the PC. and BRF jars to go in next.

Need to get the bulk dunked for a few hours, also.
Here's what it's up to today:
(assume I should pick the largest 5, then dunk?)
(that's what I'm doing, anyway, right or wrong)
Opinions welcome.

The extra shots began as a pt rye jar(first cased with seed starter, harvested, and casing cut off and dunked) that's now being treated as a cake(second flush, DEC). Scraped from the same print that was also responsible for the bulk grow.
Kinda neat how this can work!

[AGAMA]

Well, finally did the bulk dunk, in the middle of the night(have company).
Is this overlay? Is there a remedy? Am I supposed to scratch the surface with sterile fork? Is the bulk supposed to have a "grayish" look/color to it?
It's been that way since right before the first flush.the first three pics are from earlier in the grow. The last three from 5 minutes ago.
What is the recovery time after a dunk?

Once again, any opinions?
I'm getting ready to do my first bulk grows from clones soon, and need to learn as much as I can(cloned four bigguns and one heavy clumper so far). BRF and pcorn both running now from LC of one biggun and LC of PE, but that's another story...
Three more LCs getting ready to be after that.

[BuckarooBanzai]

That sub looks like it got a little dry but I can't really tell a lot from the pictures. Why is everything so golden/yellow?

Overlay is like a solid surface, almost like a plastic cover.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

That sub looks like it got a little dry but I can't really tell a lot from the pictures. Why is everything so golden/yellow?
Overlay is like a solid surface, almost like a plastic cover.

I let a small second flush grow till the veils began to tear(50g, 8 shrooms). The extra few days seem to have made a not-so-good change.

Color is bad d/t bad lighting.

Kind of looks like you describe, just not completely solid.
Will try again with the camera:

[BuckarooBanzai]

Wow, that sub does look really dry.

Scraping with a fork might help that guy.

[AGAMA]

Will disinfect a fork and get busy!
More pics later, either way.

As always BB, thanx a bunch!

[AGAMA]

Finally got a third flush from the turkey pan- Two shrooms total, for a combined weight of 188.4g.
I think I need to dunk the bulk to fruit it one more time and go from there. Opinions?

How much does a bulk benefit from casing with wet verm instead of dunking. Or it it even comparable at all?

How does someone dry something this large, without it spoiling or losing potency? They won't fit in the dehydrator!

Ideas appreciated.

[Sidestreet Getaway]

Wow, nice fatty!

[AGAMA]

Thanx, SG.
I think they were affected by verticillium. They were contorted, with funky stems, and caps would not open up.
Still not complaining about a 122g shroom!
When it's dry, I'll be able to "experiment" on it two or even three times.
WOW.

[weiliicoyote]

nice monotub man. 122g shroom very nice!

[BuckarooBanzai]

Those last big'uns that a bulk throws out seem to be twisted/contorted much more often than first flush harvests.

[AGAMA]

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

Those last big'uns that a bulk throws out seem to be twisted/contorted much more often than first flush harvests.

I see.
I've only dunked this bulk once, for 3-4hrs(between 2nd and 3rd flush). After I remove the current flush(three shrooms, one a big'un), I intend to dunk again. There has been virtually no pinning in most of the center of the bulk since the first flush was gathered. Almost all since were side-pinned.
1)Wondering whether to increase dunk time to 6-8hrs in fridge. Thought the first soak may have been too short for maximum results(still seemed dry, sponge-like)?
2)Will having already been dunked once cause it to fall apart with that much soaking?
3)Is there a reason some bulks don't continue pinning in the center? Or do any, as I've no other bulk experience to compare with yet.

Pics to follow ASAP, as digital camera has a mind of it's own today!

[BuckarooBanzai]

I wouldn't dunk a bulk sub for 6-8 hours, but some do.

You should be able to tell a lot from the weight. Put the whole tray on a bathroom scale before dunking and after. It should regain a significant amount of water weight.

Anytime you dunk, you take a chance of the sub breaking. It isn't the worst thing in the world if that happens. Just put the pieces back together, they will still grow.

In later flushes, the myc in the center of the sub can dry out and become somewhat solid and matted. This is commonly called overly. Lightly scratching it with a fork to break it up a little can help.

But if the sub has already spit out 3 flushes, scratching it can open the doorway to contamination.

I would just dunk it and be happy with the big side pins.

[AGAMA]

BB to the rescue again!
I am grateful for the pointers, as always.

Am about to expose a few more (smaller)bulks to FAE and light . Will start a new thread, though.

Should have one more report on this bulk.
Thanx, BB.
I hope to one day have the level of experience that you do.

[AGAMA]

This turkey tin just won't give up the ghost!
This is the sixth flush now.
Two flushes were 1 to 3 shrooms each.
Most recent flush was 89.6g(one shroom)!
Currently there are two bigger and more than a dozen and a half smaller ones popping up to greet me!
One hell of a return on investment.
This will help me through the winter!

[copelandiaKidd]

friggin massive and beautiful!!!!!

[BuckarooBanzai]

If you can keep a bulk sub from contaminating (and you have the space) eight flushes is not unheard of - especially with heavy misting and/or dunks between flushes.

And flushes after 3 are SO much easier to harvest! A few giant shrooms are so much easier to deal with than 80 "regular" sized shrooms...