grain tek awards ....

stonedcoder · 10-27-09, 19:17

This maybe a feature of this site being so packed with valuable information - i can't seam to find an answer on which one is better ...i've been scratching my head with the grain teks for a few days ...what is the consensus amongst the experienced ?

Popcorn ? / WBS ? / Rye? ....

Ease of use award goes to ____________?
Cheep low cost award goes to ____________?
lowest fail rate _____________?
fastest colonizing ____________?
best contam resistance ___________?

i do realize that most of this comes down to personal preference ...so what's your preferance.?

If this same topic has been beaten to shit on this forum - i will not feel the least bit offended if a mod simply removes this thread

shroom31 · 10-27-09, 20:10

do an experiment with all of them and try it like that. the best part of this hobby is experimenting but WBS is fairly easy

potatocore · 10-27-09, 20:24

but i've tried nearly all these and find that popcorn works the best. for me. i only had one project fail with my popcorn tek and that was because a horrible combination of bad LC (i was growing trich in a jar)/messed up incubator/and minimal sterility. now THAT's a combination for disaster! check the vaults and read up on comments under posts by reputable members (look for a lot of green squares under their avatars...) that's how i've learned the most. i'm fairly certain the consensus is a bias towards popcorn or wbs. the only reason i don't like wbs is sheer laziness. pickin out all those damn sunflower seeds is murder... good luck with whatever you end up goin with!

eatyualive · 10-27-09, 20:45

there are ratings on threads for this reason.

i like these few alot...

http://forums.mycotopia.net/wild-bir...e-content.html (Steeping Wild Bird Seed: Achieving proper moisture content)

http://forums.mycotopia.net/wild-bir...technique.html (Super fast and effective wbs/grain technique.)

http://forums.mycotopia.net/holding-...out-lazlo.html (Lazlo's Grain Tek: check this out Lazlo)

http://forums.mycotopia.net/steriliz...xperiment.html (Antibacterial Grain Soak Experiment)

http://forums.mycotopia.net/312142-post12.html

im using popcorn only now. but for years ive used everything from wbs to rye berry. i like lazlos tek with a 30 minute boiled water soak. seems to work the best for me. with steeping it works well. but you can easily over cook your grain and have issues. if you find that your having issues with grain getting wet spot or you see extra moisture buildup in your jars. then try straining your grain longer after a steep. and if you do the boiled water soak. then strain the grain out an extra 30 minutes.

ive tried many different methods. and i kind of alternate at times to keep things different. sometimes if my grain gets contam issues. i switch up methods to test if its the method or the grain. seems to help as well when issues persist using a single method.

i find overall that the one downside with wbs is that birdseed gets everywhere its super messy. the corn is a bit larger in size and is easy to spot and pick up a kernal. and corn is easier to explain than wbs debris on your floor.

DeadSpore · 10-27-09, 20:57

WBS = Cheap and easy with good results.
Rye = A little more expensive but seems to have more nutritional value for later flushes.

Not a big fan of corn but always fun to try.

stonedcoder · 10-27-09, 22:15

Thanks a bunch guys ...

shroom31 - funny you should say that - geared up to do WBS and popcorn tonight - going to start 4 quart jars of popcorn and 6 of WBS ... all PESA i think this will be enough for 2 tubs?

Eatu - damm this may sound like a noob comment - i had no idea threads had ratings - sry dude, but i thanks a bunch for your reply - as always - easy to understand and great info

eatyualive · 10-27-09, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonedcoder

Thanks a bunch guys ...

shroom31 - funny you should say that - geared up to do WBS and popcorn tonight - going to start 4 quart jars of popcorn and 6 of WBS ... all PESA i think this will be enough for 2 tubs?

Eatu - damm this may sound like a noob comment - i had no idea threads had ratings - sry dude, but i thanks a bunch for your reply - as always - easy to understand and great info

if your looking at a forum. like fungi for instance. the name of the thread will be there where you click it. to the right is a rating. some threads have ratings some don't. but its a mushroom icon. 5 being archive material. take a look in the new vaults. there are tons of corn grain teks there. look under popcorn.

also holding tank has threads that are about to be archived. some great threads in there.

director of sound · 10-27-09, 23:33

what about cracked corn? i know its a little more work to get it ready for the pc but it colonizes extreamly fast, ive never gotten contams from it and repeatedly get 10+flushes with just cracked corn and coir. and to boot what is it like $5 for 5 lbs or more. or free fo those of you with cornfields around you! i love the stuff especially if you expand your coir with hot earth juice!

stonedcoder · 10-28-09, 13:02

Thanks Eatu - i've been though a ton of the teks - that's what lead me to create this thread - my brain was smoking with a little too much information - which was causing me hesitation in getting started ...but i eventually just said phuckit and went with WBS and popcorn

DOS - i'll keep that in mind... for next time

...so as it sits i have 5 jars of pop and 6 of WBS - hopefully if i can get 4 and 4 to fully colonize (fingers crossed) i can then spawn to 2 tubs ...a la eatu's tub thread (Eatyualive's Chamber of Shrooms)

BuckarooBanzai · 10-28-09, 16:14

I like popcorn. $20 for a 50lb bag from Sam's Club.

I simmer for 1.5 hours, drain and stir in the colander until it stops steaming.

I like to add a small amount of coir/castings to each spawn bag to absorb excess moisture and give the grain a taste of the bulk substrate it will be spawned to.

stonedcoder · 10-28-09, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

I like popcorn. $20 for a 50lb bag from Sam's Club.

...that is a LOT of popcorn - i got some from the bulk food section at the local supermarket - it was .39 cents per 100g ...which is around $1.70 per pound... (if my head math is correct)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

I simmer for 1.5 hours, drain and stir in the colander until it stops steaming.

I like to add a small amount of coir/castings to each spawn bag to absorb excess moisture and give the grain a taste of the bulk substrate it will be spawned to.

i can try that - i have the jars resting inside the oven at home right now - will be doing the PC when i get home tonight (provided i can get my PC back from a friend)

worm poop (castings) - where do you find this shit

BuckarooBanzai · 10-28-09, 17:06

Hydroponic grow stores are your best bet. Some local nurseries might have it, but most of the time they look at you like yer nuts.

You can also buy castings on-line, but you have to pay for shipping.

I do a nice long (3 hour) car ride to the nearest hydro store for castings every year or so. They usually run about $20 for a 50lb bag.

You realize those popcorn prep instructions are for hydrating, not sterilizing - right?

stonedcoder · 10-28-09, 18:14

yep - followed this little ditty IrishLion - popcorn (Popcorn Simple and easy with single hole polyfil Lids)

...hydrated very nicely ... nothing is PC'ed at this point ...

i'm working with ...5 jars of popcorn (hydrated) and 6 jars of WBS (not actually in the Jars ...still soaking in a pot (24 Hr soak)

i'll PC the popcorn jars tonight ...unless you'd advise otherwise - after going through your monster thread "buck's institute of higher learning" i'm starting to think that maybe i should hold off on the popcorn and WBS and make sure my prints are viable via a LC and BRF test jar first -

how long will hydrated popcorn last in the jars ?

zodd · 10-28-09, 18:41

could a sworn i posted in this one earlier. lol

so far in my area ive found wild bird seed to be the cheapest £8 for 20 kg
and wild bird seed to be the easyest to obtain but as far as the rest goes i cant get rye for squat so i cant comment on comparing contam rates. so far pop corn is my favourite to grow on mostly because i like the contrast of mycelium next to the yellow

been doing multi grain mixers recently which are going well

25% pop corn
50% wild bird seed
25% cake mix

think the little fellas are liking it

BuckarooBanzai · 10-28-09, 20:55

The "best" grain is always the grain you can get cheapest close to home.

When ya get it cheap, you can easily experiment with it and master hydrating it to optimal levels.

Getting water levels perfect is way more important than the type of grain you use.

stonedcoder · 10-29-09, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckarooBanzai

Getting water levels perfect is way more important than the type of grain you use.

This was the Gist I was getting from most of the Grain Teks ...thanks again bb

bugs · 10-29-09, 15:38

I like popcorn the best, and wbs has worked great for me, too.

Zodd's mix sounds really tasty (or would if I were a mushroom).

A little verm, maybe a heaping tablespoonful, mixed with each bag or jar of grain seems to work well to minimize over-hydration.

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10-27-09, 19:17	#1 (permalink)
stonedcoder table for 2 @ RATEOTU Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 404	grain tek awards .... This maybe a feature of this site being so packed with valuable information - i can't seam to find an answer on which one is better ...i've been scratching my head with the grain teks for a few days ...what is the consensus amongst the experienced ? Popcorn ? / WBS ? / Rye? .... Ease of use award goes to ____________? Cheep low cost award goes to ____________? lowest fail rate _____________? fastest colonizing ____________? best contam resistance ___________? i do realize that most of this comes down to personal preference ...so what's your preferance.? If this same topic has been beaten to shit on this forum - i will not feel the least bit offended if a mod simply removes this thread __________________ This is my signature ...insignificant and dark, just like me

10-27-09, 20:24	#3 (permalink)
potatocore Knuckledraggin Loser Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 270	im no expert... but i've tried nearly all these and find that popcorn works the best. for me. i only had one project fail with my popcorn tek and that was because a horrible combination of bad LC (i was growing trich in a jar)/messed up incubator/and minimal sterility. now THAT's a combination for disaster! check the vaults and read up on comments under posts by reputable members (look for a lot of green squares under their avatars...) that's how i've learned the most. i'm fairly certain the consensus is a bias towards popcorn or wbs. the only reason i don't like wbs is sheer laziness. pickin out all those damn sunflower seeds is murder... good luck with whatever you end up goin with! __________________ ...if she had as many sticking out her as she has had in her she would look like a Hillbilly straw-log! -CoyoteMesc

10-27-09, 20:45	#4 (permalink)
eatyualive ExoCannibalist Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5,064	there are ratings on threads for this reason. i like these few alot... http://forums.mycotopia.net/wild-bir...e-content.html (Steeping Wild Bird Seed: Achieving proper moisture content) http://forums.mycotopia.net/wild-bir...technique.html (Super fast and effective wbs/grain technique.) http://forums.mycotopia.net/holding-...out-lazlo.html (Lazlo's Grain Tek: check this out Lazlo) http://forums.mycotopia.net/steriliz...xperiment.html (Antibacterial Grain Soak Experiment) http://forums.mycotopia.net/312142-post12.html im using popcorn only now. but for years ive used everything from wbs to rye berry. i like lazlos tek with a 30 minute boiled water soak. seems to work the best for me. with steeping it works well. but you can easily over cook your grain and have issues. if you find that your having issues with grain getting wet spot or you see extra moisture buildup in your jars. then try straining your grain longer after a steep. and if you do the boiled water soak. then strain the grain out an extra 30 minutes. ive tried many different methods. and i kind of alternate at times to keep things different. sometimes if my grain gets contam issues. i switch up methods to test if its the method or the grain. seems to help as well when issues persist using a single method. i find overall that the one downside with wbs is that birdseed gets everywhere its super messy. the corn is a bit larger in size and is easy to spot and pick up a kernal. and corn is easier to explain than wbs debris on your floor. __________________ Click for Eat's Reference

10-27-09, 20:57	#5 (permalink)
DeadSpore Comatose Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 92	WBS = Cheap and easy with good results. Rye = A little more expensive but seems to have more nutritional value for later flushes. Not a big fan of corn but always fun to try. __________________ Shall we go, you and I while we can Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds?

10-27-09, 20:10	#2 (permalink)
shroom31 Mycophage Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 147	do an experiment with all of them and try it like that. the best part of this hobby is experimenting but WBS is fairly easy

10-27-09, 22:15	#6 (permalink)
stonedcoder table for 2 @ RATEOTU Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 404	Thanks a bunch guys ... shroom31 - funny you should say that - geared up to do WBS and popcorn tonight - going to start 4 quart jars of popcorn and 6 of WBS ... all PESA i think this will be enough for 2 tubs? Eatu - damm this may sound like a noob comment - i had no idea threads had ratings - sry dude, but i thanks a bunch for your reply - as always - easy to understand and great info __________________ This is my signature ...insignificant and dark, just like me

10-27-09, 23:33	#8 (permalink)
director of sound sonic sunkist sundays! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 426	what about cracked corn? i know its a little more work to get it ready for the pc but it colonizes extreamly fast, ive never gotten contams from it and repeatedly get 10+flushes with just cracked corn and coir. and to boot what is it like $5 for 5 lbs or more. or free fo those of you with cornfields around you! i love the stuff especially if you expand your coir with hot earth juice! __________________ The gateway to another world is often found in your back yard...

10-28-09, 13:02	#9 (permalink)
stonedcoder table for 2 @ RATEOTU Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 404	Thanks Eatu - i've been though a ton of the teks - that's what lead me to create this thread - my brain was smoking with a little too much information - which was causing me hesitation in getting started ...but i eventually just said phuckit and went with WBS and popcorn DOS - i'll keep that in mind... for next time ...so as it sits i have 5 jars of pop and 6 of WBS - hopefully if i can get 4 and 4 to fully colonize (fingers crossed) i can then spawn to 2 tubs ...a la eatu's tub thread (Eatyualive's Chamber of Shrooms) __________________ This is my signature ...insignificant and dark, just like me

10-28-09, 16:14	#10 (permalink)
BuckarooBanzai Prone to ranting... Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,050	I like popcorn. $20 for a 50lb bag from Sam's Club. I simmer for 1.5 hours, drain and stir in the colander until it stops steaming. I like to add a small amount of coir/castings to each spawn bag to absorb excess moisture and give the grain a taste of the bulk substrate it will be spawned to. __________________ Banzai Institute for Higher Education (a collection of growing Teks & threads)

10-28-09, 17:06	#12 (permalink)
BuckarooBanzai Prone to ranting... Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,050	Hydroponic grow stores are your best bet. Some local nurseries might have it, but most of the time they look at you like yer nuts. You can also buy castings on-line, but you have to pay for shipping. I do a nice long (3 hour) car ride to the nearest hydro store for castings every year or so. They usually run about $20 for a 50lb bag. You realize those popcorn prep instructions are for hydrating, not sterilizing - right? __________________ Banzai Institute for Higher Education (a collection of growing Teks & threads)

10-28-09, 18:14	#13 (permalink)
stonedcoder table for 2 @ RATEOTU Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 404	yep - followed this little ditty IrishLion - popcorn (Popcorn Simple and easy with single hole polyfil Lids) ...hydrated very nicely ... nothing is PC'ed at this point ... i'm working with ...5 jars of popcorn (hydrated) and 6 jars of WBS (not actually in the Jars ...still soaking in a pot (24 Hr soak) i'll PC the popcorn jars tonight ...unless you'd advise otherwise - after going through your monster thread "buck's institute of higher learning" i'm starting to think that maybe i should hold off on the popcorn and WBS and make sure my prints are viable via a LC and BRF test jar first - how long will hydrated popcorn last in the jars ? __________________ This is my signature ...insignificant and dark, just like me

10-28-09, 18:41	#14 (permalink)
zodd Maniacal Laughter Mwahaa! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 584	could a sworn i posted in this one earlier. lol so far in my area ive found wild bird seed to be the cheapest £8 for 20 kg and wild bird seed to be the easyest to obtain but as far as the rest goes i cant get rye for squat so i cant comment on comparing contam rates. so far pop corn is my favourite to grow on mostly because i like the contrast of mycelium next to the yellow been doing multi grain mixers recently which are going well 25% pop corn 50% wild bird seed 25% cake mix think the little fellas are liking it __________________ who would win between a monkey and a dog?

10-28-09, 20:55	#15 (permalink)
BuckarooBanzai Prone to ranting... Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,050	The "best" grain is always the grain you can get cheapest close to home. When ya get it cheap, you can easily experiment with it and master hydrating it to optimal levels. Getting water levels perfect is way more important than the type of grain you use. __________________ Banzai Institute for Higher Education (a collection of growing Teks & threads)

10-29-09, 15:38	#17 (permalink)
bugs Dink Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,697	I like popcorn the best, and wbs has worked great for me, too. Zodd's mix sounds really tasty (or would if I were a mushroom). A little verm, maybe a heaping tablespoonful, mixed with each bag or jar of grain seems to work well to minimize over-hydration. __________________ Bagseed is like a box o' chocolates. Ya never know what you're gonna get.

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