a problem with aging?

[anti-oedipus]

Hello everybody,
nice to be here. i've jus returned to shroom cultivation after an extended all expenses paid vacation compliments of the state: they were most kind, supplying me with a lumpy mattress, a pot to piss in, and even my very own sociopath for company. Anyhows i'm now picking up with some old hobbies i was unable to pursue in the otherwise salubrious surrounds of my former residence: SHROOMS! My problem is i began with an old spore print (25mths). Previously i'd only used fresh prints and was used to seeing germination within 3-5 days. Its now the end of day six and i don't see nuthin'. Should i be concerned or is this usual with older spore? My question is - at what point should i give up and attempt, what would be a most difficult venture for me, to obtain fresh spore. (Don't get me wrong i'm not spore begging its just that where i am it would be a reckless and require some ingenuity to receive such items in the post). Palya

[golly]

Welcome to Topia...
Most of the time you do see something by day 6 but 7 or 8 is not uncommon..Did you make some cakes..?

[anti-oedipus]

thanx for the welcome golly. yeah i did make some cakes. would that extend the waiting time?

[anti-oedipus]

After ten days i see some germination. I'm guessing that old but viable spore take some extra time to re-hydrate? i think i'm also dealing with coldness. its winter here and temps are dropping. i'm now keeping the jars in a cupboard and running a 75 watt globe round the clock. Is this wise?

[Hippie3]

ten days isn't unusual.
75*F is ok

[anti-oedipus]

thanx hippie. btw i likes those furry freak brothers. remember first seeing them as a kid and thinking (re: USA) something like - "oh brave new world that has such creatures in it"

[anti-oedipus]

i believe a combination of the age of the spore and temp (its dropping to 50 overnight here) are gonna make it damn nigh impossible for these jars to colonise before they either dry out or go sour on me. But being around this site has really wet my appetite for a shroom experience: i was initially unsure as to whether i was going to trip or not. Fortunately i just discovered something fascinating on erowid. Apparently at this time of year in this part of south australia there is a forest psilocybe that, given the rain we've had lately, may currently be in abundance. Two hours on a motorcycle and a walk thru the forest? i think i could handle that: nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'll let you know how i go

[mydarling]

yo, just be sure you know exactly what you're picking and identifying before you go eating any wild mushrooms! get a guidebook, bring a mycologist, study wild mushrooming first, etc

[anti-oedipus]

gotcha! thanx for the concern for my welfare. truly.

[anti-oedipus]

i originally innoculated three jars with the old spore. although some germination appeared in one of the jars at day ten, (at two innoculation points), it became clear that i was also battling low temps and dry substrate. I added extra moisture to the two jars with no germ and resterilised and re-innoculated. I also, without sterilisation, re-innoculated the jar that had germed and moistened the verm layer with sterile spore solution (risky i know). i then put a 40 watt bulb in the cupboard which keeps the temperature around 75 degrees. The first jar to germ has taken off and is looking like it will colonise. The other two jars are showing some germination at day ten. Now i'm getting excited

[golly]

Good luck with those cakes..I think yer on track.....

[anti-oedipus]

thanx golly

[Hippie3]

got pix ?

[anti-oedipus]

Originally Posted by Hippie3

got pix ?

no, but i'll take one of the most successful jar and upload it. i'd appreciate an expert opinion.

[anti-oedipus]

forgive the quality but i don't have my photographic gear and used my mobile fone. this is my best jar from 3 angles. whaddya think guys?

[anti-oedipus]

the pictured jar developed green mould in the uncolonised area. i cut out the mould, and approx 1/4" of surrounding mycelia, and packed in additional sterilised substrate. the mould did not return, the jar colonised and is now fruiting. one other jar colonised and is also fruiting. Two out of three ain't bad for old spore methinks. I now have fresh spore and am planning to go tripping on my birthday in a few weeks time. Don'tcha love a story with a happy ending?

[hungryjim]

Have a VERY happy birthday!!!bb

[Shroomette]

Definitely gotta luv happy endings there anti-oedipus... Great Job!!! Welcome back to Mycotopia!!! By the way Have a Happy Trippy Birthday!!!

[golly]

That was a good save on the cake..Did u do the operation in a Glovebox ..?

Enjoy da boomerz...

[anti-oedipus]

no golly, no glove box. i didn't know what to do, and i'd lost web access so i couldn't ask you guys. in the past on the rare occasion that a jar showed contams i just thru it out but this time i couldn't afford to do it. i donned gloves and mask, flamed a blade till it was red hot, tapped the jar onto a sterilised surface, cut out the mould and more, tipped the cake into a pre-sterilised jar and packed in the sterilised substrate. i didn't think it would work coz i recall reading that this green stuff just keeps coming back. i guess i was lucky. at the time i thgt it was my last chance coz the other 2 jars were lookin sad but then, for reasons i don't know, one of them just took off and went gangbusters. i'm so happy.