First Casing / Care Help Needed

antivanity · 02-28-07, 18:27

So this is my first casing. I'm not to sure on how much to water and when, so i have been watering once a day with a fine mist spray bottle. Only 1 misting on each case per day. Current temp is at 78F and HR is to high at 98%, trying to figure out how you guys get it stedy at 85%. Seems rather difficult as perlite creates a heck of alot of humidity.

oibchip · 02-28-07, 19:50

Don't put so much water in your pearlite. It doesn't have to be completely saturated.

roc · 02-28-07, 20:39

Casings do not need as much help on humidity as do cakes. Fan em well and don't over do the perlite thing as your misting will provide enough moisture.
Nice job so far!

Freaky · 02-28-07, 20:41

Your misting is also creating higher humidity.

You don't want to over saturate the casing. If humidity is that high, I wouldn't recommend misting. But, if it looks dry to you, then a fine light mist might be needed. You're going to be the best judge as you can see it. I did see its pulled from the sides of the container some. This sign of shrinking means its either ready to fruit, or its too dry. It doesn't look dry to me. How long have they been in the fruiting chamber?

antivanity · 02-28-07, 20:45

This is the 3rd day.

Freaky · 02-28-07, 21:09

They look great for 3 days, with it just poking through the casing layer. If you think the casing is getting lighter brown in color (drying out some) feel free to mist it carefully. Overall though they look good for 3 days. Are these the albinos? If yes, they like a drier casing and I'd advise less to no misting. But thats just my opinion, its your fungus, and you will learn how to feel and measure whats best for it!

Happy funging

antivanity · 02-28-07, 21:25

These are B+ and Puerto Ricans

Thanks for all the help guys!

antivanity · 03-01-07, 11:02

Oops, Small casing is B+ and larger one is Ecuador. Each casing is split in half with 2 different substrates, popcorn and WBS. See image for instant understanding..

Foster · 03-01-07, 11:10

Nice! Great advice in previous posts! I agree, less misting! In fact, my last two trays like those, were just placed in a small rubbermaid tub. No perlite. They created the perfect amount of humid without any additional source. Only required a lil misting, a lil fanning, and a dunk between flushes to rehydrate and provide humid for casing. good luck! Looks real good so far!

foster

fahtster · 03-01-07, 11:13

I would quit misting the casings now... the color looks fine and the casing isn't as much for a water source for the myc as it is a structural environment for pin formation. you may even find (if you have a resource around you) that a courser grade verm like medium grade verm is a better choice for a casing layer just for the reason that it, due to it's larger kernel size, creates larger air pockets and lets more light to the myc underneathe. this is more favorable to the pin formation. plus if you keep misting everyday, you'll end up filling those air pockets you have with water... this will suffocate your myc. and invite contams probably on the bottom of your grains and you won't even see the mold until it's too late... OR overmisting will cause your casing layer to contam... so be careful. your casings look good for three days in but that one on the right is moving awefully fast... this probably means that your misting of the casing is also inviting overlay. so my advice is stop misting the casing all together. at least until you have small mushrooms, not pins mind you, small mushies with caps.

fahtster

antivanity · 03-01-07, 11:26

Cool, thanks guys

the Casing layer is a 50/50 mix of coir and verm. I cant find any other grades of verm where im at. I'll keep looking around though. I'll take another picture of the casings tonight as they have sprouted more myc and im starting to see knotting.

Iv managed to lower the HR by moving my Air Pump up from 15 mins, 8 times in a 24 hour period, to 30 mins by 8 times per 24 hour period. Gonna check it tonight to make sure its not overly drying out the air.
It's stedy at 87%.

antivanity · 03-01-07, 20:04

Aww man, i think im getting overlay or cobweb, hell i duno. It just dosnt look right to me. I scraped away the very top layer of the casing and it seems very dense and moist underneath. Im afriad i might have over watered them, not sure. The temp's are up to 79F, got hot today here. Humidity is back up to 97%.. although im not to sure how much i trust this thermometer..

Edit: Dont mean i scraped away the whole casing, just a "dime" sizes part in a corner.

oibchip · 03-01-07, 20:38

getting that humidty down to 85% will go a long way. Do alot of FAE and get that soaked pearlite outta there and dry it up a bit.

Freaky · 03-01-07, 21:54

Don't poke around with it!!!! Just let it be, you'll prolong the fruiting if you mess with it to much. Most casings take 7-10 days to fruit, so yours are only half way there.

And a note on your PR casing, that strain is known to overlay, and take a while to fruit. It seems to have a hard time realizing when to stop eating and switch to fruiting.

Please just be patient, your temp and humidity seem just right. Kepp that air exchanging and you'll be happy in a few more days

antivanity · 03-02-07, 10:44

You know what that means... will post pic's tonight.

antivanity · 03-02-07, 19:25

My very first Pinzzzzzzzzzzzz !

Hippie3 · 03-03-07, 10:51

congrats!!!!!

Freaky · 03-03-07, 22:39

Very happy pin dance to you!

joey_megabucks · 03-03-07, 23:06

growing mushrooms taught me patience for sure. congrats. i look forward to looking at big, beautiful mushrooms soon enough

antivanity · 03-06-07, 19:53

Quick photo update on these guys, the B+'s where a late bloomer, but when they started they gew quick. While the Ecuador was seen from the knotting all the way to where its at now.

The Ecuador casing looks like i might be getting overlay.. am i correct?
As well all the fuzziness around the base is from high HR, right ?

Thanks guys!

Freaky · 03-06-07, 20:44

Very happy for your success!

I'd like to suggest to you to try to clone a couple of the ecuadors out of some of those clusters. They are really nice clusters and picking a clone shouldn't be hard to do.

There is a cloning section in the vaults and lots of ways to accomplish this.

And yes, that does look like overlay. What you may want to consider doing, after you harvest it all, go ahead and dunk if you want, then lightly sprinkle another layer of casing over it. Really light and fluffy. If you don't dunk it, recase it, and mist it, mist it, mist it for a couple days, but don't oversaturate. Then it should give you another flush in a few days and you wont have to worry about that overlay.

When you harvest, I'd like to suggest also that you have super clean and sterile hands, or where gloves (my preferance). Just make sure you pick them all, I find tweezers (clean) work well for the abhorts and little ones.

antivanity · 03-09-07, 12:55

First Flush, B+ strain!! I think for my first grow, i got an awesome flush. Just wish i had a weight scale.. There was 2 caps that looks really dark green/blue, and was wondering if they were bad (picture 4 and 8). Casing is now being dunked for 24 hours. Awating flush 2

The last 2 photos are of my Ecuador's, they are taking forever and it looks like the case/substrait is very very dry. So i think its halting growth. I did a light misting last night. Any idea what i can do to unhalt it ?

Thank you to everyone that helped me with my first casing, you guys are the shit!

dial8 · 03-09-07, 13:02

Looks real nice, brother! That casing is a bit dry. Mist it several times a day lightly to bring the water content back up.

the_chosen_one · 03-09-07, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freaky

Don't poke around with it!!!! Just let it be, you'll prolong the fruiting if you mess with it to much.

...

you can sure tell when someone has kids

Freaky · 03-09-07, 20:02

@ TCO

Anti, if you want to add moisture to the substrate, a sterile syringe with sterile water can be shot in strategic places to rehydrate the substrate. This will keep misting from damaging any fruits.

Foster · 03-10-07, 01:38

Looks very nice! Congrats

Definately a great candidate for cloning there!

foster

antivanity · 03-10-07, 19:56

Hey thanks guys! Could not have done it without you all. Just recased after a 24 hour dunk. Will update with photos of the second flush when its ready to harvest.

srgtm1a · 03-10-07, 21:00

Tip of the hat....nice job man. Well on your way to great mycology. Not bad at all for a first casing.

antivanity · 03-13-07, 20:59

Thanks

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02-28-07, 20:39	#3 (permalink)
roc Old Man Join Date: Mar 1970 Posts: 2,807	Casings do not need as much help on humidity as do cakes. Fan em well and don't over do the perlite thing as your misting will provide enough moisture. Nice job so far! __________________ ubuntu! Member of Native Geekaho Tribe. "Think for yourself and question authority"

02-28-07, 20:41	#4 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	Your misting is also creating higher humidity. You don't want to over saturate the casing. If humidity is that high, I wouldn't recommend misting. But, if it looks dry to you, then a fine light mist might be needed. You're going to be the best judge as you can see it. I did see its pulled from the sides of the container some. This sign of shrinking means its either ready to fruit, or its too dry. It doesn't look dry to me. How long have they been in the fruiting chamber? __________________ Get On The Good Foot

02-28-07, 20:45	#5 (permalink)
antivanity Mycophage Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 145	This is the 3rd day. __________________ Your memory's nothing but the scars on me - Deliverance

02-28-07, 21:09	#6 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	They look great for 3 days, with it just poking through the casing layer. If you think the casing is getting lighter brown in color (drying out some) feel free to mist it carefully. Overall though they look good for 3 days. Are these the albinos? If yes, they like a drier casing and I'd advise less to no misting. But thats just my opinion, its your fungus, and you will learn how to feel and measure whats best for it! Happy funging __________________ Get On The Good Foot

02-28-07, 19:50	#2 (permalink)
oibchip Space Lord Modulator Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,064	Don't put so much water in your pearlite. It doesn't have to be completely saturated.

02-28-07, 21:25	#7 (permalink)
antivanity Mycophage Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 145	These are B+ and Puerto Ricans Thanks for all the help guys! __________________ Your memory's nothing but the scars on me - Deliverance

03-01-07, 11:10	#9 (permalink)
Foster jimisinit Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,235	Nice! Great advice in previous posts! I agree, less misting! In fact, my last two trays like those, were just placed in a small rubbermaid tub. No perlite. They created the perfect amount of humid without any additional source. Only required a lil misting, a lil fanning, and a dunk between flushes to rehydrate and provide humid for casing. good luck! Looks real good so far! foster

03-01-07, 11:13	#10 (permalink)
fahtster VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,419	I would quit misting the casings now... the color looks fine and the casing isn't as much for a water source for the myc as it is a structural environment for pin formation. you may even find (if you have a resource around you) that a courser grade verm like medium grade verm is a better choice for a casing layer just for the reason that it, due to it's larger kernel size, creates larger air pockets and lets more light to the myc underneathe. this is more favorable to the pin formation. plus if you keep misting everyday, you'll end up filling those air pockets you have with water... this will suffocate your myc. and invite contams probably on the bottom of your grains and you won't even see the mold until it's too late... OR overmisting will cause your casing layer to contam... so be careful. your casings look good for three days in but that one on the right is moving awefully fast... this probably means that your misting of the casing is also inviting overlay. so my advice is stop misting the casing all together. at least until you have small mushrooms, not pins mind you, small mushies with caps. fahtster __________________ FAHT'S TEK'S INDEX It's All Going Onward in One Direction, Yo. Magenta Green

03-01-07, 20:38	#13 (permalink)
oibchip Space Lord Modulator Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,064	getting that humidty down to 85% will go a long way. Do alot of FAE and get that soaked pearlite outta there and dry it up a bit.

03-01-07, 21:54	#14 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	Don't poke around with it!!!! Just let it be, you'll prolong the fruiting if you mess with it to much. Most casings take 7-10 days to fruit, so yours are only half way there. And a note on your PR casing, that strain is known to overlay, and take a while to fruit. It seems to have a hard time realizing when to stop eating and switch to fruiting. Please just be patient, your temp and humidity seem just right. Kepp that air exchanging and you'll be happy in a few more days __________________ Get On The Good Foot

03-02-07, 10:44	#15 (permalink)
antivanity Mycophage Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 145	You know what that means... will post pic's tonight. __________________ Your memory's nothing but the scars on me - Deliverance

03-03-07, 10:51	#17 (permalink)
Hippie3 Admin Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 36,323	congrats!!!!! __________________ GROW SUPPLIES: www.Mycrotopia.com ------------Simply The Best------------ Namaste Temet Nosce

03-03-07, 22:39	#18 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	Very happy pin dance to you! __________________ Get On The Good Foot

03-03-07, 23:06	#19 (permalink)
joey_megabucks Mycotopiate Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 745	growing mushrooms taught me patience for sure. congrats. i look forward to looking at big, beautiful mushrooms soon enough __________________ Creation is God exploring God's Self through every way imaginable.

03-06-07, 20:44	#21 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	Very happy for your success! I'd like to suggest to you to try to clone a couple of the ecuadors out of some of those clusters. They are really nice clusters and picking a clone shouldn't be hard to do. There is a cloning section in the vaults and lots of ways to accomplish this. And yes, that does look like overlay. What you may want to consider doing, after you harvest it all, go ahead and dunk if you want, then lightly sprinkle another layer of casing over it. Really light and fluffy. If you don't dunk it, recase it, and mist it, mist it, mist it for a couple days, but don't oversaturate. Then it should give you another flush in a few days and you wont have to worry about that overlay. When you harvest, I'd like to suggest also that you have super clean and sterile hands, or where gloves (my preferance). Just make sure you pick them all, I find tweezers (clean) work well for the abhorts and little ones. __________________ Get On The Good Foot

03-09-07, 13:02	#23 (permalink)
dial8 Un Undead ***er8tor Join Date: Jun 1976 Posts: 3,180	Looks real nice, brother! That casing is a bit dry. Mist it several times a day lightly to bring the water content back up.

03-09-07, 20:02	#25 (permalink)
Freaky Magik Mod Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,518	@ TCO Anti, if you want to add moisture to the substrate, a sterile syringe with sterile water can be shot in strategic places to rehydrate the substrate. This will keep misting from damaging any fruits. __________________ Get On The Good Foot

03-10-07, 01:38	#26 (permalink)
Foster jimisinit Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,235	nice job! Looks very nice! Congrats Definately a great candidate for cloning there! foster

03-10-07, 19:56	#27 (permalink)
antivanity Mycophage Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 145	Hey thanks guys! Could not have done it without you all. Just recased after a 24 hour dunk. Will update with photos of the second flush when its ready to harvest. __________________ Your memory's nothing but the scars on me - Deliverance

03-10-07, 21:00	#28 (permalink)
srgtm1a yeah, yeah, you know. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 761	Tip of the hat....nice job man. Well on your way to great mycology. Not bad at all for a first casing. __________________

03-13-07, 20:59	#29 (permalink)
antivanity Mycophage Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 145	Thanks