Oyster cardboard cloning

[izzbizz]

Hey all. A friend cut some pieces of internal tissue from the stems of store-bought oysters. Technique wasn't completely sterile, though blade was wiped with 75% alcohol before starting & between cutting each piece. Spring water was used to briefly soak cardboard squares before tissue was applied.

No access to cam, so no pics (sorry). Many pieces of oyster tissue (on many pieces of cardboard - about a dozen) were placed in several small plastic tupperware containers, which were closed and put into a clear 12 Qt tub (which was closed and put into a black plastic bag).

This was set in a warm place, and several days later all pieces show varying signs of growth. So far so good.. and no contams.

Was wondering - could chopped up corrugated cardboard (soaked in solution of spring water and 10% hydrogen peroxide, then wrung out to proper moisture content) be used as a substrate?

Or would it be just better/simpler to use coir (possibly with something added)?

This is for small scale grow. Any advice is appreciated.

[izzbizz]

Also, when fruiting, what's the proper temp & humidity for Oysters?

And.. this may be a stupid question - but is it at all possible to germinate spores on damp cardboard?

[StroFun]

I can't help you yet but PM me here in a week and i'll get you those parameters from Stamet's GGMM book.

[izzbizz]

Thanks

[Lazlo]

I've never had much luck germinating spores on cardboard.

You can use your fully colonized cardboard for the inoculation of more. Use my newspaper technique for the cardboard or for newspaper.

http://forums.mycotopia.net/showthre...%27s+newspaper (Cultivating Oyster mushrooms on newspaper........)

[Hippie3]

one must prep cardboard first by removing all the glue
else it will contam quickly-

I also see that on "you have to soak cardboards in water and then try to cook all glue out" was something right, glue is the problem I have it on my fingers on petri dishes, anywhere.
So for future use I must remember "soak carboards in hot water, pour all liquid off, and then do it once again and better"

[Hippie3]

cf. http://forums.mycotopia.net/showthread.php?t=5292 (successul oyster clone on cardboard!!!)

[izzbizz]

Lazlo - can hydrogen peroxide be substituted for bleach (to sterilize paper products) ? FOAF will likely use agar to germinate some spores(from prints).
This way, if there are contams, they'll show up right away.. versus innocc'ing a jar & finding out when it's too late

[Oysters will be propagated w/ cardboard]

Hippie - you're right. Next time, FOAF won't do a half-ass job. But.. so far, so good. No contams & hope it stays that way. There are several tupperware containers, so if one piece of cardboard contams, that container can be dumped (without affecting the others).

[izzbizz]

... foaf really needs to put together a glove box. That would help a lot :0)

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by izzbizz

Lazlo - can hydrogen peroxide be substituted for bleach (to sterilize paper products) ?

I would think so, but peroxide could cause a large amount of substrate to swing caustic. I truely don't know man. I'd use bleach or a standard pasteurizing technique if I were you.

[izzbizz]

Hmm... didn't know that could happen. Would boiling shredded cardboard (at a low boil) for say 30 mins pasteurize it? (may have to boil twice to remove all glue, etc.)

Already said it in another post, but FOAF is really uneasy about eating oysters off of a substrate that has been exposed to bleach (even though it may be the easiest & most effective way to sterilize it).

Lazlo, sorry to ask again, but what are your thoughts on Coir as a substrate? Thanks.

[izzbizz]

damn, just read the glossary def. of pasteurization right after posting. "140-160 deg. F for 1 to 1.5 hrs"

[StroFun]

Bleach pasteurization is a tried and true method and no one has died...yet.

[Lazlo]

House hold bleach is fine to use. Go take a look at your All Purpose Flour. It's been enriched with bleach. Sodium Hypoclorite that is.

[diesel girl]

Actually, both bleach (NaClO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) will degrade when exposed to air and humidity. The only danger with the bleach is the chlorine, which you could reduce by washing your sterilized medium with distilled water. With hydrogen peroxide, it just turns to water.

Also, while it's a "best practice" technique to hyperventilate about contamination, simply do you best with the resources that you have, and 9 times out of 10, you will be successful.