No micellium growth in BRF cakes

[bassmann]

This is my first mushroom Cultivation attempt and I am getting no micellium growth in my jars. My mix was:

1 part BRF
3 parts Verm
1 part Water

I put about 1cc (more or less) into each of my 5 1000ml jars. I thought maybe these jars were a bit big but i figured the spores should have taken hold by now. Its been 7 days. Ive kept the temperature of the room between 78-82°F (about 22°C). I took every possible anti-contamination method i could, and i'm pretty sure they did not get contaminated (no discolorations or smells). I pressure cooked the jars at 10 psi for 90 minutes

I also made a second batch of smaller jars (500ml i think)... 7 of them. This time i went with only 2 parts vermiculite. I also only cooked them for 60minutes this time, (thinking maybe the jars were overcooked). I also layed jar caps at the bottom of the cooker so the jars would not be touching the extra-hot bottom of the pressure cooker. Again I used about 1cc in each jar (.5cc in each hole punched in the lid on opposite sides). These jars are only on day 4 so they still could use a few more days maybe.

All jars have foil over the lids, and the jar lids are loosely screwed on. I followed all these instructions from 2 different videos, One called "Let's Grow Mushrooms" and another video which can be found around the internet called "Mushroom growing made easy". If anyone has any clues please let me know, Id greatly appreciate it.

Im enjoying this summer project but it sure does get frustrating! :confused:

[Fungus Maximus]

I would have to question my source of spores, if this is a known to be trustworthy and reliable, then maybe the strain, is it compatible with the cake method, lastly wait a while longer, at least until they smell bad.

[bassmann]

here is what, and where i ordered it

http://www.sporestore.com/product.php?xProd=2&jssCart=53382431f68d2cd42b2762e790a29496

http://www.sporestore.com/product.php?xProd=5&xSec=3

has anyone else had problems with this site? It looked pretty legit to me

[Fungus Maximus]

Now although I have never ordered from them, I have never heard anything bad about them. The strains are definately compatible for the substrate, the only other question I guess I would ask is, did you pack the substrate in the jars or leave it loose? Loose is preferred, and also just in case, make sure they are in total darkness. If you have followed everything to the letter, it might be possible you got a bad syringes, it happens and if the supplier is legit they will make things right.

If they fail to at least respond to your concerns after a few attempts, I would be inclined to say the writing is on the wall. IMHO. There is a place called ralphsters spores, I can vouch that I bought several syringes from them and never had a problem. If you have done everything correctly and still dont see signs of germination by 14 days I would really question the spores.

I have seen germination on PF cakes in as little as 3 days and as long 13, however the stall was due to a broken incubator and temps being too low too long before it was discovered.

Hope this helps, I dont know what else to tell you except this:
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj253/pizmit/Dont_Give_Up.jpg

[bassmann]

Thanks for the hints Maximus, I suppose the jars probably have had light exposure everyday when i check on them, but this is only for no more than 3 minutes or so. I don't suppose that would hurt... would it? The jars were not packed down, we just poured the ingredients in and left them at that density. We bought a total of 4 syringes, and used one of each strain. If both of those syringes were bad, I would be skeptical of probability that they both were bad. Ill try the other syringes in a few days I suppose, but if those don't work I guess I will send a e-mail to the website, or try Ralphsters.

Thanks for the help, and good luck with your experiments! :)

[bassmann]

Well, I have given the jars almost 3 weeks now so I'm giving up on them. I'm also giving up on :mad: sporestore :mad: website, and am going to try another. I might try ralphstersspores, but the cash/mail in order stuff makes me a little skeptical, Id prefer to order online I think. But I'm open to whatever you all here think is the best site. Which sites are all of your personal favorites? If there is already a thread regarding this question, could someone please point me to it becuase i didn't find it. If not, please post your favorite websites below

:D TY

P.S.
Ive also got some rye seed jars started. Its been almost a week and still no sign of life from the sporestore spores (although I've heard syringes are not preferred over spore prints for the rye seed method).

[treasuregirl]

I got my spores from ralphsters and so far they have been good. I have been the one messing up and I ordered one of their specials (6 syringes) and I sent a check. They shot me an email that they don't accept checks but they did keep my until it cleared and then sent me the product. I didnt feel good about sending cash either so this worked well for me. You can actually see the spores in several of the syringes and I hope they do good by you.

[AnotherDimension]

Go to Sporevisions.com to get your spores...or sporeworks......Ralphsters is good too but is harder to order without an automated system. Anyway 2cups verm, 1 cup brf, 1 cup water is the PF tek, 3 cups verm is too dry so when you PC'd it, it would dry out!, come to shroomotopia.com and create an acct n pm me and I will send you a free sporeprint as well as the tek section has step by step instructions. You mixed too dry and you want the cap tight, not loose. I stopped using the 1 inch buffer of dry verm cuz it kept screwing up the moisture and causing contamns. Now I use tyvek under the lid with holes in it and just have more holes then you use to noc up so when you tap[e the wholes shut it can still breathe. You took the tin foil off after right? Light doesn't effect colonization however it may pin before completely colonized if the jar is big....pints do it too me whenever I have used em....don't give up!

[steinhk5]

sporestore.com are crooks, I got stuff from them didnt yeild anything, google them seems like others have had similar problems

[AnotherDimension]

well like i said Sporevisions.com or sporeworks.com, I know em both and they both are great! If it doesn't yield it's your fault. Lots of what you find on the web are noobs who sucked n cut corners, failed and blame the vendor however ignoring customers is unacceptable. Sporevisions is an official friend of my site, Shroomotopia.com and Hax and I have discussed it and assures me that customers will be tended to as soon as possible and no longer than a few days max in extreme situations ....cuz life happens...i havent been on in several days cuz I am makin a shitload of money right now with my mold biz.....so i give everyone the shadow of doubt once.....then I stalk their families...lol:eek::D

[bassmann]

Ive got some good news, Of the 15 jars, 2 have been doing well. the other 13 show no signs of growth. So at least Ill have 2 Jars. Im not going back to sporestore, since they took soooo long to grow (which i did end up finding many bad reviews about that site, complaining about very slow or no growth). Maybe I was being a little harsh on them at first for not growing in the first week, but since it took about 3 weeks to see any signs of life... That seems a bit long. If all goes as planned, Ill be able to make my own spores, but if something goes wrong, (or I decide to try another strain) I will check out those sites.

One of the Jars is from my first batch, and has a good sized spot, about 3 inches in diameter. The other is from my second batch and that one has much less growth, but it is definite growth. No signs of contamination in any of the 15 jars, which must means I did something right. Ill leave them in my heated room, just in case I get some more late-bloomers.

And once again... I always appreciate the help. THANK YOU! :D

[Hexgame]

Go to Sporevisions.com to get your spores...or sporeworks......Ralphsters is good too but is harder to order without an automated system. Anyway 2cups verm, 1 cup brf, 1 cup water is the PF tek, 3 cups verm is too dry so when you PC'd it, it would dry out!, come to shroomotopia.com and create an acct n pm me and I will send you a free sporeprint as well as the tek section has step by step instructions. You mixed too dry and you want the cap tight, not loose. I stopped using the 1 inch buffer of dry verm cuz it kept screwing up the moisture and causing contamns. Now I use tyvek under the lid with holes in it and just have more holes then you use to noc up so when you tap[e the wholes shut it can still breathe. You took the tin foil off after right? Light doesn't effect colonization however it may pin before completely colonized if the jar is big....pints do it too me whenever I have used em....don't give up!

the pins can start to fruit insie the jar?

[Hexgame]

i cant find it now but sombody mentioned that after a week the jars need 4-6 hours of light im confused is its suppose to be complete darkness and they also mention sprayed water on them afer almsot being colognized des anybody o on this because i just dont see the benefit n if u do spray it does the tinny stay on or lid come off or are is it the four holes u previously made. sorry i been trying to do this for likee a year and i cant seem to gt this right i guess :(