I am using two birdseed + verm. pint size jars. I inoculated through 4/5 holes on both jars and it has been 2 weeks since inoculation and on one jar only 2 of the injection sites are showing mycelium. Each mycelium network isn't growing much at all. I do understand this is where patience is a virtue but the growth rate is so slow. It's no bigger then a dime. On my second jar only 1/4 sites is showing mycelium. The network is about the size of a dime. Both jars are 80 degrees F. and in a very dark closet. My question is why is the mycelium absent in most of the injection sites? Also why is the growth rate so slow? I have ordered using the LGBR + verm and 100% colonization took at the very most 5 weeks. I figure this time I would upgrade the substrate where colonization would be "super fast" however I don't see the pint size jars being completely colonized any time soon. If you can please help me I would greatly appreciate it. Possibly I made a wrong move some where? Should I inoculate another jar?
colonization would be "super fast" -not gonna happen, regardless of the substrate used. Patience. Next time give the jars a shaking right after you pressure cook them. Also right after innoculation give them another good shaking to disperse the spores. Have you used this particular batch of spoers before? I wouldn't bother innoculating more jars with the same spores until we see what happens with these. Hard to say what went wrong...but it seems that there is an issue with the spores.
Actually, shaking right after inoculating with spores will probably slow down the time it takes for the spores to germinate because the hyphae extending from the spores will have to grow longer before reaching other hyphae. With multispore inoculation, only shake after mycelium has already grown. Growing a liquid culture first and then inoculating with it, instead of spores, is much faster. Since LC is live mycelium, you can shake the jar after inoculation because germination will no longer be a factor. From what you write, you imply that you have had success in previous grows, so you are definitely capable of creating LC. It heightens the risk of contamination because it adds another step to the process, but it is definitely worth the risk in the time that it saves when done successfully.
I thought he was using a spore solution. When he says he's innoculated through 4 to 5 holes, I'm thinking injection of spore solution. I've never even considered using straight up spores. Either way, good advice.
ok i never shook the jars ever. but i dont understand how the mycelium network started but never advanced from that point.. like what would cause this delay. its been 3 weeks and one day and the myclium never grew
Did you use a liquid solution containing spores? Could have been a million different things: weak or contaminated spore solution Substrate too dry If it was spore solution from a syringe it needed to shaken before injection I could name another 50 possibilities, that's the infuriating thing about growing mushrooms.
Well to be honest I would order a couple syringes from a different company. Keep in mind we haven't established that it was the spore solution for sure. You need to go bacl to exactly the way you did it succesfully before...but with a different companies spore solution, IMO.
i ordered from earthstongue.com . i have ordered from them manyyy times. like 11 or so. they have larger (20cc) syringes all under 20 bucks. and this is the first time they failed me but im going to like write to them and see if we can work something out but what sites do you reccomend?
Considering the situation: I would order again from the same place. BUT...I would go back to the way you succeeded before. Also, pick a differnet strain. Stick with the smallest syringe they sell (12 CC or less). My guess is that they might be willing to throw a free syringe your way. Re-read the advice in this thread and others when you're ready to roll again. And always keep in mind it's up to you to find the laws in your state / country. I don't recomend that anyone use my advice in an illegal manner. Of course that's up to you.
