Mangy Mushrooms

[bashfuldaisy]

I'm very impressed with the beautiful mushroom pictures that have appeared here lately, and I cringe a little as I post my pics, but I need help. The first picture is of a first flush of B+ strain that I grew following the instructions of Oss and Oeric. I got a small number of mushrooms, so I re-cased those jars and started some others. All now look nasty (second picture), mostly aborts (I think) and long skinny fellas that never really form a head or open properly. (I can post bigger pictures if these don't give enough info.) :confused: Can you give me any advice? Are these nasty little things safe to consume?

Thanks

daisy

[Zeke0]

I'm sure they are fine to consume. Possible reasons for this include, low humidity, low fresh air exchange, nutrient depletion from the substrate or somtimes mushrooms just grow weird. What's your set up look like? What are you growing on?

[sparrow]

I'm very impressed with the beautiful mushroom pictures that have appeared here lately, and I cringe a little as I post my pics, but I need help. The first picture is of a first flush of B+ strain that I grew following the instructions of Oss and Oeric. I got a small number of mushrooms, so I re-cased those jars and started some others. All now look nasty (second picture), mostly aborts (I think) and long skinny fellas that never really form a head or open properly. (I can post bigger pictures if these don't give enough info.) :confused: Can you give me any advice? Are these nasty little things safe to consume?

Thanks

daisy

Look safe enough, just skinny. As great a job as Dennis and Terrance did with their growing guide - it was written in the 70's. I think there are some improved methods since then.
Here are a bunch: http://www.shroomery.org/19/Grow-Guides
And this: http://www.erowid.org/plants/mushrooms/mushrooms_mmgg.shtml

Happy growing! :)

[bashfuldaisy]

Thanks for the links. I've seen other methods around, but decided to start in 1970 and move forward. McKennas' method is pretty simple and I'm a beginner. I'm doing exactly what they recommended: inoculating spores onto agar to get the mycelia going, then putting chunks of agar/mycelia into sterile rye berries. I'm using filter lids on the jars while the mycelia are getting thick, keeping the whole thing in a styrofoam container heated to 82 F and plenty of humidity. I open it once or twice a day to get fresh air. Once the substrate is thick with mycelia, I case with the vermiculite mixture, cover the sides with foil, put back into the styrofoam container at about 76 F with an 8 hour light cycle. Spray once or twice a day with water, and take the lid off for fresh air for at least a few minutes every day. Maybe that's not enough air. Zeke and Sparrow, if this were yours, what would you change? The way they're growing, the yield is really pitiful. Thanks

daisy

[sparrow]

Thanks for the links. I've seen other methods around, but decided to start in 1970 and move forward. McKennas' method is pretty simple and I'm a beginner. I'm doing exactly what they recommended: inoculating spores onto agar to get the mycelia going, then putting chunks of agar/mycelia into sterile rye berries. I'm using filter lids on the jars while the mycelia are getting thick, keeping the whole thing in a styrofoam container heated to 82 F and plenty of humidity. I open it once or twice a day to get fresh air. Once the substrate is thick with mycelia, I case with the vermiculite mixture, cover the sides with foil, put back into the styrofoam container at about 76 F with an 8 hour light cycle. Spray once or twice a day with water, and take the lid off for fresh air for at least a few minutes every day. Maybe that's not enough air. Zeke and Sparrow, if this were yours, what would you change? The way they're growing, the yield is really pitiful. Thanks

daisy

It seems to me the PFtek (or variations of it) are simpler than O&O's method - but I've never tried theirs.
But I would definitely do more air exchange - 3 times a day minimum. Use the lid to fan, and circulate the air. Is it just the spray/misting that ensures the humidity? I'd steal the pearlite part from the other teks, and place a rinsed, damp layer in the bottom. Since mushrooms are 90% water, these look like they didn't get enough to "bulk up".
Otherwise, everything sounds pretty good. You could always look at the 'casing teks' - pasteurized cow or horse poop is the best, but a mixture of potting soil and vermiculite works fine.

[Zeke0]

Thanks for the links. I've seen other methods around, but decided to start in 1970 and move forward. McKennas' method is pretty simple and I'm a beginner. I'm doing exactly what they recommended: inoculating spores onto agar to get the mycelia going, then putting chunks of agar/mycelia into sterile rye berries.

There is really no need to start you mycelium on agar. You can inoculate the grain directly just fine. I see the agar step as just another chance for contamination.

I'm using filter lids on the jars while the mycelia are getting thick, keeping the whole thing in a styrofoam container heated to 82 F and plenty of humidity. I open it once or twice a day to get fresh air. Once the substrate is thick with mycelia, I case with the vermiculite mixture, cover the sides with foil, put back into the styrofoam container at about 76 F with an 8 hour light cycle.

I would have broken up that grain and spawned it to a bulk substrate, I use coco coir. Keeping all that mycelium in the jar is severely limiting its fruiting potential. Spawning into a tray increases the surface area for fruit bodies and provides better flushes. You still may be able to. :D

Spray once or twice a day with water, and take the lid off for fresh air for at least a few minutes every day. Maybe that's not enough air.

I'd spray and fan more, as Sparrow mentioned. Perlite is a good idea as well .

[bashfuldaisy]

Thanks, guys. I'm heading to the pet and plant stores now. I'll let you know how it works out, but I'm thinking that the fresh air factor is my biggest problem.

daisy

[bashfuldaisy]

Just got back from the pet store. The only thing they had that looked anything like coca coir as described by Zeke0 (Bed-a-Beast) says it's "expandable compressed coconut fiber bedding." Is that the same thing?

Thanks

daisy

[TheGreenMan]

I looked up on the net at petsmart, looking for the coco coir. I saw that Bed-a beast stuff and the packaging was the same as what was shown in the post. So I was guessing it was the same. I was planning on getting some for mine. I liked the idea in the post cause you get a bigger flush. I like the improved PF Tek method as outlined in Psilcybin mushroom handbook. They take the Oss and Oeric method and modernize it and make a few other changes. They also suggest growing out in the jars but I am going to use the Coir and coffee grounds.

[Zeke0]

Just got back from the pet store. The only thing they had that looked anything like coca coir as described by Zeke0 (Bed-a-Beast) says it's "expandable compressed coconut fiber bedding." Is that the same thing?

Thanks

daisy

That's the stuff.

[bashfuldaisy]

Thanks to Zeke0 and Sparrow, my mushies are now out of the woods and back on a healthy track. They weren't getting enough air. I was being obsessive about trying to keep buggies out, so I kept them too sealed up. Once I started leaving them open and fanning them for a while, they just took off. The picture on the left is from last Friday. The one on the right is the same jars (I think) taken 4 days later. Resurrection!! Thanks, guys.

daisy

[Zeke0]

A couple of beauties you got there. Way to go Daisy.

[sparrow]

Thanks to Zeke0 and Sparrow, my mushies are now out of the woods and back on a healthy track. They weren't getting enough air. I was being obsessive about trying to keep buggies out, so I kept them too sealed up. Once I started leaving them open and fanning them for a while, they just took off. The picture on the left is from last Friday. The one on the right is the same jars (I think) taken 4 days later. Resurrection!! Thanks, guys.

daisy

Excellent! :cool:

[bumtokes]

anyone know of any good books on magic mushrooms? preferably a uk book on picking them! i met someone recently who had a jar of oil with what he said was concentrated magic mushrooms enough for about 3000 trips! (he was on his way to deal at a festival) but as id not tripped fer years i passed on it not knowing how strong it might be...rather pick my own a take my own amount! ...any ideas?