Grain bag showing no growth after 3 weeks

Hey bud. I’ve ran bags before. I noticed colonization at the bottom of your pics? Looks like mycelia growth to me? Those black ports are indeed your SHIPS (self healing inoculation ports).

If you soaked your grain and it hydrated properly, allowed to drain until dry to touch, you sterilized properly, allowed to cool and used spores, 2-3 weeks IS NOT too long for spores, depending on their vitality. (Edit: store bought pre sterilized grain, that’s fine)

But again, looks like you have growth so you’re probably good, unless that is contamination. If you have 25% colonization, break up your bags gently to spread around the white goodness. Then let sit undisturbed for another week or two.

JayBio420 said:

Hey bud. I’ve ran bags before. I noticed colonization at the bottom of your pics? Looks like mycelia growth to me? Those black ports are indeed your SHIPS (self healing inoculation ports).

If you soaked your grain and it hydrated properly, allowed to drain until dry to touch, you sterilized properly, allowed to cool and used spores, 2-3 weeks IS NOT too long for spores, depending on their vitality. (Edit: store bought pre sterilized grain, that’s fine)

But again, looks like you have growth so you’re probably good, unless that is contamination. If you have 25% colonization, break up your bags gently to spread around the white goodness. Then let sit undisturbed for another week or two.

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I'm a noob lmao where's the growth? I've been checking them every couple days now but I turned the heater off like a week ago because I thought it was just wasting power so they've probably hit 4-5c overnights, so I probably killed them then.

You may not have killed them, but they need temperatures a human would like. Put them in a bedroom lol.

Pic attached, is the bottom not starting to go whitish, or is that camera flash?

JayBio420 said:

Hey bud. I’ve ran bags before. I noticed colonization at the bottom of your pics? Looks like mycelia growth to me? Those black ports are indeed your SHIPS (self healing inoculation ports).

If you soaked your grain and it hydrated properly, allowed to drain until dry to touch, you sterilized properly, allowed to cool and used spores, 2-3 weeks IS NOT too long for spores, depending on their vitality. (Edit: store bought pre sterilized grain, that’s fine)

But again, looks like you have growth so you’re probably good, unless that is contamination. If you have 25% colonization, break up your bags gently to spread around the white goodness. Then let sit undisturbed for another week or two.

Click to expand...

OH you fucken legend lol I just went out and checked underneath, big white growth patch =) EDIT is that yellow/orange anything to worry about? I'm pretty sure it's just discolored from the grain and a bit of excess moisture they were pretty wet underneath, more than id have expected tbh i was just going to watch and make sure it didn't spread

JayBio420 said:

You may not have killed them, but they need temperatures a human would like. Put them in a bedroom lol.

Pic attached, is the bottom not starting to go whitish, or is that camera flash?

Click to expand...

That was actually just light reflecting haha got burnt by that more than once but I just put up a photo of some DEFINITE mycelium growth

Here's another question lads should I stick the heater back out here or let it lie?

If your temps vary drastically down below 15C, I would. I found warmer was better, and a guy I know keeps a thermostatic heater in his myco room.

Congrats on the mycelial bloom, although it looks like there is some bacterial colony also. Was your grain soggy on the bottom after inoculation? These soggy areas are prone to anaerobic bacteria.

Bacteria is not the worst on its own really, but soggy grain or corn usually attracts it.

JayBio420 said:

If your temps vary drastically down below 15C, I would. I found warmer was better, and a guy I know keeps a thermostatic heater in his myco room.

Congrats on the mycelial bloom, although it looks like there is some bacterial colony also. Was your grain soggy on the bottom after inoculation? These soggy areas are prone to anaerobic bacteria.

Bacteria is not the worst on its own really, but soggy grain or corn usually attracts it.

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Is the bacterial colony the orange patch? If so it won't spread/ruin the whole bag will it? I've got the heater back out there it usually kept it at 18c-26c before depending if doors were open etc

JayBio420 said:

If your temps vary drastically down below 15C, I would. I found warmer was better, and a guy I know keeps a thermostatic heater in his myco room.

Congrats on the mycelial bloom, although it looks like there is some bacterial colony also. Was your grain soggy on the bottom after inoculation? These soggy areas are prone to anaerobic bacteria.

Bacteria is not the worst on its own really, but soggy grain or corn usually attracts it.

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And yeah the bags were soggy at the bottom I'm pretty sure, I ordered em online

TheGrassIsGreenerInAus said:

And yeah the bags were soggy at the bottom, I'm pretty sure I ordered em online

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Yep the orange blob is bacteria.
A tip for next time is to shake and break apart your bag gently to redistribute moisture. I only used liquid culture but with spores you don’t need a lot.

If the mycelium is healthy it will out compete the bacteria and you can leave it behind when you fruit; depending on your method.

I never see it as a good omen for the life of a bulk substrate that was spawned from contaminated bags, but it worked out many times. Contaminations just lead to trouble.

JayBio420 said:

A tip for next time is to shake and break apart your bag gently to redistribute moisture. I only used liquid culture but with spores you don’t need a lot.

If the mycelium is healthy it will out compete the bacteria and you can leave it behind when you fruit; depending on your method.

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Ah OK well given that the mycelium already dwarfs the hell out of the bacteria, id say it'll win lmao. Ah nice tip, I did tip the bag up and down a few times after innoculating, video I watched said to do so to help spread the spores out right from the start so you get multiple start points, now I just gotta watch the other one lol. My plan is to just open the bag and mix it into a Coco coir vermiculite mix and fruit that way in a tote tub. Plus I've got this little tray im gonna get going too, just for a little experiment lol

TheGrassIsGreenerInAus said:

Ah OK well given that the mycelium already dwarfs the hell out of the bacteria, id say it'll win lmao. Ah nice tip, I did tip the bag up and down a few times after innoculating, video I watched said to do so to help spread the spores out right from the start so you get multiple start points, now I just gotta watch the other one lol. My plan is to just open the bag and mix it into a Coco coir vermiculite mix and fruit that way in a tote tub. Plus I've got this little tray im gonna get going too, just for a little experiment lolView attachment 4361224

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You will want to read up on (pasteurizing then cooling) the coir/Verm if you haven’t already. It helps keep competing bacteria and fungi in check. I used to do that, mix 50/50 with colonized grain, sit it inside a black garbage bag for two weeks then out for misting and fanning.

2 XL bags per 30 gallon tub, 3” deep total substrate.

JayBio420 said:

You will want to read up on (pasteurizing then cooling) the coir/Verm if you haven’t already. It helps keep competing bacteria and fungi in check. I used to do that, mix 50/50 with colonized grain, sit it inside a black garbage bag for two weeks then out for misting and fanning.

2 XL bags per 30 gallon tub, 3” deep total substrate.

Click to expand...

Yeah I'm gonna get on that once the bags more colonized and I can see it's not massively contaminated or anything =)

TheGrassIsGreenerInAus said:

Yeah I'm gonna get on that once the bags more colonized and I can see it's not massively contaminated or anything =)

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Nice, keep up the good work. Keep up on your studies as well. So much to learn there.

I still have a large box of spawn bags from when I used to cultivate.

Did you delete a reply? I'm tripping balls because I swear I posted a reply and I can't find it nor what I would have responded to with it and it's tripping me the fuck out lmao
EDIT Never mind it was a different thread lmfao

That seems to happen quite a bit around these boards...

I recommend only pure, uncontaminated substrates. You dont want to try to out compete.

Should you wish to expand your mycelium through any method, you will fail. We do not know the effects of unknown bacteria or fungus on something you intend to eat.

Here is one thing 8 should reiterate. You are delving into the realm of the predatory. Fungus and bacteria have evolved to be very efficient poison labs. Ergot fungus produces a highly dangerous toxin. Aflatoxin, another in those classes, is one of the most potent t carcinogens known to man.

Now a few Spores or even a small colony will most likely not harm you but those who focus on growing such things tend to let those colonies continue to perhaps dangerous levels.

Botulinus (though it is unlikely you will unwittingly grow this unless you work in anaerobic conditions) is the most potent neurotoxins. Do not fuck with these things just because you are growing them. You throw the contaminants out...safely and quickly.

I now have two friends who figured they would try to save a few canning jars by digging the contamination out. Both have what appears to be permanent and perhaps progressive lung disorders.

Again, 8f you dont know exactly what your contaminants are, and even if you do, you are playing with all the horror that an organism that has been waging war on other organisms for a billion years can produce.


Jesus. Figure that if a fungus can affect your mind in tiny doses another might be able to affect the rest of your body at least as profoundly?

Throw the bag out and start over.

TheGrassIsGreenerInAus said:

Ah OK well given that the mycelium already dwarfs the hell out of the bacteria, id say it'll win lmao. Ah nice tip, I did tip the bag up and down a few times after innoculating, video I watched said to do so to help spread the spores out right from the start so you get multiple start points, now I just gotta watch the other one lol. My plan is to just open the bag and mix it into a Coco coir vermiculite mix and fruit that way in a tote tub. Plus I've got this little tray im gonna get going too, just for a little experiment lolView attachment 4361224

Click to expand...

I didnt see this plan of yours. So...right now, your contamination is contained and out distances by your mycelium. The moment you put your grain into another substrate, given that the contamination happens to like the new material, you have restarted the race. Your mycelium will lose. It grows fast but most bacteria can double in 20 minutes EVERY 20 minutes. They arent very mobile but when you move the container, they spread.

There are a number of molds that will far outpace your pets. Cobweb mold being the speedster. You likely dont have that but you get my point. Your aspergillus and penicilum and other green molds are at least as fast AND they all sporulate. So while your pet mycelium is still saving up the energy to mount a fruit and then send out a few million spores, mr green will have sent up stalks, spewed green spores, those spores will have germinated, those new colonies will have given off spores and those Spores germinated and one or two cycles beyond that. All sporulating fungus will beat fungi perfecti every single time.

As I said, work only with pure spawn. Do it right the first time and you will be damn glad you did. Growing fungus is exacting. Your pet WANTS to send up fruit. It will in spite of efforts to the contrary but for heaven sake work with it.

canndo said:

I didnt see this plan of yours. So...right now, your contamination is contained and out distances by your mycelium. The moment you put your grain into another substrate, given that the contamination happens to like the new material, you have restarted the race. Your mycelium will lose. It grows fast but most bacteria can double in 20 minutes...

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It's called...

Wait for it, Mates...







CROSS CONTAMINATION!!!!

All of You Americans You should know this from Your low income entry level job introductions...