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Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@Ikaruz, very often Psilocybe Cubensis Mexicube strain is confusing with Psilocybe Mexicana, but they are NOT the same. It's different species!

Quick reference: due to scientific classification (Genus -> Species -> Strain) their genus Psilocybe is the same, but the next "word" in naming Cubensis and Mexicana means different species. And the last "word" like Escondido means strain within the species (within Cubensis).

Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@Lodi you’re very welcome!

It would be great if you could start a thread on the forum, reply to my questions (see below), and add some photos of your monotub and perhaps grain jars at https://shroomok.com/forum so I can check them out and we can discuss your case. I need to SEE it!

Anyway, here are my thoughts / questions for now:

Do you want your cake to fruit and produce Tampanensis fruit bodies, I mean MUSHROOMS themselves? Or just truffles? Or both?

If you’re after truffles you could skip the S2B step and let them develop right in the grain jars. Although, it’s also possible that truffles are forming inside the bulk substrate in your monotub already ;)

To encourage Tampanensis to produce mushrooms (rather than truffles), you need to cover the top of the cake with a casing layer. You mentioned that your tub is almost fully colonized, so go ahead and apply casing! Then provide fruiting conditions right after casing. Casing can help both trigger fruiting and add extra moisture if your cake is (slightly!) dry.

Lodi

Hi ! Thanks for this detail guide. I hope u can give me some directions cause I’m half way through and idk what to do. So I found this guide a little late and after I spawn my grain jars with liquid culture ( Psilocybe tampanesis) I brake and shake and later on s2b to a monotub. Now I realize I put brown rice when it wasn’t the ideal . Idk if this type of sclerotia it’s gonna grow cause it may be too dry I’ve been spraying spring water on this. This tub it’s almost 100% colonized and I was about to put a casing layer. But after than break and shake idk if I should keep doing it. I also notice the amount of FAE in this strain it’s limited for best results cause basically after sb2 I put it straight to fruiting. So at this point idk what to do.

Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@kb YES, pre-mixed seed starter mixes based on peat moss/ coir/ vermiculite can totally work. I've even used tomato potting soil for P. Cubensis (as a bulk and pseudo-casing) and cacti soil for a casing layer to fruit Panaeolus and P. Tampanensis.

You can use the substrate as-is, or you can bump it up with gypsum and/or hydrated lime to adjust and stabilize pH. Just check the soil pH on the package first. You don’t need acidic soil! Typically you'll find pH 6.8–7.5, it's good for your purposes. 7.5–8.5 is even better.

As you pointed out, substrate should be fungicide-free 👍 And also without added Trichoderma, which is a common natural root system supporter for cannabis plants, but it’s a real killer for mushrooms. Even though, pasteurization neutralizes Trichoderma it’s safer not to have it in your substrate at all.


Thank you for your warm word and wishing you a magnificent harvests!

kb

I've seen JIffyMix seed starting soil recommended as a casing layer.
It appears to be a very clean mix of peat moss/ coir/ vermiculite that does not contain a fungicide.

My question is - could this kind of mix be used for spawn to bulk substrate?
Or maybe with something added?

I enjoy the convenience of a pre-mixed product and would (of course) pasteurize before using.

Thanks!

And BIG Thank You for this site and the accurate and abundant helpful info you share with the shroom community!

Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@Max in your case you can either:

1) Pour cold water directly INTO THE BAG. Leave the cake to soak for a few hours. Then remove water and keep the cake in the same bag for further fruiting. No need to clean/wash the bag.

OR

2) Remove the cake from the bag and soak it in a bigger bucket or plastic box/basin. After soaking, place it on a plate or wire rack for the next flush

Max

Just reading up on what your saying about the cakes if I have an all in one grow bag do I clean this out and put the cake back in the same all in one grow bag or just leave it on a sterile plate / tub
Thanks in advance

Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@Alex You’re very welcome!
I’d love to help further, but without a photo I can’t accurately identify the issue based on the description only.

That’s a common confusion. So, well done on figuring out the difference between mold and mycelium bruises by comparing photo examples and using a Q-tip test 👍
I’m relieved to hear it’s just bruising in your case. Keep growing ;)

Links for more info on mycelium bruising:
1) Detailed write up here: https://shroomok.com/en/wiki/Mycelium_Bruises_or_Mold_Contamination
2) Photo gallery here: https://shroomok.com/gallery/bruising

Alex

thanks for the very quick reply! But it not mold its that blue tint from hard fanning(and me pushing on it). I relooked at your photos and realized what was actually happening. Also did the qtip test(i know its not ideal) just to make sure. Looks like its all good. Thanks

Shroomok avatar Shroomok

@Alex, harvest all healthy small and mature shrooms (with broken veils as well). There should be no visible signs of contamination on the mushrooms themselves. Then throw out the contaminated cake or bury it in a garden/forest.

You can share a photo on the forum https://shroomok.com/forum so I can check if it's really a contamination and how serious it is.

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