Can I flatten at this stage

i got an all in one bag. Had the grain fairly well colonized, broke it up, let it fully colonize. Than recently mixed the whole bag together. Let the bag set for another 5 days. 2 days ago I took it out of the bag for the first time and into a tub. Could I smash it flat at this stage so to have more surface for mushroom growth? Also the tub is just used a coconut Fibre material for reptiles, i made sure to sterilize before use.

Hello! Please, do not duplicate the same messages in different threads. I see them right away.

Sure, I'd break the all-in-block and mix it with a sterile coconut fibre in tub. Then let it colonize with mycelium — it takes about 3-10 days, depending on the ratio.

ok thank you and sorry about that.

No problem, buddy! Good luck and waiting for updates ;)

1st picture is from tuesday nov. 4th, i started noticing the mycelilum getting a cotton ball like texture. The other pictures are from Wednesday November 5th I feel like it's looking a little better. could I start the fruiting phase at this point??

Yes! It's time for fruiting conditions. Your cake looks great. Good job 👍 Hope to see pinning soon 🤞

Btw, is this your first experience in mushroom growing?

Hey buddy! Thank you very much for supporting me on BuyMeaCoffee. That's very kind of you, I appreciate it ❤️

i appreciate all your knowledge throughout your entire site that you share with everyone. Thank you.

And yes this is my first attempt at anything mycology related. So far enjoying it

❤️🙏🍄

Mixing growkit/all-in-one with some fresh coco coir mix (or making a casing layer on the top of the cake) is a good approach, and makes fruiting much easier. Well done! Usually first time growers avoid this extra step.

But there should be proper moisture level (aka field capacity) of the substrate. Hope, you tested it.

A good way to test for this is to grab a handful of the substrate mixture and squeeze it in your hand. If you are unable to squeeze out any water, it is too dry. If a light squeeze causes a stream of water to come out, it’s too wet. You want to be able to squeeze the mixture as hard as you can, and only have a few steady drops come out to have a field capacity moisture level. This is perfect!

Just wondering, how did you sterilize your coco coir? Did you add anything else or just used coco coir and that's it?
(no worries, just coco coir is fine ;)

i put the coco coir in a big mason jar, then boiled some water and poured boiling water into the jar. than let it sit till it was cooled. checked the moisture. which it was a little over saturated. and than just sent it.

Ok, good! In your case it was pasteurization, not a sterilization ;) What is the difference?

Pasteurization is a mild heat treatment at temperature below 100 °C or 212 °F. It helps kill mold spores and some bacteria, but most bacterial spores, including beneficial bacteria in the soil, survive after pasteurization. This method is commonly used for bulk substrates (coco coir mix in particular).

Sterilization (usually moist heat sterilization in mushroom growing) is a high heat treatment at above 100°C or 212 °F, target is 121°C or 250°F for 20-60 mins, depending on a media or substrate. This process helps to completely destroy ALL pathogens, both harmful and beneficial – molds, bacteria, viruses. We use this method to sterilize grain for spawn, agar and liquid culture media. Sometimes growers use this method for bulk substrate sterilization (coco coir mix) as well. But for bulk this method has its prons and cons.

You can check the discussion on this topic here: Sterilization vs Pasteurization for bulk substrate

ive been reading and i believe ive started to get overlay on my mycelium, if that is the case would now be a good time to the fork method or just a thin layer of casing on top?

im thinking its because of the prolonged colonization stage that I've put it through

Hey, you provided fruiting conditions (FC) in time. And the good news – you don't have overlay! There are some tiny knots already formed. You definitely don't need a fork tek! It takes 10-15 days for pinning.

Now it's day 8 or so since FC. So I'd wait at least another 4-5 days.

The top layer may have dried out a little, but it's not critical. Let's check the cake again in 4 days and decide what to do next, okay? Although, you can apply a thin casing layer right now, but DO NOT scrape the top with a fork!

i did apply a thin casing layer after reading your message. now patience and I'll check back in a few days

Okay, good! Let’s hope for the best 🤞

I have my first little mushroom pop up this morning. It's amazing, thanks again man. I just keep giving them love and im hoping all stay healthy and good.

Hooray! What a great news. It's a good sign, now we're waiting for more pins popping up in the nearest 2 days ;)

so far looking good

if looking closely a few of the caps have small darker brown circles on them. is that anything of concern?

ive just panicked and made up a bleach and water solution and sprayed the mushrooms.

Good pinning, well done!

There are some tiny circles of bacterial blotch. More info here: Bacterial Blotch disease. Most likely it was in a casing substrate. However, it's not dangerous, don't worry!

Try to prevent water drops from the lid from falling onto the mushroom caps. Check the prevention section in the guide. Let shrooms grow and after harvesting dry them well!

Chlorinated water 150-250 ppm is good to use in this case.

Are these ready?

You can pick some of them (the ones with open caps) and let the rest grow.

Mushrooms ready for harvesting

They look great 🔥 Bacterial blotch signs are minimal and almost gone. Well done, buddy! How many treatments with chlorinated water have you done? And what's strain, btw?

i only treated them the 1 time and also let them air out well. PE is the strain, not to sure on the specific

Good job👍 Yeah, I was thinking about PE or its related childs.

Pls, share a photo of this flush when other mushrooms will be ready for harvesting. I'd love to see the progress ;-)

while trying to remove the cake to clean in and soak it fell apart, about 4 pieces. I put it back in the box as best I could. Is it cooked?

No worries! Yes, put it back in tub and wait for the new flush, it will fruit from the cracks as well ;-)

Wowza, so much useful info here, Shroomok if you saw thread I tried to start earlier today you can ignore it. I just got most or all of the answers from this thread right here. Good Luck y'all!

@K108, Wow, it's cool that you read this thread and found all the answers!

I replied to your thread anyway ;-)