29 replies to this topic

[Lazlo]

So you leave these wrapped up in plastic but sitting in open air? Or, do you birth them completely into a green house type of structure?

Yeah, I just let it fruit invitro in the open air on a stand I made with 1x4"s. I don't have a camera at the moment, but the yield wasn't bad. I'll post the dry weight soon. The substrate was a bit on the wet side. I'll need to really get the straw down to field capacity on the next one for it to be a bit more optimal. I'll try to get some pics of the new one i'm going to try again. I think the key to success with this type of rig is having the plastic nice and tight to the substrate so stagnent air doesn't get trapped in between the plastic and the substrate causing molds possibly. It's really just a knock off of Roger's straw log tek with a laundry basket being used for a mold in a sense. Do any of you guys just allow your logs to fruit invitro?

[Hippie3]

well, at some point it'd stop being a log and become a bag, i'd think.
and i've seen plenty of those fruit invitro.
getting enough air in
is the main problem.
growth slows and can even stall if the air is exhausted.
that's why some complain that invitro is slow,
they neglect a bit too much.
i'd think a few medium sized tyvek filter patches
spaced along the length/diameter of the log's plastic shell
would resolve the issue,
exactly how many and where
would be experimental questions.

[Lazlo]

I got ya. Well, the crop size isn't anything to write home about. I'm guessing the total will be around the 2 ounce range. Not that great considering the size and weight of the substrate. It was really wet and needed to be rung out more before spawning. The straw really needs to be at field capacity for it to be optimal fruiting for invitro. I'll do another one in a day or two, along with one that's horse manure...

[perrch01]

Any more attempts with this?

[Lazlo]

Naaaaaa! Maybe later on...

[altered_states]

How's it going, man?
I remember talking to you about these things a while back...
Glad to see that it was a success!

Peace,
AS

[Hippie3]

The contents which consist of 1 flat of chopped straw and about 8 cups of manure were pasturized with 160 degree water and 1/2 of a cup of hydrated lime per 12 gallons of water. The manure settles to the bottom of the tub, which is fine. I added it just to flavor up the straw during the soak. They were allowed to soak overnight until cool and then were rung out WELL by hand and loaded into the basket in layers along with 2qts. of colonized seed spawn. The plastic in which is 4'x4' square was laid into the 1 bushel basket first. They are at Wal-Mart fo .99 cents. I've got duct tape wrapped in the inside of the basket first and then the outside so the sticky part is covered. I know I know it's ghetto, but it keeps the straw tight in the basket and makes it easier to pop the nugget out for birthing. If you can find a trash can like Troutlips has, you'll be in buisness. Then after the contents are loaded up, I folded up the corners of the plastic that are left over and twisted the whole basket like you would a trash bag and then taped it up as well. I made it super tight so the contents were compacted as much as I could get them. Push down on the straw well and twist the hell out of it. I got it good and tight. After that, I simply poked holes in the plastic throughout the entire basket. A hole every every couple of square inches. I used a steak knife. After 10 days of colonizing, the nugget was birthed and allowed to fruit as is. 1 flat of straw from a bale works out perfectly for this size of basket and a 4'x4' piece of plastic.

http://mycotopia.net...58&d=1130529218


very nice.
:bow:

[Lazlo]

Honestly, it's nothing fancy. I think I may try some Oyster's in the same fashion, but with many holes in the plastic large enough for clusters of course.