
popcorn discusions [merged]
#61
Posted 10 June 2005 - 10:28 PM
#62
Posted 05 November 2005 - 02:48 PM
I have been having problems with bacteria in my popcorn jars.
Here is my procedure:
1.)Soak 24 hrs. with ~30% coffee and 1 tbsp gypsum.
2.)Simmer 30-45 min.
3.)Rinse thoroughly, then Dry in collander then spread out on a towel until grains are dry to the touch. Load into quart jars with a little vermiculite in the bottom.
4.)PC ~75 min. 15 psi
5.) Innoculate with syringe (through polyfill hole) and place in TUT set up.
Notes: Spore prints were over 1 year old and have been taking about 7 days to germinate. At first everything is fine, the grains are dry and "clink" against the glass when shaken. I have been shaking 3-4 days after germination to mix up the vermiculite and to speed up colonization. At first, it seems to take off, then I start to notice the kind of starchy "wet spots".
Possible explanations:1.) too much heat. At first I had the aquarium heater set at 86 F. I have since turned it down to ~80.
2.) Shaking? Contamination seems to appear after shaking.
3.) Too much time before germination. This shortens the "window of opportunity" Hopefully I will have a couple of jars that are successful, then do grain to grain, then get fresh specimens for printing.
Anyway, sorry for the long read. I have been doing my research. I was just wondering if anyone had similar experiences with popcorn and how they were able to fix the problem.
Thanks for your help. This site is great.
#63
Posted 05 November 2005 - 03:24 PM
Verm is a key to stop the soggy bits...But your technique seems fine, although U could save urself the soaking. R U sure that your print is clean and your inoc procedure is clean?
#64
Posted 05 November 2005 - 06:31 PM
I think my innoculation/syringe technique is ok.
What temp. do you incubate at?
Do you shake? Is it better to not shake, allowing the vermiculite to remain on the bottom to soak up moisture?
Well, I definitely have some experimenting to do. I will try increasing the PC time and possibly the soak time (can't hurt).
#65
Guest_freakachino_*
Posted 05 November 2005 - 06:42 PM
Your technique sounds okay also. The only thing I can think of is you're using too much inoculant? But its hard to say. You could try a tyvek filter instead of polyfill also, this may let the jar breath easier.
#66
Posted 05 November 2005 - 06:46 PM
#67
Posted 05 November 2005 - 06:58 PM
I think you may be on to something regarding fresh air. I have one quarter inch hole(that was my biggest drill bit) in each lid stuffed pretty tight with polyfill. So I doubt much air is getting through. That is possibly why it takes off after shaking b/c it forces fresh air in that wasn't getting in otherwise.
Should I use the same quarter inch hole without polyfill and put a square of tyvek in between the ring and lid? Or should I drill more holes.
Thanks for your help. Its frustrating because I feel like I'm on the verge of success, I just need to figure out the flaw in my technique. It keeps it interesting though.
I guess it is possible the syringe/print is contaminated as the prints are pretty old. I will make new syringes with a different print and use tyvek next batch.
#68
Guest_Peter Cottontail_*
Posted 05 November 2005 - 09:39 PM
RR
#69
Posted 05 November 2005 - 09:55 PM
I had the tub-in-tub pretty tightly sealed due to placing a 30 lb. dumbell on top of the lid so the upper tub would sit lower in the water. This increased temp. and also sealed created a tight seal. So there was this stagnant hot environment in the tub. What I have done is remove the weight and leave the lid just loosely laying on top of the tub to allow the jars to "breathe" and moderate temp's.
I did notice that the jars sitting on the bottom of the tub where it is hotter have are more prone to wet spot than the jars sitting near the top of the tub.
I will try tyvek on the next batch to see if that improves air exchange.
#70
Posted 27 November 2005 - 01:39 PM
However, I thought it might be a good idea to add a small amount to the BRF mix. i.e 1/5 popcorn to 4/5 BRF as the substrate.
Anyone tried this yet???
I will also try adding some used coffie grinds to the mix in my next project...
Just innoculated, so will try to keep you informed
#71
Posted 27 November 2005 - 10:07 PM
My monkey's brother has taken popcorn, washed and double pc'd it, colinized it with cubbies, mixed it with equal volume of field-capacity wet vermiculite (also PC'd but that was just his preference...was likely clean) let it incubate for a few days, put in fruiting conditions...and produced nice yields such as in the picture. It wasn't bad for a first attempt...anyway, the second and third flush were about the same...tons of little guys.
Now if you meant using corn flour or corn meal instead of rice, there are threads in the archives that have shown these will work. Hip has said many times that rice works the best, but the other grains and grain flours can be subbed if needed. Your milage may vary. Rice is very easy to get and grinds nice in a cheap coffee grinder. If you have some awesome results with corn get pics and tell us about it. :D good luck.
#72
Posted 28 November 2005 - 08:28 AM
i'd use cornmeal instead.
#73
Posted 28 November 2005 - 12:36 PM
Where do you get it from?
#74
Posted 20 December 2005 - 11:11 PM
#75
Guest_lost_onabbey_rd_*
Posted 20 December 2005 - 11:36 PM
Lost
#76
Posted 20 December 2005 - 11:38 PM
Thx!
#77
Posted 21 December 2005 - 12:00 AM
#78
Posted 21 December 2005 - 03:58 AM
My friend pours the corn out into a collander (still piping hot) and stirs it continuously with a fork for 10 minutes. By the time the corn cools, enough water has evaporated that the corn is just about perfect for colonization. If it still feels moist (too dry is MUCH better than too moist) he spreads it out on newspaper for 2-3 hours.
Wet polyfil is no longer an effective barrier against contaminants. Bugs land in the exposed moist end and then colonize the polyfil, eventually reaching inside the jar. My friend uses two layers of tyvek over a hole slightly smaller than a pencil (3/8 inch) for fresh air.
#79
Posted 24 December 2005 - 04:32 PM
#80
Guest_lost_onabbey_rd_*
Posted 24 December 2005 - 06:50 PM
which is where i think most people seem to have problems with corn
the verms small size allso helps create more innc points when you spawn it
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