Strain: B+ isolate
Substrate: 3 cups “standard” BRF mix with 1 cup hydrated popcorn and ¼ cup hydrated polyacrylamide
Hydration base: EarthJuice
Bag: medium autoclavable spawn bag (from SporeWorks.com)
“cake” run: 16 days (bag kneaded at 7 days)
Incubation temp: 83F (+/- 1 degree F)
Time from first light exposure to first pins: 12 days
Time from first pins to harvest (pictured): 5 days
Harvest weight: dead batteries in the scale prevented documenting this
The bottom and 1/2 inch of the sides of the spawn bag were covered with duct tape in an attempt to avoid side pinning. No bottom pins were noted, but numerous pins at (or just below) the duct tape level aborted. It is *believed* these pins aborted because they had no room to grow (due to the bag's pressing on them).
Substrate was mixed and PCed in a sealed bag for 1.5 hours at 15psi. A goodly volume of air was sealed in the bag. The PC's second "tray" was placed on top of the bags to prevent them blocking the pressure release valve.
The bag was cooled for 24hrs after the PC run and then inoculated with approximately 30mL of B+ liquid culture. The bag was then incubated for 7 days (until about %40 colonization) and then kneaded like bread and incubated for an additional 9 days. It should be noted that this isolate is SUPER agressive in colonization speed. Multispore would probably take at least a few days longer.
Once the bag was %100 colonized, the sealed top was cut off and the bag was carefully tipped to just past horizontal and the CO2 was "poured" out. The bag was then duct taped shut and placed on a windowsill in (mostly) indirect sunlight. No additional fresh air exchanges were done after the initial CO2 “pour out.” It bears mentioning that this bag was in full sunlight for only about 45 minutes each day.
These two pics are the BRF “block” pre-harvest (please don't bash my FOAF too harshly for the khaki slacks in the background; FOAF works amongst "straights" for a living - jeans just don't cut the mustard):
This is the mature mushie harvest:
This is the abort harvest:
After harvest, the “block” was placed in a gallon Ziploc bag full of cold water for a 24 hour dunk (in the fridge). Second flush shall be posted when/if it blesses my FOAF with it’s presence.
FOAF's conclusion: bag fruiting doesn't produce as much harvest weight as "proper" terrarium fruiting, but it certainly does work. Judging from the number of aborts, ouput using a "proper" terrarium would have been better. But since we are talking about roughly $4 in raw materials (not including the PC), FOAF is pretty well pleased with these results.
THANK YOU MYCOTOPIA.
THANK YOU MYCOTOPIATES.
THANK YOU HIPPIE3, FOR THE SINGLE GREATEST SITE ON THE WEB!!!
Your contribution(s) to my FOAF's well being are beyond measure. You wonderful folks and this wonderful hobby have reconnected him with this world - and his true family - in a way he thought died with Jerry. Most importantly (to him), you have re-connected him to a "youth" that he thought died with Jerry. You have reminded him to grin and just friggin' enjoy things on a level he thought he had "outgrown." You have re-connected him to the utterly invaluable child who still dwells within his shell. It is a tacky phrase to use, but you have all helped him to be "born again."
You have reminded him who he is and what power that awareness contains. You have re-energized his power cells and he is eternally in your debt for it. We are going to need a MUCH bigger boat...
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT!!! FOAF is humbled and honored to have had this bestowed upon him.
"May you [all] live a thousand years."
-Trunk Salesman, Joe Vs. The Volcano
