well, the spawn run is progressing nicely. If I can find a new beech log I will try to inoculate it.
I am down to my last plug, which is white and fuzzy with Mycelium.

I think I will take samples from the bags just before inducing fruiting and use these to commence new cultures.

I would also like to try this with fresh store bought Oysters. Has anyone here experience or tips with that?
I read that one should use a small mushroom coz the mycelium is still growing vigourously. I would like to see if I can put a fresh mushroom stem sample directly into coffee grounds. I did try this but I used old mushrooms which wouldn't have helped and I put them in with the other coffee and wood cores. Next step is to try some on there own.
Anyone experience with adding amino acid fertilizers to substrate?

Keep happy folx,

Wumpsdad

Wump'
I try to find thick meaty clusters so they can be torn open to get at some clean tissue. I try to find tissue near the base of the stem, or from the edge of a cap. Going straight from tissue to substrate isn't the norm.
Here's a couple I started on agar.
fungusfun.com/mushrooms/modules.php?...clude=view_photo.php

Sorry, can't help you out on the amino acid addition.

C1

well I have several cultures booming away, but I have run out of wood for new inoculations.

Is it possible or advisable to inoculate fresh bags of coffee grounds using some of one of the other healthy bags?
If so, how much should I use- say 10% of the total volume?
What about using say 1%? does it make much difference?
how should I mix it?
what technique/method should I use?


thanx any and everyone for your help.

Wumpsdad

Expanding spawn is easy, it's usually refered to as grain to grain. Take one of your colonized bags & add portions to fresh bags & mix well. I'd probably go with about a 6 or 7 times expansion. I hope you have a contaminant free environment to work in. I don't have a flow box to work in front of right now so I'm running a HEPA filter air cleaner in my "office" for a few hours before working with anything.
Good luck
C1

Well I went ahead and transferred a few teaspoons of culture to another new bag... and away it grows!

--cultured1, I used only maybe a 20th by volume comparison so I spose it will take longer to fully culture.

I don't have a HEPA filter but have other ways to clean the air. How much does it cost to set up a flow hood?

And good news!! the council cut down some birch trees nearby so I have 5 new logs each about 80 cm long to age then inoculate. The bad news is I think they have to be cultivated on soil and I live in a flat!

Anyway, the future is looking better and better. But does anyone have any advice to pass on about how to manage oyster mushrooms for the fruiting stage? Do I need a thermometer? is temperature critical? I have a hygrometer and accurate scales to measure the change in mass from moisture loss.

Any help is appreciated
Thanks again folx,

Wumpsdad

You can buy premade laminar flow boxes but they can get expensive. I'm thinking about making one using a storage bin for a frame, HEPA filter element, 2nd bin for an air intake & an old fan from a microwave. I've seen posts with links to plans, I'll try & find it.
Peterthinks posted some good links in this thread
fungusfun.com/mushrooms/modules.php?...e=viewtopic&t=67
A covered plant stand may work for a fruiting chamber, check out the gallery, I've posted a pic of what I used to fruit a shitake block last year.
As allways, good luck with your grow.
C1