I just ordered your oyster mushroom liquid culture 4 pack on amazon. Just realized as I'm watching this video it's spore n sprout, the same business I just ordered from!!! Whoa
@@jakehvazdamusic I’ve ordered his LC and it was very fast delivery, tested it on agar and they all were contamination free, will be ordering again. I follow all his videos and have learned alot from him.
Great instruction for setting up grow bags with hardwood pellets! I wonder, why not start with the grow bag? Just put everything straight in the bag to start. From there, follow the OP instructions. It seems it would save cleanup and material.
Thanks for the videos. Which brand of fuel pellets do you use. I bought some here from a big box store and they dont work well at all. whose do you use? Thanks
Just made my first batch of substrate. I made 4 bags. Your measurment worked perfect avenue after i quadruple the recipe. I inoculated my grain with the liquid cultures I got from your site, and im ready to inoculated my bags as soon as they cool off!
It depends on how big your pressure cooker is. In my old 23 quart I would put I think 2 quarts of water in. Basically it should be 2-3 inches of water. In my 41 quart I usually put 3-4 quarts of water.
Usually 1-2 weeks before it starts to dry out. You can refrigerate them. After months the substrate may become contaminated if not used. It’s kind of a race against the eventual contamination.
@ thanks, what’s the best place to find wheat bran, I’ve looked everywhere with no luck, I find small packages on Amazon and to do 15 blocks will be a lot
Yes you could, most people use it for outdoor beds because the bugs are attracted to grain. But you will be missing the moisture and nutrients provided by the grain.
This is great for wood loving mushrooms. I use it myself. I also grow cubensis (magic) mushrooms and they are a poop loving mushrooms. You don't need poop but they don't like wood. Please research the substrate for the particular mushroom species your growing. And keep it simple until you have Lots of experience.
If you don’t allow the bags to vent they can expand and pop inside the pressure cooker. You could try sealing the bag and then cut the corner and apply some micropore tape to the corner to help with venting while keeping the bag mostly sealed.
You can’t get around pressure cooking grain spawn but you could pasteurize substrate instead of sterilizing, Check this method out using pasteurization : ua-cam.com/video/qtVMbJf60Pk/v-deo.html
I have watch lots of videos & also read some articles where it is always mentioned that we always prepared the substrate at per its field capacity. For your substrate field capacity was adjusted only with the hwfp or the combined mixture of hwfp + bran ?
Please help spore n’ spout! I couldn’t find oak pellets near me. I’ll have to order. My grain spawn is more than ready so I don’t want to wait on shipping. I could find oak wood chips. So I boiled them for about 10 minutes. I’m gonna let them soak for 24 hours. Any tips on getting this to work. I don’t want to mess it up.
You don’t have a tractor supply store in your town? Wood chips can be soaked for 24 hours or boiled for one hour to hydrate. Strain the chips and allow the water to drain out until no water is dripping from them.
@@toribowers9766Bowers I called my Tractor Supply store and they said they only sell pellets in the Winter, What??? Don't people need them in the summer to BBQ?
So, I just followed your instructions and combined my grain spawn into my oak pellet grow bag. I have it in a still air box. I am growing Lion's Mane mushrooms. Should this be in the light or dark and do I continue to seal the bag or have slits in the bag when the mushrooms start growing? TY
@@theresasteinbacher Once the substrate bag is fully colonized by the spawn you slice the side of the bag and set the fruiting block in a humid environment like a shot gun fruiting chamber or bigger fruiting tent, light does not matter during colonization. Here is the video to make a shotgun fruiting chamber: ua-cam.com/video/bLB5ZaYI3Sg/v-deo.html Bigger tent: ua-cam.com/video/z3vMu-4rMP8/v-deo.html Medium tent: ua-cam.com/video/XI6MRunsVlc/v-deo.html
Am finding your videos very helpful. Im interested in using a hardwood substrate that that is 50% oak pellets and 50% soy hulls. The substrate is called Masters Mix and seems quite popular. Do you have any insights on this mix and do you know the amounts of water for these ratios - say, 4 pound of dry mix (2lbs oak pellet + 2lbs soy hulls) - how much water to add?
Masters mix is good for most everything but it did not work for shiitake. Make sure you use soy hull pellets and not powdery or the ratio will be way off. I am not sure about the conversion of weight but it should be 60% water.
I found two very decent mixtures to be 1) 450g soy hulls, 450g fuel pellets, 1.4L water. Sterilize for 90 minutes = 1lb soy hulls, 1lb fuel pellets, roughly 1.5 quarts water. 2) Layman's method: 1.5 pounds fuel pellets + 1 tsp gypsum. Put it in a growing bag and pour in 1 quart of boiling water. Quickly fold the gusset, peg it and chuck the bag in a bucket for 3 hours. Pasteurized substrate ready for immediate use 😎. I've had this work for pink oysters, pearl oysters and lion's mane. Side note... Shiitake might not take to this method. They grow quite slowly and contamination may set in if the substrate is not sterilized. Vigorous colonizers should love it 🌻.
This substrate contains nutrients and is needed to be sterilized. You will get bigger yields with this substrate. Straw with lime is pasteurized not sterilized but still works great
You can buy the plain bags pretty cheap and put your own filter, but tbh it’s probably better to just buy the bags premade, they’re only like $0.50 and it saves a lot of time. The ones with injection ports cost bout a dollar more so imo it’s better to just use mason jars for inoculation and make your own lids
First time doing this, I did everything as said in the video. My spawn isn’t ready so I ended up sealing the bag afterwards and it seems like there’s too much moisture, there isn’t any standing water at all but a lot of moisture. Should I be worried or will it dry up after a few hours or days? Should I keep the bag unfolded so it can breath or keep it tucked?
Yeah just let it sit unfolded for 1 week. It sounds like you didn’t use hot water when adding to the oak pellets, if you added cold water it won’t soak well or you used a little bit too much water or your pellets were not fully pelletized. There shouldn’t be any oak dust in the measurements. I still use this same recipe tutorial and never have moisture problems.
How far in advance can I make my substrate block? Let’s say my grain spawn should be here in like 2 weeks, is it too early to make a couple bags if I sterilize them? Or after I sterilize them
After sterilizing the substrate block it should be used within 1-2 weeks. You can refrigerate the substrate for 1-2 months also. The sooner the better though.
I've seen people say that you can put it in the oven with a heat proof jar at 350° for 3 hours. I'd be concerned about it drying out though. You can also steam your substrate for like 12 hours and that will kill off most of the bacteria.
@@SporenSprout I'm about to try this why my instant pot, probably going to run it for two 4 hour cycles since people do like 12-15 hours with atmospheric pressure steamers.
Do you think hardwood coffee grounds and gypsum would be a good mix for hardwood loving mushrooms? I'm aiming just to pasteurize my substrate in one bag
@@christianlander321 Try putting your CVG mixture into sealed plastic bags like those in the video, and pressure cook them. Wait to cool, then inoculate with liquid culture as sterile as you can.
@@gabrielnovelo6865 Yeah put aluminum foil on the sides. That will help but I’m thinking your pressure cooker is getting too hot somehow. Do not use a gas burner, use an electric coil.
I’ve heard people say sterilisation isn’t necessary when making bulk substrate and you can get away with just pasteurising it, how true is that? The narrative being that any spores that did survive pasteurisation will be insanity outcompeted by the spawn.
You can either pressure sterilize or atmospheric steam sterilize. If you work fast the mycelium will outcompete left over foreign spores after pasteurization.
You ever have problems with the bags deforming and popping in the pressure cooker? Almost every batch ive done lately has been a 50% loss, just cant figure it out.
I'll definitely try the aluminum foil next batch, my last few attempts at things I've been using pillow cases. Gonna add a little extra water as well. 👍
I see a lot of people online using fuel pellets 💀those usually come from broken up pallets or some other unknown source. I wouldn’t eat mushrooms from them considering all of the places and chemicals a pallet encounters in its life cycle
Short , sweet and informative, perfect! ❤
Thanks for watching! 🙏 🍄
I just ordered your oyster mushroom liquid culture 4 pack on amazon. Just realized as I'm watching this video it's spore n sprout, the same business I just ordered from!!! Whoa
😂 That’s awesome! Thanks for the business and good luck! 🍄
@@jakehvazdamusic I’ve ordered his LC and it was very fast delivery, tested it on agar and they all were contamination free, will be ordering again. I follow all his videos and have learned alot from him.
Whats the size of bag you're using ?
Thanks that was super helpful.
Great instruction for setting up grow bags with hardwood pellets! I wonder, why not start with the grow bag? Just put everything straight in the bag to start. From there, follow the OP instructions. It seems it would save cleanup and material.
It’s hard to mix in the bag and if the substrate is not mixed thoroughly it will fail. That’s why I use a bucket to mix before adding to bags.
Wow, you put a full pint of spawn in the substrate? Does this give you bigger fruitings?
Yes and it’s faster
How long can you store these substrate blocks??
They can be refrigerated for 2-3 months after they have been sterilized or 1 month at room temp.
What kind of bag ya got there?
Unicorn filter patch bags. Etsy.me/3fxDxYS
Will do this, nice. Probably use 1/3 of that bran though to reduce my contamination chance since I'm a beginner.
I usually just use double the amount of grain spawn then what's recommended. Aggressive colonization usually beats contamination
what is the flow hood you're using? interesting content 👌👍🏼🇬🇧
I built it with these 2 parts:
HEPA filter: amzn.to/3tNIIhj
Blower motor: amzn.to/3QwtcPN
congratulations for the video.
Please I would like suggestions on my cultivation. I don't have pellets. Can I work with eucalyptus sawdust?
How come you used the whole jar? Do you have to use the grain to initiate growth in the substrate?
You don’t have to use the whole jar, I just do that so it colonizes faster. Yes the mycelium will grow off of the grain and into the substrate.
@@SporenSprout Sweet, appreciate the feedback! Also keep pumping out the videos, good work!
Would I be able use colonized agar plates to inoculate instead of grain spawn?
Thanks for the videos. Which brand of fuel pellets do you use. I bought some here from a big box store and they dont work well at all. whose do you use? Thanks
Make sure it’s hardwood and mostly Oak. Most people get the bags from tractor supply. The brand I use is a Michigan brand.
Thank you brother. I will be buying LC from you as soon as I need it.
Where can you get the bags?
amzn.to/3YJhWm1
Just made my first batch of substrate. I made 4 bags. Your measurment worked perfect avenue after i quadruple the recipe. I inoculated my grain with the liquid cultures I got from your site, and im ready to inoculated my bags as soon as they cool off!
How much water do you add to pressure cooker?
It depends on how big your pressure cooker is. In my old 23 quart I would put I think 2 quarts of water in. Basically it should be 2-3 inches of water. In my 41 quart I usually put 3-4 quarts of water.
Ever try just a lime soak vs PC?
@@jobbingactor Cold Water Pasteurization Method
ua-cam.com/video/3EhMkQ7j6fw/v-deo.html
How long will substrate stop before inoculating? Thanks again
Usually 1-2 weeks before it starts to dry out. You can refrigerate them. After months the substrate may become contaminated if not used. It’s kind of a race against the eventual contamination.
Are there any alternative methods to pressure cooking?
You can build or buy a steam sterilizer barrel. You steam sterilize for 12-14 hours instead of pressure sterilize for 2 hours.
What about hydrated lime?
@@thedadchroniclesThats what im thinking. Works fine for straw so.... ill try it this week.
Is it rice bran or wheat Bran powder ?
Wheat bran
I was thinking that I had ordered wheat bran but got whole wheat, can that be used in place of the bran?
@@GreenDiamond-j3y Not really, the whole wheat can be used as grain spawn though
@ thanks, what’s the best place to find wheat bran, I’ve looked everywhere with no luck, I find small packages on Amazon and to do 15 blocks will be a lot
@ amzn.to/3ZyoyFa
Congratulations on your videos. How much time passes from when you do the inoculation until you start fruiting
Thanks! 2 weeks to colonize grain spawn and 2 weeks to colonize substrate so about 1 month.
Can we use ziplocks with micropore tape filters instead ?
I don’t think zip locks will withstand pressure cooking.
Ok
Can i use this instead of grain for the spawn?
Yes you could, most people use it for outdoor beds because the bugs are attracted to grain. But you will be missing the moisture and nutrients provided by the grain.
This is great for wood loving mushrooms. I use it myself. I also grow cubensis (magic) mushrooms and they are a poop loving mushrooms. You don't need poop but they don't like wood. Please research the substrate for the particular mushroom species your growing. And keep it simple until you have Lots of experience.
Here’s a poo-less substrate you can use for cubes: How to Make Coco Coir Substrate for Growing Mushrooms
ua-cam.com/video/ggIIlcexs_8/v-deo.html
Would it be possible to pasteurize the pellets and the bran? And then steam sterilize the bags? i don't have a pressure cooker to use
@@FernandoMartinez-dn4se I would just leave out the bran and it should work well.
@@SporenSprout so leave out the bran all together or add after pellets are pasteurized?
@@FernandoMartinez-dn4se Leave it out
Whats your pressure cooker size ?
I use a 41 quart all American for substrate. You can use a 23 quart though
Can we seal the bag prior sterilization if it has injection port? Thanks.
If you don’t allow the bags to vent they can expand and pop inside the pressure cooker. You could try sealing the bag and then cut the corner and apply some micropore tape to the corner to help with venting while keeping the bag mostly sealed.
@@SporenSprout I actually did it and it did not explode. Maybe because it has the vent membrane to allow air passing through
thank you for the video. i just followed your instructions and completed 2.5hrs at 15psi. how long do you let the bags cool before inoculation?
@@Travis_Trout I let them cool down over night. The substrate shouldn’t be warm when inoculating.
@@SporenSprout do you leave them in the pressure canner or take them out to cool? thank you for your help.
Does everything really need pressure cooking?
You can’t get around pressure cooking grain spawn but you could pasteurize substrate instead of sterilizing, Check this method out using pasteurization :
ua-cam.com/video/qtVMbJf60Pk/v-deo.html
@Spore n' Sprout
Thanks alot dude!
Content top noch
I have watch lots of videos & also read some articles where it is always mentioned that we always prepared the substrate at per its field capacity.
For your substrate field capacity was adjusted only with the hwfp or the combined mixture of hwfp + bran ?
This is a well know recipe that achieves the correct field capacity. Everything combined achieves field capacity.
Please help spore n’ spout! I couldn’t find oak pellets near me. I’ll have to order. My grain spawn is more than ready so I don’t want to wait on shipping. I could find oak wood chips. So I boiled them for about 10 minutes. I’m gonna let them soak for 24 hours. Any tips on getting this to work. I don’t want to mess it up.
You don’t have a tractor supply store in your town? Wood chips can be soaked for 24 hours or boiled for one hour to hydrate. Strain the chips and allow the water to drain out until no water is dripping from them.
@@SporenSprout I do but they only sell pine pellets. Thank you so much for the tip!!
@@toribowers9766Bowers I called my Tractor Supply store and they said they only sell pellets in the Winter, What??? Don't people need them in the summer to BBQ?
So, I just followed your instructions and combined my grain spawn into my oak pellet grow bag. I have it in a still air box. I am growing Lion's Mane mushrooms. Should this be in the light or dark and do I continue to seal the bag or have slits in the bag when the mushrooms start growing? TY
@@theresasteinbacher Once the substrate bag is fully colonized by the spawn you slice the side of the bag and set the fruiting block in a humid environment like a shot gun fruiting chamber or bigger fruiting tent, light does not matter during colonization. Here is the video to make a shotgun fruiting chamber:
ua-cam.com/video/bLB5ZaYI3Sg/v-deo.html
Bigger tent:
ua-cam.com/video/z3vMu-4rMP8/v-deo.html
Medium tent:
ua-cam.com/video/XI6MRunsVlc/v-deo.html
You’re awesome. Thank you for your expertise! 🙏🌞
I have 2.5lb of maitaki spawn..do I use this entire recipe quantity shown in video for that ratio of spawn ? Thanks in advance love your videos
@@everythingplusultra 1 pound of grain per bag
Thanks for the reply..so then i need double wood pellet and bran? @SporenSprout
Am finding your videos very helpful. Im interested in using a hardwood substrate that that is 50% oak pellets and 50% soy hulls. The substrate is called Masters Mix and seems quite popular. Do you have any insights on this mix and do you know the amounts of water for these ratios - say, 4 pound of dry mix (2lbs oak pellet + 2lbs soy hulls) - how much water to add?
Masters mix is good for most everything but it did not work for shiitake. Make sure you use soy hull pellets and not powdery or the ratio will be way off. I am not sure about the conversion of weight but it should be 60% water.
@@SporenSprout 60% volume or weight?
@@ScottWConvid19 weight
I found two very decent mixtures to be
1) 450g soy hulls, 450g fuel pellets, 1.4L water. Sterilize for 90 minutes
= 1lb soy hulls, 1lb fuel pellets, roughly 1.5 quarts water.
2) Layman's method: 1.5 pounds fuel pellets + 1 tsp gypsum. Put it in a growing bag and pour in 1 quart of boiling water. Quickly fold the gusset, peg it and chuck the bag in a bucket for 3 hours. Pasteurized substrate ready for immediate use 😎. I've had this work for pink oysters, pearl oysters and lion's mane.
Side note... Shiitake might not take to this method. They grow quite slowly and contamination may set in if the substrate is not sterilized. Vigorous colonizers should love it 🌻.
Hi van I use Soyahull insted of braun?
What are your yields like using that mixture? Lets use lions mane and oyster for example.
Hi sir whats the difference of this from dried straw with hydrated lime?
This substrate contains nutrients and is needed to be sterilized. You will get bigger yields with this substrate. Straw with lime is pasteurized not sterilized but still works great
great video definitely buying some!!!
Do you use unicorn bags? If not then what kind and what kind filter? Do you use different types of filters?
Yes they are 14A bags 8” X 20” with .5 micron filters.
@@SporenSprout thank you for helping so many people. You make sure you reply. You are very much appreciated. My favorite mushroom account💚
Will this substrate work for Azurescens.?
It should
is it possible to use this method with jars instead of grow bags? Or would they shatter in the pressure cooker?
Great video, leant a lot. Is there a way to make your own bag?
You can buy the plain bags pretty cheap and put your own filter, but tbh it’s probably better to just buy the bags premade, they’re only like $0.50 and it saves a lot of time. The ones with injection ports cost bout a dollar more so imo it’s better to just use mason jars for inoculation and make your own lids
First time doing this, I did everything as said in the video. My spawn isn’t ready so I ended up sealing the bag afterwards and it seems like there’s too much moisture, there isn’t any standing water at all but a lot of moisture. Should I be worried or will it dry up after a few hours or days? Should I keep the bag unfolded so it can breath or keep it tucked?
Yeah just let it sit unfolded for 1 week. It sounds like you didn’t use hot water when adding to the oak pellets, if you added cold water it won’t soak well or you used a little bit too much water or your pellets were not fully pelletized. There shouldn’t be any oak dust in the measurements. I still use this same recipe tutorial and never have moisture problems.
@@SporenSprout Thank you so much! I’ll try that out 🙏🏼
Can I use shavings from a oak or other hardwood tree instead of those fuel pellets?
Yes you can. Will have to make sure the moisture content is correct.
@@SporenSprout Thanks and appreciate your video content.
How far in advance can I make my substrate block? Let’s say my grain spawn should be here in like 2 weeks, is it too early to make a couple bags if I sterilize them? Or after I sterilize them
After sterilizing the substrate block it should be used within 1-2 weeks. You can refrigerate the substrate for 1-2 months also. The sooner the better though.
@@SporenSprout thanks brotha
why high pressure is needed ? isn't it possibile to sterile it in home oven for 2hrs for 120degrees ?
If you put it in the oven for 2 hours at 120 degrees you will most definitely be growing contamination instead of mushrooms.
I've seen people say that you can put it in the oven with a heat proof jar at 350° for 3 hours. I'd be concerned about it drying out though. You can also steam your substrate for like 12 hours and that will kill off most of the bacteria.
How many lbs of wood pellets per 6 cups of water?
Just measure out 5 cups of pellets and weigh it.
@@SporenSprout thanks! Using the same cup as the water? Hmm, how many lbs should 5 cups of wood pellets weigh? Thanks again
Awesome and thank you
When using wood, does it have to be hardwood and why!?
Hardwood I think is typically best bc other woods are going to typically be treated with some chemical
Would an instant pot work instead of a pressure cooker? I just want to grow once in a while, I don’t mind having limited space in ip.
I don’t think instant pots get up to 15 psi so if you do use it, you might have to do 3 hours.
@@SporenSprout I'm about to try this why my instant pot, probably going to run it for two 4 hour cycles since people do like 12-15 hours with atmospheric pressure steamers.
Instant Pots are fine for sterilization.
hey, he didnt just mix his spawn in with his sub did he?
Do you think hardwood coffee grounds and gypsum would be a good mix for hardwood loving mushrooms? I'm aiming just to pasteurize my substrate in one bag
YES
Great video as always! How long will CVG stay good for if not used right away. Thanks
This isn't CVG.
@@ryansmith616 my bad man I'm having a hard time with contam right now and I'm pretty sure it's time to start sterilizing my substrate from now on
@@christianlander321 Try putting your CVG mixture into sealed plastic bags like those in the video, and pressure cook them. Wait to cool, then inoculate with liquid culture as sterile as you can.
@@ryansmith616 innoculate with no grain? Just LC straight to CVG?
I tried it twice with fuel pellets , and water , and had no success, which was mostly my doing . I need the bran I think
amzn.to/3dcbC2B here’s the bran I suggest.
Recipe in grams?
my bags melted lol, dont know what to do
@@gabrielnovelo6865 You probably didn’t use enough water in the pressure cooker. Make sure the bags are not sealed before pressure cooking.
@@SporenSprout it was on the sides, i used 3 liters of water...should i use some aluminum foil on sides and bottom? ot just on sides
@@gabrielnovelo6865 Yeah put aluminum foil on the sides. That will help but I’m thinking your pressure cooker is getting too hot somehow. Do not use a gas burner, use an electric coil.
@@SporenSprout well i only have gas burner so i will low the heat. Ty so much🙂👍
With Oysters at least I've been getting away with adding a cup of bran and just pasteurizing in the bag.
I’ve heard people say sterilisation isn’t necessary when making bulk substrate and you can get away with just pasteurising it, how true is that? The narrative being that any spores that did survive pasteurisation will be insanity outcompeted by the spawn.
You can either pressure sterilize or atmospheric steam sterilize. If you work fast the mycelium will outcompete left over foreign spores after pasteurization.
You ever have problems with the bags deforming and popping in the pressure cooker? Almost every batch ive done lately has been a 50% loss, just cant figure it out.
Try lining the inside with aluminum foil, try adding more water to the pressure cooker. Let it depressurize naturally.
I'll definitely try the aluminum foil next batch, my last few attempts at things I've been using pillow cases. Gonna add a little extra water as well. 👍
Watching every video lol
Haha that’s the best way to do it!
@Spore n' Sprout actually wanna start growing mushrooms for my city I noticed I have 0 competition no a single store sells fresh mushrooms I'm shocked
I see a lot of people online using fuel pellets 💀those usually come from broken up pallets or some other unknown source. I wouldn’t eat mushrooms from them considering all of the places and chemicals a pallet encounters in its life cycle
@@CodyCondon They are made from oak timber not pallets 💀
@SporenSprout obviously you've never ordered cherry, applewood, or mesquite pallets. 🤪