Cultivation Corner: 08/27/23
From Wine Cap Wonders to Liquid Culture Conundrums: A Deep Dive into This Week's Mycological Adventures
Hey there, my fellow mycophiles!
Hope you're all doing well. As someone who's always juggling tech, family, and a never-ending curiosity for fungi, I've got a lot to share this week. So, let's dive right in, shall we?
Wine Cap Woes 🍷
First up, let's talk about my wine cap blocks. They're oozing yellow metabolites like they're trying to communicate with me. Seriously, it's like they're sweating out their own version of Gatorade. They're about 90% colonized, but I'm not sure if they're just being finicky or if I messed up the shake-and-bake method. Wine caps are known to be a bit rebellious when it comes to sterile substrates, so who knows? I might just use them to inoculate some straw in my garden.
Morel Mysteries 🕵️♂️
My morels are doing their thing, but it's like they're playing hide-and-seek with their mycelium. They're producing sclerotia, which is a good sign, but it's hard to tell if they're fully colonized. It's like trying to find Waldo in a crowd of candy canes.
Shiitake Showdown 🍄
I've got two shiitake blocks at different stages. One's turning brown like it's trying to get a tan, while the other one's still pale as a ghost. I'm waiting for the first one to hit that sweet 75-80% brown mark before moving it to the fruiting chamber.
Oysterpalooza 🌊
My Italian oyster is at about 40% growth, while the king oyster is at 25%. The blue oyster is almost ready for the big leagues, and the golden oyster is... well, let's just say it's taking its sweet time.
Grainspawn & Liquid Culture 🧪
I've got a jar of antler reishi that's acting like a teenager—started off strong, then got lazy after a shake. I'm keeping an eye on it because, you know, ADHD brain here needs to know why things slow down. On the liquid culture front, I've been experimenting with Karo (corn syrup), and let me tell you, it's like HD clarity. I can see everything that's happening in there, and it's beautiful.
Action Items 📝
Keep an eye on those wine caps and maybe give them a new home in the garden.
Do some detective work on the morels and shiitakes.
Research the peculiar behaviors of king blue oyster and antler reishi.
Consider making Karo my go-to for liquid cultures.
Evict the pink oyster blocks from the fruiting chamber before they throw a contamination party.
Questions for the Hive Mind 🤔
What's up with the yellow metabolites in wine caps?
Any tips on assessing morel colonization?
Got any golden oyster success stories?
That's it for this week, folks! As always, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts, questions, or random mushroom memes. Keep growing and stay curious!
Scott