substrate sterilization

[poisoninthestain]

does anyone have a rough idea how much yields would be reduced if your substrate(rye, birdseed, brown rice flour, ect...) was not sterilized in a pressure cooker?

what would you say are the odds that the spores would be contaminated if you just placed them in a CLEAN jar with CLEAN substrate(such as something bought from a store) with CLEAN gloves on?


...because I read many places where this doesn't sound like a good option without a pressure cooker but to me at least it seems that contamination would be very minimal.

 

[user_1919]

Don't waste your time, you need sterilization. But you do not need a pressure cooker. A friend of mine used steam sterilization and got 8 out of 8 jars last week. Try steam sterilization if you do not own a pressure cooker, but my friend said go longer than an hour just to be safe. If you need any more details about this method, just ask, and I will explain, although it is very simple.

PEACE & LOVE

 

[poisoninthestain]

great, i would much rather go for a steam distillation instead of a pressure cooker. although i don't own a pressure cooker i can still buy one but why waste the money when i can just steam distill like you said. could you summarize the process? thanks.

 

[Razor29]

can the prints get contams or be really screwed up in anyway

or do issue like this only pop up right after you try something with the spores im guessing

(i am keeping them in a air closed bag in something closed so im fine i think but i took them my self i have this nack for not trusting me so i took meny in diffrent slightly diffrent ways)

and i did go through the hole process with extreme care

 

[poisoninthestain]

Razor29-the simple answer is your spores will be ~95% safe from contaminants until they colonize the substrate(rye,seed,millet,ect...) as long as you don't do something drastic with the spores, such as smear them around in a dirty trashcan for a few minutes. So basically as long as you are the least bit careful odds are nothing nasty will come of it. This has been my experience.

 

[Arlecchino]

I'm getting great results with a modification of the Popcorn Tek. I'm using oven for the sterilization. Here's how I do the sterilization. You'll need the following:

One liter glass jars with screw able metal lids (other sizes are probably ok also)
Kettle with a thick base
Oven
Deep oven plate (I don't know the correct word for it, but a one that can hold 3 cm layer of water in it)

1. Place the popcorn in a kettle and cover the corn with water and let it stand for 24 hours.

2. Change the water and boil for about 1,5 hours (remember to stir once in awhile) until the seeds are easily split between fingers.

3. Pour out the water from the kettle and immediately load the cooked corn to glass jars.

4. Place folded tissue paper on the mouth of the jar and screw the lid on so the paper stays in between the jar and the lid(the lids should also have small holes for the spore syringe)

5. Pour 3 cm of water on the oven plate and place the filled jars in the water

6. Cook at 200C for an hour (adjust temperature so that the water boils gently)

7. Leave the oven and jars to cool overnight and inject with spore water in the morning.

Once I came up with this procedure I haven't had any contaminated jars. That's at least 6 growths with 4 jars each.

 

[HeartCore]

what would you say are the odds that the spores would be contaminated if you just placed them in a CLEAN jar with CLEAN substrate(such as something bought from a store) with CLEAN gloves on?

The cheapest pressure cooker will go a long way towards succesful growing in my opinion. I bought mine for under $30 and it's doing great. In combination with a simple homemade glovebox, I have a contamination rate below 5% which is quite nice. Before that, I was messing without it and the contamination rate was in the opposite range (lucky to have success at all...).

Oventek seems to work good also but I never tried that.

 

[GOD]

"CLEAN jar with CLEAN substrate(such as something bought from a store) with CLEAN gloves on?"

CLEAN DOES NOT EXIST .

"can the prints get contams or be really screwed up in anyway "

YES . If they are left open . The spores are the weakest link in growing . Its ( nearly ? ) imposible to make realy sterile spore prints .

"The cheapest pressure cooker will go a long way towards succesful growing in my opinion. I bought mine for under $30 and it's doing great. In combination with a simple homemade glovebox"

Exactly .

 

[druglessdouglas]

this is more a question than an answer; what about sodium metabisulphate sterilisation? enyone tried it? i can see problems with residues etc. but rinsing w boiled or distiled water should solve that. ideas?(for cotainers etc. not substrate)

 

[GOD]

"what about sodium metabisulphate sterilisation? "

WHY ????? Just use hot water / steam , and 70% isopropyl alcohol and / or a medical sterility spray from the chemists like melisept or sagrotan . They are cheep and safe .