How to Use Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Grain Jar - 1qt

How to Use Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Grain Jar - 1qt

Preparing a Clean Workspace

When working with the Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Grain Jar - 1qt, it’s essential to maintain a clean and sanitized environment to prevent contamination. While using a laminar flow hood or still air box is ideal, you can still minimize contamination by following these steps:

• Sanitize your workspace with rubbing alcohol or a similar disinfectant to eliminate dust and contaminants.
• Avoid working in areas with active airflow from fans, air conditioners, or heaters, as these can carry airborne particles.
• Wipe down the outside of the jar with rubbing alcohol to ensure a sterile surface before handling it.
• Sanitize your hands and any tools, such as syringes or knives, before working with the jar.

Keeping your environment clean is key to a successful inoculation process. If you don’t have access to a laminar flow hood, using a still air box can help reduce the risk of airborne contamination.

Inoculating the Red Milo Substrate Jar

1. Sterilize the Syringe Needle

Before inoculation, flame sterilize the syringe needle by holding it over a flame until it turns red hot. Let the needle cool for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before proceeding. This process ensures that the needle is free of contaminants.

2. Inject the Spores or Liquid Culture

Once the needle has cooled, insert it into the self-healing injection port on the jar lid. Inject 4-6cc of spore solution or liquid culture into the jar. Make sure to distribute the inoculant evenly by injecting it into different areas of the jar to promote even colonization throughout the red milo grains.

Incubating the Red Milo Substrate Jar

After inoculation, store the jar in an upright position in a room-temperature environment between 65-75°F. Keep the jar away from direct sunlight and areas with fluctuating temperatures. You may also incubate the jar at temperatures up to 80°F, but avoid exceeding this to prevent stalling mycelial growth.

Ensure that the 5-micron filter patch on the jar remains unobstructed to allow proper gas exchange. You should start seeing mycelium growth within 10-14 days, with full colonization usually taking 3-4 weeks when using spores. Liquid culture can reduce this time by about a week.

Using the Substrate for Spawn

Once the red milo substrate is fully colonized, it’s ready to be used as spawn. Grain spawn is not intended for direct fruiting but for inoculating a secondary bulk substrate, such as manure or wood. Here’s how to use it:

• Transferring to a Secondary Substrate: Break up the fully colonized grains by gently shaking or tapping the jar. Once the grains are loosened, you can transfer the spawn to a secondary substrate to promote larger flushes of mushrooms.
• For best results, use 1 quart of spawn to inoculate up to 5 pounds of secondary substrate. This ensures even colonization and healthy mushroom growth.

Monitoring for Contamination

Although the Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Grain Jar is fully hydrated and sterilized, contamination can still occur if proper cleanliness isn’t maintained. Look for signs of contamination, such as unusual colors, slime buildup, or foul odors. If contamination occurs, discard the jar and sanitize your workspace before starting a new batch.

Maximizing Spawn Efficiency

To ensure your grain spawn fully colonizes and is ready for transfer, make sure the jar is stored in a consistent environment with proper gas exchange. The filter patch should remain unobstructed, allowing for healthy mycelial growth.

Once the grain spawn is fully colonized, transferring it to a nutrient-rich bulk substrate, such as manure or wood, will provide the mushrooms with additional nutrients for larger flushes. Using 1 quart of spawn to inoculate up to 5 pounds of secondary substrate ensures even colonization and promotes faster growth.

Conclusion

The Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Grain Jar - 1qt offers a convenient and nutrient-rich medium for producing grain spawn. By following these steps, you’ll ensure successful colonization, allowing you to transfer the spawn to a secondary substrate for optimal mushroom growth. With proper care, you’ll enjoy multiple flushes of healthy mushrooms.

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