How to Use Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Jars - 12-Pack
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How to Use Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Jars - 12-Pack
Preparing Your Workspace
Before working with the Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Jars - 12-Pack, it’s crucial to set up a clean and sanitized environment to prevent contamination. Using a laminar flow hood or still air box is ideal, but you can still minimize contamination risks by following these steps:
- Disinfect your workspace with rubbing alcohol or a similar sanitizing agent to eliminate dust and contaminants.
- Avoid working in areas with airflow from fans, air conditioners, or heaters, as these can introduce airborne particles.
- Wipe down the outside of each jar with rubbing alcohol before handling to ensure a sterile surface.
- Sanitize your hands and any tools, such as syringes or scissors, before handling the jars.
Maintaining a clean workspace is key to successful inoculation. If you don’t have access to a laminar flow hood, using a still air box can help reduce the risk of airborne contamination during the process.
Inoculating the Red Milo Substrate Jars
1. Sterilize the Syringe Needle
Flame sterilize the syringe needle by holding it over a flame until it turns red hot. Let the needle cool for 30 seconds to 1 minute before proceeding with inoculation. This ensures the needle is free of contaminants.
2. Inject the Spores or Liquid Culture
Insert the cooled needle into the self-healing injection port on the jar lid. Inject 4-6cc of spore solution or liquid culture into each jar. Be sure to spread the inoculant evenly by injecting into different areas of the jar to promote uniform colonization.
Incubating the Red Milo Substrate Jars
Once inoculated, place the jars in an upright position in a room-temperature environment between 65-75°F. Keep the jars away from direct sunlight and areas with fluctuating temperatures. The jars can be incubated at temperatures up to 80°F, but avoid exceeding this to prevent slowing down the mycelium’s growth.
Ensure the 5-micron filter patches on the jar lids remain unobstructed to allow proper gas exchange during colonization. Mycelium growth should begin within 10-14 days, with full colonization typically occurring in 3-4 weeks when using spores. Liquid culture may reduce colonization time by about a week.
Using the Substrate for Spawn
Once the red milo substrate jars are fully colonized, they are ready to be used as spawn for a secondary substrate. Grain spawn is not intended for direct fruiting but is used to inoculate nutrient-rich bulk substrates, such as manure or wood. Here’s how to proceed:
- Transferring to a Secondary Substrate: Gently break up the colonized grains by shaking or tapping the jars. Once the grains are loosened, mix the spawn into the secondary substrate to produce larger flushes of mushrooms.
- For best results, use 1 quart of spawn per jar to inoculate up to 5 pounds of secondary substrate. This ensures even colonization and promotes faster mushroom growth.
Monitoring for Contamination
Although the Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Jars are fully hydrated and sterilized, contamination can still occur if cleanliness isn’t maintained. Watch for unusual colors, slime buildup, or foul odors, which are signs of contamination. If contamination occurs, discard the affected jars and thoroughly sanitize your workspace before starting a new batch.
Maximizing Spawn Efficiency
To ensure your grain spawn fully colonizes and is ready for transfer, keep the jars in a stable environment with proper gas exchange. The filter patches should remain unobstructed to allow healthy mycelial growth.
Once your grain spawn is fully colonized, transferring it to nutrient-rich bulk substrates, such as manure or wood, provides the necessary nutrients for producing large flushes of mushrooms. Using 1 quart of spawn to inoculate up to 5 pounds of secondary substrate ensures even colonization and faster mushroom growth.
Conclusion
The Red Milo Mushroom Substrate Jars - 12-Pack offer a convenient and efficient solution for producing grain spawn in bulk. 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 can achieve large flushes of healthy mushrooms from your substrate.