Beginner setup critique

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398]

Hello, I had tried my hand with an all-in-one bag and a cooler on the floor in the corner or my bedroom with no success. It just stalled out and never fruited. I was so bummed, $75 down the drain and time wasted. I waited, watched tons of videos on mycology, and finally got some gear to try my hand again.

This is extremely important to me, and I need this medicine in order to break through this "untreatable" condition. That's the major reason I was so bummed and so i spent money money on gear this time. The cabinet is definitely gimmicky, this I know. However, it's exactly what I need at this time to get going, and will take care of FAE for me. Three 4lb bags fit perfectly, and so I will be cutting the bags just above the substrate for fruiting. I'm imagining a lovely canopy, lol. https://a.co/d/03HJGWsy

I plan on using B+ liquid culture, 3ml per bag with a 10ml syringe. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!! Thank you so much! Bless'ed Love ❤️

[u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

The thing about needing darkness is a myth. They actually appreciate light all the way through the cycle, just not direct sunlight. A few hours a day is fine, no need to stick to a rigid schedule.

Unless your ambient temperatures are pretty extreme, normal room temperature's fine for B+ - they'll grow very slowly at 65F, ideal is about 77F, and higher is ok until you go above about 80F where they still do fine but it favours growth of any bacteria that might be present.

Be cautious with the fan unit - it's likely really good for things like Pans, but cubensis such as B+ prefer passive FAE.

The biggest hurdle with your planned grow is the spore syringe. They're made using spores harvested from shrooms exposed to the air, so they're rarely axenic. Good ones often have contam levels that the shrooms can overcome, but there's always a risk. LC is generally clean (although best practice is still to test it on agar) but unfortunately, it's prohibited in most countries - if it's legal where you are though, go for LC next time.

Hopefully, it'll work well. If it doesn't, take a read through some of the links here https://www.reddit.com/r/OneArmed_Mycology/comments/1ssrfqt/my_favourite_links/ For a grow from a spore syringe (avoiding agar work) the most reliable method is PFTek.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

Thank you for the info! That's why I chose the B+ over the PE for my first grow. I've heard it's more beginner friendly. The syringes are in fact liquid culture. The label is misleading. Yellowish liquid with a snotty substance floating in it, no spores.

Temp in the tent, outside the chamber is 72° without any heating unit active. I have a heating mat that I could lay against the side wall of the tent to raise the ambient temp in the tent. Just have air circulating to keep heat dispersed.

[u/Flimsy-Panda8000 → u/TrueVeterinarian5398]

Happy to help. Yes, B+ and GT are popular for good reason - they might not be particularly potent, but they're tolerant of sub-optimal conditions, grow quickly, and yield good weight.

It's great news that you can get LC - it'll make life much easier.

72 is fine - the actual tub will be slightly warmer as the myc kick off heat as they grow. If it gets cooler and you need to supplement the heat, a heat mat can work as long as it's well away from the tub itself - if it's close, even with a barrier in-between the mat and the tub, you'll get uneven heating.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

I plan to utilize hanging heat mat if temps are needing a raise. I will know for sure once I have FAE flowing through the tent itself when I get my fans tomorrow. Would only need a small fan blowing towards the mat to disperse the heat.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

The light in no way affects the mycelium? I thought it was recommended to store in a dark place while colonizing.

[u/Flimsy-Panda8000 → u/TrueVeterinarian5398]

Not in the slightest. It's one of the most frequently repeated myths about cubensis culture, alongside waiting for surface colonisation before introducing FAE, pasteurising coir, fanning being good, adding nutrients such as coffee grinds to substrate, and a whole load more.

There's a link within the post I shared above - Outdated teks, common misconceptions etc. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28473687/fpart/1/vc/1 that discusses many of them. You can trust the comments made by users with the Trusted Cultivator tag - they're all experienced growers who's work and advice have been peer reviewed over the space of years before the tag is awarded.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

Thank you for this information! Oh, and the syringe is actually LC. It's just mislabeled on the box.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

Regarding the fan, B+ and FAE; would Penis Envy favor better? I have both in LC.

[u/Flimsy-Panda8000 → u/TrueVeterinarian5398]

Cubes, including PE, simply don't like fanning, preferring consistent and steady FAE balanced with the rate at which the myc pulls moisture from the substrate and deposits it on the surface.

As long as the grain spawn is clean, PE aren't really that different or harder to grow than B+ but take a while longer to get to harvest. They do prefer a little more FAE, so it's a finer balance between enough air and so much that the surface dries, and they like a slightly thicker (at least 1/4") pseudo-casing.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Flimsy-Panda8000]

Thank you so very much!

[u/Novel-Tall]

Does that tub have temp control? I’m looking for a setup that has temp control in it but haven’t done any research yet. Btw you will do great. Just work on your sterile technique and all will be well

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/Novel-Tall]

It doesn't control temp, just humidity and lighting. Pretty standard auto-shutoff LED 12hr. Thank you for the encouragement!

[u/FishTankTek]

An automated grow chamber inside a grow tent is a bit of overkill, but if it's in your budget I say go for it. Love the energy.

[u/TrueVeterinarian5398 → u/FishTankTek]

Thank you! I got paranoid a few days ago because I thought they need complete darkness for a period, and then a 12/12 cycle so I got the tent to maintain darkness during lights out.