FAQs
FAQ’s
Q,There seems to be a lot of moisture in my AIOB and the grains appear mushy. Is this bag still good/okay to use?
A. With every shipment we include an insert called “Quick Tips for Success”. There is a paragraph in red ink that explains this. It reads:
The contents of your AIOB may have shifted during shipping. Gently massage rye grain layer to redistribute and even out the moisture content. For best results, allow bags to rest for 24-48 hours before inoculating and use within 30 days. Perishable, use as soon as possible!
If your grain is discolored pink and or green, however, it is likely contamination. If that is the case, please take pictures and send them to us at orders@mycology-supply.com . All claims must be made within (4) days of receiving your order. Anything past the 4-day mark will be denied a replacement or refund.
Q. My bag(s) arrived split (or has a hole), can I still use it?
A. We do not recommend using a compromised bag. Holes or tears where air can get in allow for contamination.We autoclave (sterilize) every bag that leaves the facility so the bags are fresh when they ship. If you have a compromised bag, take a picture of damage and send it to us at orders@mycology-supply.com . All claims must be made within 4 days of receiving your order. Anything past the (4) day mark will be denied replacement or refund as per our policy on perishable items.
If the Post Office or UPS has damaged the package causing the contents to spill, please document this evidence as we will make a postal claim to recoup the loss on our end as well.
Q. I just received my All In One bag(s) and I’ve never done this before, what do I do?
A. We have several online resources to help you through this process. Here is a video of the business owner Cary demonstrating how to properly use our All-in-one bags: https://youtu.be/4ni7kaVb_IA
Included with your shipment is a handout/flyer titled "Quick Tips for Success". The early life cycle of mushrooms are delicate and prone to contamination. This guide offers some quick tips to maximize the performance of your all-in-one-bag(s).
Q. I injected my bags and they look good but now there's green/black mold growing. What went wrong?
A. Any number of things can go wrong in the inoculation process. Unfortunately, once you pierce a bag with a needle, it is no longer under warranty. Here are some tips to help you avoid this result in the future:
- Contamination is the lead cause of failure when growing mushroom. Incorrect sterilization is the lead cause of contamination. You must treat all equipment, work surfaces, containers and gloves with alcohol before any work commences.
- While working with liquid cultures flame treat the syringe needle after every penetration, same goes with the scalpel when you are using Agar.
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Slow and steady wins the race.
First-time mushroom growers are always eager to get to the finished product. Mushroom Growing can be a meticulous and thorough process that you should not rush.
Incomplete preparations or not following and sticking to one chosen technique will lead to a higher risk of contamination.
Trying to rush each stage will also lead to a high failure rate. Always allow your substrate to completely cool before inoculation. Be sure that Mycelium has fully colonized your substrate before starting the fruiting stage.
- Cutting corners will not lead to satisfying results:
There is often a temptation to cut corners in order to save costs. There is no justification for this when growing mushrooms. The cost of production is so low, to begin with, that it is worth investing fully into the right equipment from the start to increase your success.
If you try to grow too much, too soon and don’t have the right equipment to deal with the workflow, you will quickly become overwhelmed.
- Check the environment you are growing in:
The wrong environment will quickly lead to failures. It is very important to always check the requirements for each different strain of mushrooms that you grow.
Mushrooms grow in a multitude of habitats around the world, so each one requires separate attention. Most critical aspects are:
- Air and ground temperatures
- Humidity
- Light conditions
- Fresh air exchange
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Thermogenesis happens when the mycelium is decomposing organic matter. Like compost piles, the mushroom substrate will start generating its own heat.
There is a possibility that the temperature in your substrate will become higher than the air temperature in the room. If your fruiting room is running at the optimum temperature, then your substrate could rise above it and cook the Mycelium. This could mean that your mycelium will get cooked and die.
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Other things to look for:
There are some mistakes that can only be avoided with experience that you gain by cultivating your own mushrooms. Here are some of the common things that will dramatically increase your success rate:
- Learn how the early signs of contamination look like. It will save you time and money. As soon as contamination is spotted the contaminated item should be completely removed from the growing area.
- Usage of a substrate that is too wet or too dry is a common mistake. It should be damp but not wet, with a gentle squeeze enough to release a few drops of excess water. With All-In-One-Bags, redistribute the moisture in the grains into the substrate to even it out.
- Label your jars and samples with species, date and batch number to avoid confusion.
- Always stick to the technique you started with.
- When working with spores it is important to ventilate the work-space once finished and samples are secure.
Q. Can I transfer my all-in-one-bag to a Monotub?
https://mycology-supply.com/pages/how-to-grow-in-a-monotub
We have other helpful videos to guide your mushroom growing adventure located on our website under the “Learning” tab.
Q. I ordered a Model 1 Laminar flow hood, and it doesn’t seem to be pushing very much air. Is it working correctly?
A. Yes. The Laminar flow hoods are designed to create a laminar flow. They are tested to push 100’ per minute. The interior fan is pushing air through the pre-filter and filter.
The flow hood is not designed to work like a fan, it’s simply meant to create positive air pressure through a HEPA filter to your workspace.
Our owner stands behind this product and encourages its use.
If you still feel your flow hood is not working properly, you are welcome to ship it to us at your own expense. We will test the flow hood. If it is indeed malfunctioning, we will replace it and refund your shipping expenses.
If the unit works as intended you will be responsible for shipping the item back to yourself.
Q. How does the Model 2 Bio Hood work?
Q. Why is there a Model 2 and a Model 2 “Base Only”, what is the difference?
A. The Model 2 is a Bio hood that comes with a Model 1 to create Top-Down Laminar air flow.The Model 2 “Base Only” is the Bio-Hood WITHOUT the Model 1.
Ordering the “Base Only” option assumes that you already own a model 1. Without the Model 1, you will have no air flow in the bio hood. Be sure if you are ordering the “Base Only” that you already have the Model 1, otherwise you will need to purchase the full Model 2.
Q. Where is my order?
We send a shipping/tracking number to your email when your order is processed and ready to ship. Be sure to check your junk email folder as sometimes our communications can sometimes end up there. If you still have concerns you can contact us orders@mycology-supply.com Please have your order# handy as that is the easiest way for us to locate your order quickly.
If you have ordered a 55 Gallon Steamer Barrel, a PID Controller, a Flow Hood, or some other item that is built-to-order, there are different lead times. Flow Hoods take about 2 weeks to build and are subject to delays depending on availability of parts and workload queue.
Barrels are similar except that they require FREIGHT shipping. Freight rates change daily, so we do not quote shipping until the unit is built. There is only one builder and he builds them by hand and assembles the PID controller himself. This can make a barrel take anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 depending on the builders workload and the availability of parts.
Q. The product says, “Free Shipping”. Why am I being charged for shipping?
If you are in the CONUS and are still being charged, it could be a glitch. Please contact us orders@mycology-supply.com and we will try to fix the issue.