BugOnABender
L2
I'm currently making flake soil and opened the bin to see this today. I dont think its a big problem but I thought I should check with everyone out there. So much mycelium...
Mycelium in Flake soil
- Thread starter BugOnABender
- Start date
JKim
Mecynorrhina
Couple things you need to know: (1) threadlike white things that you should see when fermentation starts are "hyphae," that is different from mycelium activities, much more snowflakes like... (images attached below); (2) those white things kind of looking grouped together to make a ball... is probably a fruiting part of fungus. This means your substrate has been completely dominated by certain species of fungus, and not doing well for fermentation of substrate (or flake soil) to feed your scarab beetles.
At this moment, I would just completely dry it out and re do it from the start. Yes, it is big problem. Seeing fruiting parts means your substrate has been dominated by fungus. Plants bear fruit when it is completely developed with branches, leaves, flowers, then fruit, right? Think about it same way for fungus too.
Click following for images: hyphae
At this moment, I would just completely dry it out and re do it from the start. Yes, it is big problem. Seeing fruiting parts means your substrate has been dominated by fungus. Plants bear fruit when it is completely developed with branches, leaves, flowers, then fruit, right? Think about it same way for fungus too.
Click following for images: hyphae
BugOnABender
L2
Dang, it seemed like it was doing so well. How do you think this could have happened? It was very delicate and spongey...ish. It smells very earthy like good potting soil.
JKim
Mecynorrhina
Your container, is that compost bin that rolls? It has bunch of holes here and there, and if you kept it outside, there is high chance fungal mycelium got into it. Even if you keep it indoor, it is impossible to keep fungi out, but if you placed it outside, then... yea.. it can be preyed pretty easily. I keep all my substrate in progress in my garage, with filters on container. Small amount is okay, as microorganisms can dominate them over.
BugOnABender
L2
Its in a composter, in a grow tent with heat, in my house. It gets too cold where I live to effectively make flake soil outside.
Did you tumble it often? Looks like the bin rolls.
BugOnABender
L2
Every 2 days at the least.
I currently have a big ol dehumidifier situated to pull moisture out of it. After some research it appears what I have is a white slime mold of sorts. Its super fast moving. I can mix it and come back in a couple hours and it will be forming at the surface again. Its crazy. From what I saw it feeds of or bacteria and yeast in the flake. No idea where it could have come from.
I currently have a big ol dehumidifier situated to pull moisture out of it. After some research it appears what I have is a white slime mold of sorts. Its super fast moving. I can mix it and come back in a couple hours and it will be forming at the surface again. Its crazy. From what I saw it feeds of or bacteria and yeast in the flake. No idea where it could have come from.
BugOnABender
L2
My guess is I had it a little too wet.
It seems with a lid on it there is not enough airflow. I would start a new batch and mix it every day, even two times a day if you could.
BugOnABender
L2
I think that should be easy enough. I usually do it once a day but I can try twice.
Good luck! You got this.
BugOnABender
L2
Thank you, I appreciate it.
