So i innoculated a jar a few weeks ago and it got contaminated because for 1 i didnt use a PC but i have one now, and i think the second reason it got contam'd was from the damn water i think i used too much with the rye berries cuz they are clumping together as i check them in my sterile room and no ihavent innoculated this one yet im scared because there are wet and clumpy berry's someones advice please?

oh im using 1qt's 250 rye/ 180 water

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Das boot!

Dont use it. Youll get wetspot mold infection if you see water inside. Also dont do your rye that way. I dont not to sound dickish or mean but you need to soak simmer and drain off rye before PCing. Add some vermiculite to dry up standing water and some garden gypsum will keep PH stable and help keep it from sticking..., about 5% Gyp and just enuf verm to dry it all up...There will be plenty of moisture in that and not one clumped seed
they will rattle and fall around like theyre dry after being PCd this way but be assured they are fully at H20 capacity inside everytime...

Also I swear by pure Millet. It has 90-97% of the nutes Rye has, DOES not require simmering and is the same size as a small weed seed so you fit more nutes in a QT than Rye anyhow...they fit in better which makes their 3%-10% less nutes a moot point since there is overall less air and wasted space.

Millet is the yellow or red ovalish seed in wild bird seed. But in real WBS there is also cracked corn, sunflower seeds, thistle etc...which all suck and the Sflower seeds need removed. Just dont use it....get pure Millet soak in hot water until it stops making the water dirtier than weak tea, usually soak and drain several times at first itll look like coke water.
let soak for 24 hours or so, drain real good I mean really good...let stand a little on cookie sheet to dry a little, add same verm and gyp ratios and PC this instead....youll never go back to rye.

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SOn of a bitch i wish i wouldnt have innoculated but its ok 3rd times a charm lmao! i read that Cultivist guide the practical at home one, and i read about the gypsum just couldnt figure out when to mix it, do you know of a good procedure i can follow so i dont fuck this up again

Plus how do i check h20 capacity

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Das boot!

LOL...Lets pretend your Rye is done simmering or if you ever try milley its done soaking for 24 hours and is in clear water.

Get it to stop dripping by draining and have the surface of the grain dried off a little so its not soaked. all the water you need is in the grain now.
Add per quart of grain,
5%-10% gypsum, very little like a large pinch... if using granular grey gypsum like BB sized then a table sppon or so...
I like this kind because it helps keep things from sticking...and enough Vermiculite so there is no loose or standing moisture in the jar, prolly around a 1/4cup

After mixing this up fill jars no more than 2/3 full, half is good too. It will swell of course when PCd.

To see how wet your grain is pop a piece in your mouth and bite it. If it is soft all the way thru its saturated. If it feels like undone rice in the middle then it needs more soaking or simmering if using rye.

For checking moisture in your substrate just grab a hand full and squeeze it until the stream of water coming out slows down to a dripping effect...stop here this is field capacity. Field Capacity is the maximum amount of H20 your substrate can hold without dripping due to gravity. If it wass in a colander nothing would drip but if you squeezed it kinda hard a little would drip out. Once you see it youll know by looking most of the time...Good luck.

If you cant find Gypsum in your area this time of year due to winter you can use the white sheet rock or drywall. Just tear off the paper and scrape off the same amount I suggested.

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"You might defeat me, you might destroy me, but try as you might, you will never conquer me"!~
The law says when the car stops the wheels stop, you need a special permit for wheels like that.~
Awww, fresh cookies...I want you inside me!~