Mixing the MSC SUBSTRATE MIX
One Large Course Grade Vermiculite (Large Bag)
One Small Fine Grade Vermiculite (Small Bag)
One Small White Bag of MSC Substrate Mix (If Applicable)
One Dozen 1/2-pint, WIDE MOUTH Mason Jars
First...prepare the 1/2-pint, WIDE MOUTH mason jars.
Drill at least 2 holes in the lid (drill on just a sharp nail will do) one hole across from the other. Although, I prefer 4 holes in mine...1/4 cc in each hole during inoculation. Now cover the holes with 2 pieces of masking tape each. |
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This is done so you can lift the tape and inject spores into the jar after sterilizing. Then place the tape back onto the lid immediately thereafter. ALL SHOULD BE DONE IN A GLOVE BOX! |
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Now you need to mix and sterilize your SUBSTRATE MIX!
Unpack your substrate mix. Notice the white powder mixed throughout the large bag of Vermiculite. Sometimes this white powder comes in a separate baggie. If that is the case then just mix it along with the large bag of Vermiculite and place it into a large container for mixing.
Add 3 cups Spring Water and mix theroually.
Fluff the mix as much as possible and gently scoop some out. Fill the substrate mix up to the level you see below.
Open the 2nd bag Small Fine Grade Vermiculite and fill until it is level with the lip of the jar and wipe the rim with a clean cloth or paper-towel.
Place the lid and but do NOT tighten down! Just slowly turn the lid until you feel it starting to tighten...then STOP!
Sterilization
The jars should be sterilized in a pressure cooker or autoclave, a normal pot will NOT suffice. First a layer of water is poured into the cooker. The jars are placed in the pressure cooker making sure that the lids are loose!
Make sure you read over the directions of your new Pressure Cooker. You are to add 3/4" of water to the bottom of the Pressure Cooker BEFORE adding the jars. The bottom line is that you should have NO MORE THAN 2 inches of water AFTER the jars are sitting on the bottom of the pressure cooker.
Put the jars into the pressure cooker and set it to 15psi (or highest setting available) for 60 minutes and allow the pressure to build within the cooker until the regulator begins to shake. Adjust the temperature of the stove isle until the Pressure Cookers' Regulator shakes for a few seconds... every 30 seconds. At this point you should start counting down the minutes mentioned below.
15 psi = 75 minutes
After the allotted time has passed, turn the stove isle off to allow the pressure inside the cooker to return to normal. Take the Regulator Gauge off of the lid and replace it with a small 91% alcohol soaked paper towel ASAP! This will filter the air entering the Pressure Cookers' hole therefore protecting the jars from any possible airborne contaminates.
- Allow the jars to cool for one hour before opening up the lid of the Pressure Cooker.
- Take out the Substrate Jars and place them BACK into the original box that the jars were shipped within.
- Spray each of the jar lids with Lysol and place the original piece of cardboard back on top of the jars and close-up the the box top.
- Allow the Substrate Jars to cool for an additional 6 hours, or overnight, BEFORE going on to the next step.
All substrate jars that have been sterilized MUST be inoculated within 48 hours or kept in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks!
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