How to get crystal clear agar plates for mushroom cultivation
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- In this video we go into some of our tips and tricks for getting the clearest, best quality agar plates! For more information visit our website freshfromthefar... to purchase our cultures and other products visit our ETSY shop Freshfungi etsy.com/shop/f... MUSHLOVE
Gary's Recommended Mushroom Equipment and Gifts: www.amazon.com... Наука
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to watch how a real pro does it. Very impressive! And zero condensation! Thank you!
We all have a giant flow hood at home, thx for the tips
“look at how clear they are” Truth. Looked like nothing was in em ❤️
Thanks for the tip on removing condensation, I have been dealing with this issue with mine
Gotta say, I love your technique and the way you clearly break it down in your videos. Keep it up and thank you!
love your precision & briefings
I just found your channel, looking forward to seeing everything you've posted so far and what else you come out with.
New subscriber here, much love!
My god man the grammar PHDs are always out poking their virtual wieners into everything, all I want to know is….”How the fk do I do it right so my agar doesn’t look like chocolate pudding”… and this guy solved that issue for me perfectly.
Thanks man! 💪🏽
Thank you for the tip. Last time i did my agar i let it cool to just under 50°C and after it cooled i used it straight away and got some condensation. Next time i will leave them out a few days like you have, hopefully that gets rid of my condensation problem
ruclips.net/video/R4BQTRrGMdU/видео.html
I enjoy your simple technique on important areas of mycology.
My laser thermometer has been sitting in a box all this time and I didn't even think of using it for my shrooming
Thanks
Thank you very much for all this we appreciate you 💯
Hey Gary, do you use any amendments into your agar like light malt extract, peptone, or yeast?
Yeah, without a recipe this video kind of fails at what it claims to be doing.
@@JuryDutySummonsI’m looking for the recipe in the comments as well, the video doesn’t say it.
Those look great. I get condensation on mine. Maybe this will help with that
**Stacking your dishes after you pour, as he did in this video, helps eliminate some condensation.
ruclips.net/video/R4BQTRrGMdU/видео.html
watch this one - it explains condensation
I pour my agar in a stack at about 120F, and still get condensation on the top and bottom third of the stack, middle third is clear. Need a method to slow down cooling in my still air box. Maybe add a heater?
I have that same tool! Got at costco from one of those product demonstrations!
ahhh that's awesome! We got it as a gift but probably the most used "as seen on tv" product I ever had - game changer : )
So good to know - thanks for this video!
The holy grail of plates
just ordered petri dishes, I use small glass jars and oyster mushrooms don't mind them but your petri dishes look so much better :)
Jars work well but they have a lot of volume for the amount of cultures I use so petri dishes are a big space saver 👍🙂
Great video! Would you ever recommend using reusable dishes?
yes in small quantities they work great 👍
i've seen a lot of people wrap their bottle in foil before sterilizing, it's nice to see it's not necesary !
Yeah I never understood that. The only thing that makes sense to me is to protect FAE ports on jar lids, but they usually say they're autoclavable too, so who knows. Maybe a throwback to the days when people were using polyfill?
Loved the video man. So is there a correct way to pronounce Agar? Because I've heard at least three different ways.
Been wondering the same thing!!! I've always said "AY-gar" all my life and assumed that was what everyone said too.
Then hearing/watching mycology videos recently, I've also heard:
• "AH-gur"
• "ah-GAR"
• I think I've heard another way but can't remember it
So does that mean you didn't put parafilm on them while they cool? For a startup that cant keep something in front of a flow hood, what do you recommend?
With how you pouring them plates I’m in shock
May I ask what dishes you use and where you purchase them from?
amzn.to/3lNzHkF I have used these before and like them - you might need to source bulk if you are doing a lot but you can test them first
Assuming these are similar to agar plates for bacteria, a few suggestions from my days in the lab
You can dissolve your agar mixture in a sterilized Erlenmeyer flask in the microwave. Way easier to maintain sterility than in a pot on the stove with a huge opening. Just make sure the flask you use is like 2x bigger than the volume of agar mixture, because it'll boil over easily. Watch it constantly, mix frequently (each time it starts to bubble, pause the microwave and swirl to mix), and use a secondary container (like a deep plate underneath) in case you mess up and it boils over. Way faster than the stovetop and less dishes/utensils to sterilize/clean. I think you could probably use those 500ml bottles in the microwave too
Use a torch to get rid of bubbles in the plate before it starts to solidify. A Bunsen burner or a regular handheld butane kitchen torch (like for creme brulee). The best way is to first lay out all your empty plates (not in a stack), pour all, then pass the torch over the surface of the whole lot (quickly so that you don't melt the plastic dishes). Put the tops on half-cocked with a gap, to let the excess condensation escape, until they cool.
Store and incubate your plates upside down. Any leftover condensation will settle onto the lid (which is now on the bottom), rather than the surface of your agar.
If you feel stressed and can't pour all the agar at once, you can put the flask of dissolved agar in a 55C water bath (or sous vide, which is pretty much the same thing). It'll keep it from solidifying while you collect yourself. Use a weight around the neck of the bottle/flask to keep it from floating up in the water bath
The pot he is using is a pressure cooker, which is not open. It is also way easier and more professional to sterilize in one of those rather than in a microwave.
He is stacking his plates to prevent condensation completely.
@@iyisusi9506 Using a microwave is a perfect solution for remelting the agar. So you can prepare a big batch when you autoclave, shut the bottles after. Then when you need plates shortly melt the agar in the microwave (as Alexei described, open the lid slightly to not build a bomb), let it cool to touch (with swirling) and pour some plates. Storing a closed bottle of agar is way easier than storing the 100 plates.
I also tried preparing agar plates completely in the microwave as Alexei described. The heat was enough to get them contaminant-free, but that is the quick and dirty solution.
Also another tip for getting non-contaminated plates: Turn them around after they solidified.
Are they wrapped in parafilm while they are in the hood for a few days? Or no to let some condensation out?
I let them sit for a few days without wrapping first yes
Great info, thanks Gary!!
Amazing, after 3-4 days, they don't dry out????? Is that a top-down hood? And what is the CFM? Also, thank you so much for posting your knowledge and sharing your journey!!!!
For about two month i've been trying to make agar and liquid culture but, how much i try i just can't grow mycelium in my agar dish. I try to do exactly as you do, but the tissue culture i put in the dish just dried up and doesn't grow at all. In liquid culture also its the same, it doesn't from any mycelium. But if i put a piece of wheat from the spawn into my agar dish it grows nicely.
Will it be okay to use a grain from the spawn in petri dish?
Yes! Check out my 🔌 for the best psychedelics and sorghum agar plates
el_chapomillz
How do people make the diff colored petri plates? Just food coloring?
yes 👍
Cool. Thanks!
Don't the plates dry up if you do that all weekend?
no it takes much longer
Check out the best 🔌 for info on sorghum agar plate and all psychedelics
He’s on instagram
el_chapomillz
4:05 AHA! You have MPOW earphones! They served me well for approx 3 years )
So what do u use for colors ? Food coloring ?
The agar has its color check out my 🔌 on instagram for info
He’s on instagram¿¿
el_chapomillz
Been working on this with my partner. Partner keeps skipping steps and I can’t figure out why.
need to be patient and get it down first then try to see how to save time 👍
Fresh from the Farm Fungi LLC Huh…. I never really think of him as impatient but yeah you might be right there. I guess he does get a certain type of impatient with the prep work.
Ahhhh… yeah he says you’re right. He’s trying to save time before he’s got to the point he can figure that out. I must help him chill more then. Heheh 🙃
Hey, can you tell me what brand food coloring you use?
Liquid gel dye can be used check out my best 🔌 for info
He’s on instagram ¿¿
el_chapomillz store
Do you have a video on how to clean culture from bacteria? For example if you have contaminated petri dish, is there any way to clean mycelium from bacteria? Is gentamicin toxic to mycelium?
here ya go! ruclips.net/video/5eexS-KoEMw/видео.htmlsi=n8v7Uv5hCsX45jHy
Yeah....agar recipe or which agar did you use?
Great video!
Gary! First off, love the vids. Im still pretty new to Mycology but i definitely feel like i found a real passion here. So im curious, for someone with less then 2 years of exp. (And a cert. In horticulture) how hard of a time would i have getting into this industry? It seems like there's a lot of labs mostly in your area. I'm about an hour's drive north of you. I guess the question is, are there labs that would hire someone with that little experience/schooling? Or even do like internship type deal where id just be able to learn more first hand?
I ordered the Criterion malt extract agar. How much of that should I use for 500ml?
it should say on the bottle per L just divide it by 2
I got the best 🔌 for sorghum agar and other psychedelics
el_chapomillz
My pours are pretty clear but I have terrible condensation problems. So much that I store them upside down. I didn't see any on yours at any point. How?
ruclips.net/video/R4BQTRrGMdU/видео.htmlsi=_4cZy-PdTq8MEaCA
Thank you so much for the tips!What is your recipe? i can’t get LME agar to get that clear.
Really enjoy your vids, they help answer quite a bit of my question, I was just curious how long you typically cook/boil your agar for things to dissolve? A simple MEA for example
The quick dissolve premix takes about 2 minutes but the regular agar MEA takes about 6 minutes or so - just until it looks viscous and clear
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Thank you!
Thank you for the pro tip Gary, I’ve been waiting for this one...I was skipping the pre cook melt and cool down. Any agar recipes you can share to help make those beautiful plates?
We use MEA, PDA, BCYA, DRBC and Water Agar - if you look in Peter McCoy’s book Radical Mycology there is a ton of recipes they are all pretty standard but I think it’s best to rotate between a few different kinds to keep the mycelium healthy 🙂🍄❤️
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi sorry but that's a lot of acronyms 😳 and I thought myself familiar with the process somewhat 🤦
I too was curious on the exact recipe do you use liquid malt extract? Is anything in powder form like do you use nutritional yeast?
I'm super impressed with your plates FRFR ty for the video I will sub
Could you do me a solid amd ask your mother-in-law where she got you that spinny stirrer, it does look a fabulous little tool 👌🏼Xx
But butt whatt is the name for that Agar mixer lool ? How can i find one ??? That is awesomee
I found a place that sells them.
What’s the recipe? And how do I limit condensation in my plates? It’s really getting frustrating? I’ve been told about the stack tip. But sometimes I’ll hit the agar with a mss and idk if there is too much liquid from the spore syringe going on the plate and then making condensation or if it’s the weather inside my home. Idk. Help needed!!!
heat up the room it may help - then try pouring when it’s cooler (125ish)
I got the best 🔌 for sorghum agar and other psychedelics
el_chapomillz store
He’s on instagram ¿¿¿
Thanks for sharing your experience, is there a reason why nobody uses Cristal petri,s anymore?
if you are referring to the glass ones - they are a little pricey and cleaning is time consuming when doing larger scales like this. for a hobbyist I recommend glass though
a little agar boiled over and made my pressure cooker into jelly not bad enough to cause issues, just an odd cleaning experience.
I don’t get what is happening to my Agar. I use 400ml of water, 8g of Agar, 8g of Light Malt Extract and I mix it in very hot water until its visibly dissolved. Then come back 5 mins later after pouring it into my bottle and its separated?! What gives? Why is it doing this? Surly it should stay clear right?
try a better quality malt it may not be dissolving completely
Thanks Gary!
I assume your using liquid malt extract but do you use any other "food" in the mix? I'm incredibly impressed could you post the EXACT recipe? Mine always come out cloudy but they work 🤟 thinking a simple liquid light malt extract with sugar water n agar might work out pretty clear but wld that recipe produce?
I really thought this would have a great recipe for getting coear plates.
the recipe is 24g agar/L 12g malt extract I thought it was a given.
How would I assume a recipe that isn't mentioned? Honest question. I use 800ml water 20g agar, 20g light malt extract and 2g nutritional yeast as of now. That recently changed. I'm honestly not sure how I could guess your ratio.
How do you deal with agar plates that simply wont stop getting condensation on them?
this is probably a temperature thing - make sure you keep temps stable even a simple cooler should help
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi I haven't been able to make my own agar as yet so have been relying on pre made plates. I have built an incubator though. Do you think that placing the freshly received plates upside down in the incubator for a few days might help? Prior to working with them, the problem we have had here is the summer temps have been more like a constant autumn and far from stable.
very helpful thanks. :) do you keep flow hood turned on the few or so that you let them sit?
That flowhood/clean desk you have there must have cost an absolute fortune!!!
here’s the link for the table: amzn.to/3LZeZWi The flowhood: www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwisyJ_5wZP3AhVnDq0GHbKMAFIYABAJGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESa-D2A0GGj2Mw2awLlV_92GbJT2PqkB49okvjIKK4s-4f-ofllmB2GVdRLTPXmLx93X065MStHXq9E-WeWo4r1LMMYl2T_xmCRnWnx6btfJ2HfPLz97ZK86rqU8vw5bskpI0kCPMXligb6Y8H&sig=AOD64_2SFJkbc88WyobhYv1sbNyIngTsAw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiZz5L5wZP3AhUdJzQIHaFbAUEQwg96BAgBEAs&adurl= the whole setup was about $3k total with shipping
What recipe gives clearer results? Are brewers yeast agar mixes supposedly always clouded? Thanks for the work.
it’s the lab grade agar that makes it clear - check our amazon affiliate but brewers yeast may lead to cloudiness you can try filtering but then why just not get higher quality to start with
Check out the best 🔌 for more info on sorghum agar recipe and other psychedelics
He’s on instagram¿¿
el_chapomillz store
Can we use honey in petri dish?
yes it tends to caramelize but it would work
I got the best 🔌 for sorghum agar and other psychedelics
He’s on instagram
el_chapomillz
How do you make the magenta color? it was in the beginning of the video
it’s from the DRBC (rosebengal dye) it is a differentiation media for yeast
What do you think - maybe it’s better to immediately pour the mixture into cups and put it in a pressure cooker for sterilization, so in my opinion there is less risk of contamination?
it won’t work with these plates since they are pre-sterilized this is the standard method .- you can do that with glass dishes though
great video. any idea on which petri dish to use? what material should it be made from?
Borosilicate glass
Gary if you see this: is it okay if I use brown-glass morphine bottles to sterilize my agar in? I have a lot of used bottles (long term illness) and they seem perfect for the job if they can be cleaned to standard. (I assume the smaller ones would be no good for slants?)
They do have child proof caps though and I don’t know what that means yet like if I can autoclave them on loose or not at all. I have quite a few PP containers too but they’ve all had medicine in them of varying types. Obviously I don’t want cross contam but is reusing these containers feasible?
Love the videos. You’re the best on actually showing the lab work and teaching those of us who never got to attend classes.
as long as they can fit in the pressure cooker, are clean and safe and if you put some foil on top as a cap they should be fine 👍🙂 I started by pouring agar through old salsa jars, and ball jars before I could afford pyrex media bottles - just use what you have and upgrade over time 🤓🍄❤️
Fresh from the Farm Fungi LLC That’s great, thanks very much. There’s something strange about growing medicine with my old medicine bottles. Even weirder that doctors never knew to suggest eating healing food for neurological pain. Crazy.
whats your agar recipe for fast mycelium growth?
PDA or MEA
For more info on Sorghum agar recipe I got the best 🔌 and other psychedelics
He’s on instagram¿¿
el_chapomillz store
hey great technique, I'm having a problem using ordinary agar which is all I can source for the time being, but its gelling almost as soon as I mix it? and after heating and sterilizing it is 50% gelled, is it the agar or the mix in your opinion
I made my first at home agar last night. I’m letting them sit now like you did. They have all solidified but some have a it of extra liquid in them on the top. Guessing from initial condensation? Is that going to be okay? Will it evaporate over the next few days and if it does not do I just leave it in there and still use it?
it will be fine but it will dry out if you let it sit for a few days and I think that’s best because if there is any contam it will reveal itself after a few days so you can remove any botched dishes before using them 👍
Im a tip lover! Thanks for this video
Can you reuse those plates and pour them again? How would you get them sterile?
no these are one time use. they make glass ones that are re-usable but it is a different procedure to prepare those. I might do a video
I got the best 🔌 for sorghum agar plate and all psychedelics
He’s on instagram ¿¿
el_chapomillz store
Hi Gary…what is your clear agar recipe THANKS!
I love your mixer. That should be mandatory to every mycologist HAHAHAHA😅
still kicking 7 years in!
Thats looks greate! What's your recipe for agar ingredients? you don't stick them on parafilm right after spilling them? how long are you waiting with this?
this is the brand I use amzn.to/38X6cGF I don’t parafilm until after they are cooled and it usually takes overnight with the hood running 👍
That is some damn good looking agar. I’m just too scared to use a PC
Why? I think just about all of them come with a pressure vent that will pop out if pressure gets too high before anything explodes
Hi, great job. I am learning. Need to know why pressure cooker and not any simple boiling pot?
And how long can you stock the Petri dishes with agar in them? Cheers!
pressure cooker gets up to 250F/15PSI which boiling only reaches about 205F here - It is necessary to sterilize. Plates will last 5-6 months but best to use fresh within a few weeks
How do you clean plastic petri dishes? Any good method so they are again clean and completly dry stacked one on another ?
soak them in bleach water, then rinse with sterile water 👍 they will never be completely sterile again unless you have an irradiation machine
Did you leave the flow hood on for all four days? Or just while you were standing near the plates?
I leave them on all the time
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Dang, that's a lot of noise and electricity 😅
What is the brand and model of that flow hood? Seems nice to work with. Thank you for all of the tips ✌️🍄❤️
it’s a flow-48 by air science! thanks I love it 🙂
Can you share your Agar recipe? I couldn't find a video on your page where you discuss your recipe. :) Thanks in advance!!!
13 g agar, 20g malt extract, 20 g dextrose, 2.25g peptone per L
What is the name of that tool you used
I found a place that sells them.
May I ask what your recipe is? I think I’m adding too much nutrient or agar as after 10 mins of boiling and mixing it’s still cloudy and when put into the jar I can see things falling out of solution.
try getting lab grade agar it should dissolve well
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi it turned out being a skill issue, I finally got some crystal MEA plates poured. You’re the man, thanks! Btw, if one doesn’t have a laminar flow setup to leave plates over the weekend in, just a SAB, is there anything that can be done to dry the condensation out of the plates without risk of contam?
@@BigfootPrinting yes , it’s all about temperature differential, so try warming up the SAB or placing in a warm room - when the plates cool they are hotter than the air around them which makes the water condense on the lids. You can even try pre-warming the plates somehow - hope that helps!
do you close them with with Parafilm during the 3 to 4 days before inoculation ?
no I usually seal them back up with the sterile sleeves that they come in until I use them 👍
He sells Psychedelics, also have Shrooms, Spores Syringe, Micro-dose, Dmt, Lsd, Valium, Grow kits, and lots more 👽 he could direct too.
Feelgrabz,,,
Reach him via his Instagram handle,,,,
Or Telegram,,
No need to unscrew the lids, the bottle won’t blow if their tight but May blow off if not tightened fully
in my experience this is incorrect. I have poured thousands of plates but maybe I am wrong.
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi I used to leave mine loose & had a couple blown off. Now, I assure you, hand on heart, I always leave them tight & dozens of pours later, have not exploded a media bottle.
If I don’t have my lid unscrewed sometimes….all kinds of wild shit could happen…. This guy made some award winning looking stuff there… just got a new sub.
@@JHobartMusic72 I have the highest respect for Gary, that said, I’ve never blown up a media bottle after dozens of pours; they are in this regard bomb proof.
Hi Gary! Do you have any tools that you like for cleaning your media jars? I find it hard to reach the bottom of the bottle
yes in fact I just got a fresh pack of these amzn.to/3YEgFe1
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thank you Gary! I wanted to ask you. How do you keep track of the cultures you are breeding? Is a spreadsheet with different parameters the best way to go about it?
Thank you for all the great content you put out here!
Throw jar in microwave or boil again. Rinse hot agar out with hot water
Love your vids, man. When you're letting them rest for the QC in the flow hood, is the hood running the whole time? Thanks
yes it runs continuously 👍
Could I leave them in my still airbox instead of a flow hood? I don't see that being too big an issue. Just starting to get into agar. Been doing multispore then g2g for 6 months but it's way to tedious and time consuming for my desired production.
yes it will work as long as
they were poured correctly 👍❤️🍄
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Should the arm holes be sealed while they sit? Will humidity/moisture be a problem, since the SAB needs to be sprayed prior to pouring?
Is that a verticle flow hood? Does it have intake vents at the bottom? I've seen so many people say vertical flow without intake vents won't work because it doesn't create laminar flow. I always thought that was BS and it would work fine. After all I work in front of a box fan with two merv13 filters taped to it and I have very little contamination.
intake vents are for safety cabinets the intake is in the top and then there is a chamber that builds pressure and passes through the HEPA
Why use those media bottles? Can't we use mason jars?
Ok. That's because it's better for pouring. Moving along.
yes Ive used both
did you leave the floowhood running over the weekend while they were drying?
yes they are always on
Gary ma maan! Big up! What petri dishes do you buy , there are like a million ones to choose from.
I just get whatever is cheapest at the time they are all relatively the same - my favorite are falcon though they are hard to find but primo quality for the price 👌
Thank you so much for sharing...much appreciated! I've liked and subscribed :). 3 questions please. I don't have a flow hood unfortunately but if I leave the plates out at room temperature for 72 hours (in a still air box), what signs am I looking for with regards to contamination before inoculating? If I have excess agar plates, how do I store them and how long will they last? Thanks a milliion 😀
Cool I will do a video on this! Thanks and MUSHLOVE
Dude totally blew your questions off....check out 90 second mycology or Philly Golden teacher. But from experience I think 3 days is to early to really see any contam just be as clean and sterile as you can. Good luck
And oh yeah I've had nutrient agar last a year in my fridge
@@georgedeschler1514 Champion!!! Thanks heaps George 👍
I'll answer it no worries, You don't wanna keep them open for 72 hours in SAB, the best thing to do is to cool it down to 130f like garry said and let it set for 15-20 mins and wrap it with parafilm or make a group of 5 and wrap them with shrink wrap or cling wrap, make sure you cover the bottom of the bottom plates too and for condensation use a coffee mug with hot water and place it on the top. You should store these in room temps and will easily last a month.
Did you turn on your flow hood for the whole time while you keep them there ?
yes 👍
May i know the bottle you used for sterilisation? Any glass bottles can autoclaved?
It’s a pyrex media bottle - most glass can be used yes but pyrex is heat treated so it holds up over many uses
What's your agar recipe? Are you JUST using agar and corn syrup?
I use 14g agar, 24g malt extract for the nutrient base or else 14g agar and 12g potato flakes, 12g sucrose (14g agar, 24g nutrients whatever is available)
To how much water? And thanks!
What is the name of that tool you used?
I got it as a gift I think it’s a wisk
I found a place that sells them.
What products do you use for your agar plates and quantities of each product?
look at our amazon store we use premixed lab grade agar
Can you post a link for your flow hood you’re using? Thank you.
they don’t make the exact model anymore but it’s an Airscience flow hood (4’ double filter)
how do you clean you petri dish sir?
we buy them sterile
For sure bro... do you ever sterilize the plastic plate for your own production?
They come already pre sterilized when you buy them, in sterile bags.
we buy them pre-sterilized - If I had my own irradiation machine I would do my own for now I let the big manufacturers do it 👍🍄❤️
How do you deal with condensation? Any safe ways to get rid of it?
ruclips.net/video/R4BQTRrGMdU/видео.html
what size was that cabinet? also may I ask where you purchased it?
4’ air science cabinet 👍
What's the recipe that you use for this crystal clear Agar plates
We use this brand. Just mix and cook amzn.to/3X8Mawd
@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Thank you. Unfortunately, no longer available.
I've seen you response to your ingredients. How much water? 1 liter?
yes 1L
Legend.