How long do sterilized oats last?

Ceres bags of sterilized oats can last up to two months. However, we recommend waiting no more than a couple of weeks before inoculating.

How should I store sterile substrates?

Sterile substrates should be stored in a clean place at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. The bags should be kept upright, with the filter facing up. Make sure there is no substrate or grain in contact with the filter, and that there is ample space between the two. Having organic material in contact with the filter encourages contaminants to enter.

How much liquid culture/spore solution should I inject into the bag of oats?

2-4 ml of solution is sufficient. Although liquid culture can be used, up to 10 ml can be used to accelerate colonization. Be sure to test your liquid culture or spore solution on agar to ensure it is free of contaminants.

After inoculation, how should I store the substrates?

Store inoculated substrates and grains upright with the filter facing up, at temperatures around 25C, away from direct sunlight, preferably in the dark.

How long does it take for my substrate to be fully colonized?

Colonization times depend on many factors. Growth will be slower in colder temperatures and faster in higher temperatures. Colonization speed depends primarily on the species and variety being grown.

How do I grow from spores?

Cultivation from spores is usually a more complicated and advanced process than cultivation with liquid culture. This is even more true if the spores are on spore prints rather than in a spore syringe. Since the sterility of the spores cannot be guaranteed, injecting spore liquid directly into liquid culture or onto grain is a risky procedure that doesn't guarantee successful cultivation. This is because you don't know if you're also injecting contaminants present in the spore liquid. Many people have success using this technique, but it's important to keep in mind that success isn't always guaranteed.

The most appropriate procedure would be to first germinate the spores on agar plates to check for the presence of contaminants. Working with agar, however, requires working in a sterile environment and a basic knowledge of sterile technique. Many have found success performing these procedures in a SAB. Once the spores have germinated on agar and the presence of only mycelium has been verified, small pieces of agar should be removed and used to inoculate a jar of liquid culture or a bag of grains .

I used spore syringes to inoculate your bags of Ceres oats; some were contaminated, while others were not. Does this mean the spores are good, but your bags aren't?

Spores are never completely sterile; your syringe may contain a small amount of contaminants, which may not be inoculated into bags that have colonized without problems, but may be inoculated into bags that have become contaminated. Using the same syringe on multiple bags of Ceres and getting different results is completely normal and has nothing to do with the quality of the substrate. This is because each of the millions of spores inside your syringe produces mycelium with different genetics. Each inoculation will lead to different outcomes, attributable to the genetic variation of the developing mycelium and the variable risk of contamination during injection.