What to do if the mycelium on your Chestnut or White kit has over colonized
Why has my mycelium over colonized? |
What should I do if the mycelium has over colonized? |
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If your mycelium has over colonized this could be for a few reasons, the most common being the lid has been left on for longer than required. It could also be a sign of the temperature being to warm so this should also be evaluate.
Another factor could be limited air exchange, if placed in a closed space such as a cupboard / wardrobe or other enclosed space this can also increase the mycelium growth from desired levels, so the kit should be moved from this location. |
If the mycelium is overgrown, like the picture to the left it is a good idea to reduce some of this.
To do this you can take a fork and lightly scratch over the white portions of the top soil, being sure to only go 1-2mm deep. This will knock back the whiteness to the correct level, so the topsoil should more resemble black in color than white and the photo on the FAQ card. If the mycelium is only slightly more advanced than desired, you can knock this back with little and often, but powerful sprays of water close and aimed directly onto the white portions, in some cases this will be all that's required. |
Examples of kits that require scratching over
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After Scratching over
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The mushrooms require clean topsoil to be able to fruit efficiently, if the mycelium blankets over the topsoil, it will stop the mushrooms from growing and lock out the moisture from the kit essentially starving it of water. This should be addressed as soon as possible.
You may find following this the topsoil underneath is hard, fibrous and dry. So it is important once you scratch the topsoil you bring the hydration levels back up so the topsoil resembles a a deep black colour at all times. Below is a healthy kit for reference of how the topsoil should look for growth. Healthy Kit.
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Location + Troubleshooting Checklist
- Ensure kit is not located in an enclosed space or within direct sunlight. Avoid nearby heat sources, cupboards, wardrobes and within cabinets.
- Topsoil should be deep black in colour, 90% of it should be black with veins of mycelium, it should never been the dominant feature.
- Always keep this product below 21'c and ideally between 17-18'c
- Keep the topsoil damp and keep an eye on the edges as these are often neglected and begin to show light speckles within the topsoil.
- After this tweak you may have to wait a few weeks for the kit to recover and attempt to grow the next crop.