First Time Using Uncle Ben's Tek – Colonized Bags Looking Good but Blue Spots + Yellow Liquid?! Need Advice

[u/KolorOner]

This is my first time trying the Uncle Ben's Tek, and I’d love some input from experienced growers.

I inoculated these bags about 2 weeks ago, and most of them have colonized really nicely. One of the bags was mostly colonized in the center only, so I gave it a shake recently to redistribute. It’s now bouncing back slowly.

My main concerns:

• I noticed some bluish-gray areas forming. Is that just bruising or possibly contamination?
• There's yellowish liquid in a couple of the bags. Is that normal myc piss (metabolic waste) or something more worrying?
• Also – do these look ready for the next step (fruiting)? Or should I let them colonize a bit more?

Pics attached for reference!

Any tips or feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙏 thanks in advance!

[u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

4/5 are screaming to be sent, they look good. Open them up, it'll be obvious if it's contam or not but they look ready to send to substrate

[u/KolorOner → u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

I know! I was hoping to wait for the one I shakes a few days ago. Do you think I should just keep that one for later and send the rest to the monotube?

[u/TurnedEvilAfterBan → u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

I’m new here. Does send me cut open and let it fruit? Or water a little? Or transplant to a box with cocoa coir and stuff? What is the easiest way to get something?

[u/AdditionalPiccolo527 → u/TurnedEvilAfterBan]

Spawn to bulk, there's a really good write up here https://www.reddit.com/r/unclebens/s/um9Wo5hFSt

[u/KolorOner → u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

I’m reading that he’s saying a 1:1 ratio is best. But I’ve always been told a 1:2 ratio is best. Any personal preference?

[u/KolorOner → u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

What ratio to coco coir do you recommend? 1:1 / 1:2?

[u/Limp_Donut5337 → u/KolorOner]

1:2 is best imho

[u/KolorOner → u/Limp_Donut5337]

If I only have 4 bags and a 66 quart monotube. Will this be enough to till it?

[u/Limp_Donut5337 → u/KolorOner]

I‘m from europe no idea about quarts but 66 seems like a massive one. That would be no way enough. Get a smaller one, like 12 quart and ask chatGPT for the calculations of how much of everthing else you need.

[u/KolorOner → u/AdditionalPiccolo527]

Then I must sent them 🚀

[u/corndog54]

Just looks like bruising to me.

[u/KolorOner → u/corndog54]

Thanks! First time grower. So just wanted to check!

[u/corndog54 → u/KolorOner]

No problem. I'm a first-time grower as well. Trust me, you learn a lot your first time and hanging out on pages like this also really helps build knowledge cause you see a lot of questions and answers.

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[u/KolorOner → u/AutoModerator]

Yes

[u/LUCKyLIPKEY]

Any strong scents of contamination? If you are using micropore tape you will smell it. You can still try those in there own container but if you are pressed for space and substrate prioritize your more colonized bags for spawn (feels denser and thicker, ones you have already broken and shaked with little to no rice visible)

The far left one maybe too far gone, I had several before look like that and they never came back. That's with spore and liquid culture, but you can separate it and see if it will colonize on a different timeline than the others.

Looks great so far 💪.

[u/Sea_Minute5191]

They're definitely not good, send them to me and I'll dispose it the right way don't worry.