GEAR, EXPLAINED

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Sterilization & clean work · Gear I actually use · Clean-work basics · Substrates & supplements · AC Infinity grow-room gear · Environment control · Harvest & drying · Safety

Sterilization & clean work

Most failed grows trace back to contamination. Clean air, clean hands and properly sterilized media matter more than any other purchase.

Gear I actually use

Equipment from my own grow setup, photographed by me. Bought on Amazon like you would.

GEAR I ACTUALLY USE

Ivation 9-Tray Digital Food Dehydrator

The dehydrator I use for harvests. Slice oysters or lion's mane about 1/4 in thick and dry at low heat (around 110–130°F) until cracker-crisp, then store in airtight jars with a desiccant. Dried shiitake and lion's mane keep for months.

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GEAR I ACTUALLY USE

Magnetic stirrer

The INTLLAB stir plate I run my liquid cultures on. A slow, steady spin breaks up mycelium clumps so cultures grow evenly and draw cleanly into a syringe.

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GEAR I ACTUALLY USE

AC Infinity CONTROLLER 69

The controller in my tent. Set a humidity trigger so the humidifier kicks on below about 85% RH, and a fan cycle for fresh air, so you're not opening the tent all day.

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GEAR I ACTUALLY USE

Disposable Luer-lock syringes (individually wrapped, sterile)

What I use to pull and inject liquid culture. Buy sterile, individually wrapped Luer-lock syringes, flame or alcohol-wipe the needle and use each one once.

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Clean-work basics

Cheap, everyday hygiene supplies that prevent most contamination before it starts.

Cotton swabs

Clean and sanitize tight spots on tools, jar lids and injection ports.

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Small trash bags (10 qt / 2.6 gal)

Bag contaminated substrate and spent blocks right away so spores don't spread.

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70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Wipe surfaces, tools, gloves and bag ports. 70% sanitizes better than 91–99%, because the water helps it penetrate and it evaporates more slowly.

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Wide-mouth mason jars (quart)

Reusable grain-spawn jars that survive the pressure canner again and again.

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Fine-mist spray bottle for 70% IPA

Keep a labeled bottle of 70% alcohol at the bench for quick wipe-downs.

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Alcohol prep pads

Sterile single-use wipes for scalpels, ports and jar lids.

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Substrates & supplements

What your mushrooms eat. Gourmet species mostly want wood or straw, often boosted with a nitrogen source.

AC Infinity grow-room gear

A popular, app-connected system for automating a gourmet fruiting tent: fan, humidifier and controller that work together. Optional; any equivalent gear works.

Environment control

Fruiting needs high humidity, fresh air and some light. Automating it is what makes yields repeatable.

Harvest & drying

Fresh gourmets keep a week in paper in the fridge; drying keeps lion's mane and shiitake for months.

Safety

Heat, pressure and spores: a little protection goes a long way.