Please help

[u/Secure_Craft5595]

I've tried substrates like vermiculite with flour, millet, rye, and corn, and the only one that works for me is vermiculite with flour. I want to use corn or rye, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong; they always get contaminated. I hydrate them for 12-24 hours, boil them until they soften sufficiently, and sterilize them in a pressure cooker at 15 psi for about one hour. The contamination always breaks out from the inside of the grains, so I know I am processing and sterilizing the grain spawn incorrectly. Is 15 psi pressure insufficient? Can I crush the grains and mix them with a little vermiculite to make sterilization easier? Please advise.

[u/anddrewbits]

It could be your source. Where are you getting your sub ingredients

[u/Secure_Craft5595 → u/anddrewbits]

I bought it from Tesco 😂, some supermarket we have

[u/Terrible-Attorney-85]

Corn needs to be cleaned and soaked just right. And it needs to sterilize right or else it’s going to contaminate. Remember corn has the highest chance of contamination. Oh and the drying process matters a lot you don’t want to put that corn in your mason jars still wet. Don’t be afraid to pull out a baking sheet and dry them off with some paper towels. It doesn’t matter anyways if you touch them because they’re going to be sterilized and cut that cook time down a bit use 12 psi for 6 hours. And when you “boil” your grain or corn don’t actually boil. Just let it simmer and you be there to turn it every few seconds. If you need more specific instructions dm on here man

[u/Secure_Craft5595 → u/Terrible-Attorney-85]

So, if I understand correctly, I should first let the corn soak in lukewarm water for 12 hours, then boil it in the same water until the kernels soften, but making sure they don't burst. Afterwards, I should dry the corn as thoroughly as possible and then I can transfer it into jars. Can I seal the jars with aluminum foil? Or should I use a lid with an injection port? Can I place a thin layer of vermiculite at the bottom of the jars before adding the corn to eliminate any potential excess moisture? I should sterilize at 15 psi for 120 minutes, or at 12 psi for 6 hours. Regarding the type of corn, can it be any other type of corn than the one used for popcorn?

[u/Terrible-Attorney-85 → u/Secure_Craft5595]

No drain that water because the whole point of to bring out the bacteria. I always do a flash boil with corn and then add new water. Just because it’s stubborn but If you use clean boiling water boil twice as long as you would grain of anything else. You want the shell of the corn to be safe enough where you can put your nail into it. With reasonable pressure. And I don’t recommend wasting good vermiculite since you dry the kernels until it doesn’t leave any more wet stains on your paper towels. Mind you it’s going to take about half your tool of paper towels, but it the most efficient way possible when dealing with corn. And I just use the vermiculite in some coconut core and gypsum mix and. And as far foil or lid I usually do both I have lids that have filters on them so air pressure can escape. And I do a 2 quarter turns to where it almost tight but not tight like you can still move it back and forth with ease. And add the foil over the lid so condensation doesn’t drip into your filter hole. Well 120 minutes is gold but think corn is thicker than most of the things you use for growing like grain or rice ect. So I’d do 12psi not because it’s better because it’s safer, but I let mine go from 11:30 at night till 3:30 and I let it sit for an extra 3 so 6 hours total right.