Myco Labs Premium Quick Colonizing 32 oz 5 Grain Mushroom Spawn Jars (3 Pack)

January 18 Update: So, as expected the "break and shake" took a bit of rigor, but I was able to distribute the agar slices and the colonized grains throughout the jar. And both jars ultimately colonized fully and nicely. At this point both jars have been transferred to substrate, and there is still no contamination (so far...no whammies!) in either batch...and the unused third jar still appears clean. So despite my concerns below...all's well that ends well. ...and I recently ordered another set of jars. I just received them, but they also appear free of contamination. Bumping the star rating to a well-deserved fiver. Recommend. Dec 18 (Orig): I ordered these, basically to use while I work to get my own jar/bag sterilization equipment and technique operational. And not a bad price for (reusable) quart-size sterile jars with grain. (A 4 quart option would have been nice though, and maybe some pint-size options, but minor gripe). I grew some mycelium from spore on agar (or rather, it grew). When I went to transfer the agar slices to these jars (two of three jars used so far, half plate to each), I realized that Myco Labs filled the jars a little too full, causing two issues. 1. There was dried grain on the outside “shoulders and neck” of the jar, and opening the lids was a little “gritty”. These jars sat at for a month after delivery, without apparent contamination, covered by the “autoclave foil” and bubble wrap…so that’s promising. I tightened the lids after transfer well, but if there is grain on the outside/neck of the jar, with a gritty twist, I question the lid seal. Time will tell. 2. There is little to no room for a “break and shake”. The listing pictures show a fill to a ~1/2 inch below the jar “shoulders”, and even then I’d fill a little lower. I still have to remove the cover and foil on the third jar, but two of them were almost filled to the lid. It even took some rigor to get the agar slices “submerged” in the grain, and I can’t be sure of that on one of them. I suppose I could have dumped some grain out, but at the time of transfer, I did not want the jars open for a second longer than necessary....let alone fiddling with dumping. Again, I’ll see how this plays out, but even with a syringe inoculation, the “break and shake” would be tight. I can’t rationalize grain on the outside jar necks…but I somewhat understand (assumingly saturated) grain expanding (a little) during sterilization…but Myco Labs need to work that out to a full but "headspaced" level. I'll add pictures later, but I also see overfilled jars in pictures from other reviewers.

I am shook. I received this on April 8th inoculated with liquid culture. Today is April 13. I already see mycelium April 20 looking good

These make it easy to start a grain jar mycelium batch would buy again.

All three jars were contaminated. It only takes one piece of grain not sterilized enough to pop open after being inoculated & bam, your product is contaminated. This is why when I do it myself, I use only one grain, just whole oats. They are very cheap & very easy to work with. Unless you have the proper equipment & or really know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t do a multi grain jar/masters mix. Maybe try doing one type of grain until you get the multi grain tek down pact. Until then, I would not recommend this product.

All 3 was perfectly sterile. I had no contamination, and 2/3 already in 3 flushes. Last one was sent to S2B (since it was a MSS it took longer). It inoculated fast. 2 jars were big enough for my inflatable tub. Easy to work with. Very sturdy, recommend breaking it up with a bottom of a shoe when needed.