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

This is my second time purchasing this product? It worked perfectly the first time so I figured I would leave a review this time high-quality durable packaging, and presentation. works perfectly as intended, lowest risk for contamination. Excellent for new and experience myologist alike. 10 out of 10 would recommend

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.

These jars are the best. Super fast colonization. I’ve ordered 27 grain jars and I’ve only had two get contaminated. I’d say I’m doing pretty good with these jars as a newbie.

My first time trying these and I don't think I'll be getting them again. I inoculated two of the jars at the same time using the same method and strain for each jar. I would've preferred less grain in each jar as it was right at the top and didn't leave any room for movement. When it was time to transfer the grain I noticed one of the jars was contaminated at the top which was a bummer. When I got these jars I could tell these were assembled in someone's kitchen which is okay I guess but I was under the impression these were made in a more professional setting with constant sterilization protocols. Stuff like this has to be perfect and when I saw the actual jars, I was questioning whether to use them or not. I can get a grain bag and know that it's sterile because it looks sterile. Not foil wrapped haphazardly around the jars, rust on the lids and overpacked. I'll probably use the last jar at some point but for now, it's back to the grain bags.

I’ve been making my own spawn for a while now, but decided to give pre-made a go. It does what it’s supposed to, but idk about the whole quick colonization part. I actually made my own spawn jars to test along side of these “quick” jars. I use honey soaked whole grain brown rice (kinda my version of drippy corn). I used three different strains of LC, with three quick jars (32oz), and six honey rice jars (16oz). I inoculated all the jars at the same time - 5cc in each quick jar and 2.5cc in the honey jars. After a few days all the honey jars had mycel growth starting around the top, and the bottom. Two of the quick jars had slight growth scattered throughout, however, one jar showed absolutely no growth. I’m pretty sure the jar was contam because the two other honey jars that got the same LC was already about 10% colonized. Luckily the LC vender I use is top-tier so the genetics ate right through the contam, and about another week later the jar finally showed signs of growth. All in all, these quick jars are decent for the price, size, and convenience. It’s a good option for beginners, but advanced growers should definitely stick with making their own. There’s nothing worse than your research being derailed by someone else’s mistake.

Worked great! No contamination.

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.

I bought these because I had an extra vial of culture in my refrigerator that I was sent. I usually do brf jars or the bags but I wanted to try this to spawn to bulk. I will have to say so far I'm impressed. They seem to be growing very vigorously. The culture I used was pretty clumpy so I divided it up between three jars so some jars may have gotten more culture than others but I see no contamination and they seem to be thriving. I would have to give it five stars because I think any contamination would have shown by now so if anything goes wrong from now on it will be my fault I strongly suggest for beginners to try this it is very fun and rewarding. I will update how i make out in a few weeks.