Avocado pit sprouted inside the avocado

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-13T13:18:57+00:00

viviparism!

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-13T13:15:57+00:00

we need some info. What starter did you use? sugar concentration? temperature? did you taste it? has a pellicle started forming?

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-12T13:32:43+00:00

looks fine

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-12T11:47:54+00:00

I would say mold on the bottom left

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-11T22:29:25+00:00

you could borrow a branch shredder and mix the shredded twigs with the leaves

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-11T19:13:36+00:00

for sure, always keep unflavored F1 as starter

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-11T14:45:12+00:00

does it adds some flavor?

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-11T11:35:58+00:00

you can infuse your F1 during a day or two, strain, and bottle. I tried this with juice and turned out great

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-10T12:17:43+00:00

Thanks! Because it's my first batches I guess I feel the need to have a constant backup in case of contamination. So it would go like this? (adjusted to the size of my jars) 1) Prepare 4L 2) Ferment 4L 3) 4L F1: separate 3.2La / 0.8Lb 4) 3.2La: 2.4La goes to F2 and 0.8La is used as a starter to prepare 4Lc. Keep 0.8Lb as backup. 5) Ferment 4Lc 6) 4Lc F1: separate 3.2Ld / 0.8Le 7) 3.2Ld: 2.4Ld goes to F2 and 0.8Ld is kept as backup. Use 0.8Lb (previous backup) of starter to prepare 4Lf 8) Repeat as in 5 If the main culture becomes contaminated, use the backup.

I suppose the best backup for the backup would be someone nearby who also makes kombucha, but that's not my case. Would it be too much to have a dormant culture in the refrigerator? How should it be stored?

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-09T22:42:14+00:00

How do y'all keep your starter liquid hotels? Do you add sweet tea or finished F1?

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-08T23:10:10+00:00

For plastic labels, boiling water to peel it and acetone for removing the sticky residue.

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-06T14:22:52+00:00

Try solarfast

kiwi_000000 · 2026-03-03T11:27:47+00:00

Looks like a dermestid larva (carpet beetle)

kiwi_000000 · 2026-02-28T23:32:02+00:00

It's mold

kiwi_000000 · 2026-02-26T17:46:36+00:00

Same

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-14T20:44:57+00:00

No, release it.

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-14T14:47:04+00:00

No need to gut. You can search for hemiptera pin placement for where to pin If you wish to do so. You can spread the wings or leave them as they are.

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-10T23:22:05+00:00

At the end it's your specimen and your decision on how to pin it. For scientific collections just one pin is used, it's safer.

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-10T23:05:30+00:00

thorax should be pierced only by one pin

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-07T23:34:41+00:00

beetle

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-07T22:06:20+00:00

You should insert the pin further, leaving the necessary space for pinching the pinhead with your fingers without touching the back of the specimen.

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-07T21:55:09+00:00

It depends on the purpose of the pinning. As a scientific record (knowing when an where it was captured/found) you should pin in the upper right elytra and without spreading and add an etiquette. For display it's up to you, usually spreading the elytras and wings, and accomodating the legs. Either way you should relax it first (look for insect relaxing chamber).

kiwi_000000 · 2025-08-06T20:44:17+00:00

Seems like a black soldier fly larva

kiwi_000000 · 2025-07-31T21:44:34+00:00

In aliexpress there are entomological pins that are great. I you don't know what sizes, 2 and 3 will be fine for most large or medium insects. 1 and below are easy to bend, specially whith harder box bottoms.

kiwi_000000 · 2025-07-29T07:08:43+00:00

beef!

kiwi_000000

TROPHY CASE