Dormancy
Is your shiitake log not producing? Rest assured that your log is not dead, the shiitake is most likely just dormant within the log. If you have a smaller log that is around 12" in length, the log can get dried out much easier than a standard production log length of around 42" long. It is important to keep the log's moisture content high or the shiitake will go dormant within the log.
How To Fix It
First, move the log to an environment closer to you so that you can keep a daily check on it. I recommend brining them inside to a garage or shady porch area.
You will need to soak the log in water for a minimum of 12 hours. Be sure not to let the log soak for longer than 24 hours because it can damage the mycelium. Place the log in a 5 gallon bucket filled with water. Start this at 8 pm at night and remove the next morning at 8 am. Use a rock or heavy object to keep the log fully submerged. Put this date on your calendar so that you remember when you can soak the log again. Do not soak the log until 10 weeks later.
Remove the log and place on a dish so that you can add water to the base of the log on a daily basis.
Place a grocery bag over the log to keep humidity inside.
Spray the log on a daily basis and add water to the dish.
Continue doing this on a daily basis. You will see white forming on the end of the log. This is the shiitake making another spawn run.
It can take several weeks to nurse your log back to health. Keep spraying and adding water to the dish.
You will most likely get another flush of mushrooms within a month or two.
Keep your log close by and continue this method for the best results.
You may soak your log again at 10 weeks and should receive another flush if you keep the log hydrating in between fruiting stages.
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