Kombucha Problem--Please, Please Help

[philomena]

Hi,

I posted this on a Kombucha forum and got no response. I'd love some help with this...


I made some Kombucha using the teeny bits of scoby from a store bought Kombucha bottle. It took forever, but eventually it grew a big scoby. Then I forgot about it. I haven't fed it, changed it, or done anything to it since I started it. It's been about 3 months. Maybe more. Oops. So, is it no good, or can I revive it?

It doesn't appear to have mold on it, based on Kombucha mold pictures I've seen on websites. There are some whitish looking spots, but it doesn't look like it's quite on the surface, and they're tiny...hard to describe. I don't think it's mold.

Not too long after it had achieved a decent size (3-4 weeks?), my husband moved the jar and the scoby sank. It's been floating in the middle/bottom of the jar ever since, separating into layers.

Do you think it's okay? How will I know if it's not? If it's okay, what do I do next? I'm hoping it's salvagable. It took forever to grow in my cool house, and I don't have the cash to spend $20 or more to order one. I'll have to give up for a while if it's no good.

Thanks!

[PlayaMama]

if it's separating it should be fine. that means it's reproducing.

i have one i haven't done anything with for months. last time i used it it just didn't work very quickly, but with regular use they get back up to snuff. just make sure to keep it in fresh solution every week or two, even if the finished tea isn't strong enough.

[dogmom327]

A sinking scoby is perfectly fine--no worries there. The biggest thing you want to look for is whether you are getting a new scoby forming on the top of the liquid. This process can happen really slowly sometimes and that's fine but it needs to happen for you to have a successful batch. It will likely look just a bit cloudy at first and then slowly become a solid layer. Generally you would want to see the layer developing after 5-21 days. 3 months is a really long time though--if you don't have a layer on top yet, that's not a terribly good sign.

Just to double check, when you made your batch did you include the sugar and some kombucha (from the store is fine) in the jar? If you want to post what recipe you used, I'd be happy to double check it.

[philomena]

Playamama- Thanks! It's definitely separating. I think it's around a half inch thick, with several layers flaking off. I'm wondering if I should pull it in half, and start two separate batches, so I can get more Kombucha going. I only started a quart size jar, so it's not the world's biggest scoby, lol.

Dogmom- I did notice what looks like a new culture on the top, but it's not much more than a very thin layer on the surface. But it never got fed after I put it in there the first time, so maybe that's why?

Don't remember the original recipe, but I think I used a combination of the typical Kombucha recipe, plus some advice from posts here on Mothering about growing a scoby from a store bought bottle. I definitely added the Kombucha tea from the store, the whole bottle, I believe. I don't remember for sure if I used organic sugar, or if I just went with sucanat. I know some people don't recommend it, as it doesn't get as quick a result. If that is what I used (quite possible, as I hate using white sugar, even if it does get "eaten up") then that could account for the slow growth. That, and my 65-68 degree kitchen!

Thank you for the help!

Maybe I'll try to upload a pic of the scoby. Can you add pics here?

[dogmom327]

Originally Posted by philomena

Maybe I'll try to upload a pic of the scoby. Can you add pics here?

I don't think you can but feel free to e-mail them to me. I'm happy to take a look. The info sounds promising!

[kl5]

Originally Posted by philomena

Maybe I'll try to upload a pic of the scoby. Can you add pics here?

You can upload it to a hosting site like Flickr and post a link to the image.