Compost leaves Phase II on evidence, not on the calendar. DMR describes finished compost as dark brown and sweet smelling, holding 64 to 66 per cent moisture with no liquid oozing on a firm squeeze, and carrying free ammonia below 10 ppm.
Temperature is then brought down gradually to 25 to 30 degrees Celsius before spawning. Expect a further 20 to 25 per cent weight loss across Phase II. If ammonia is still detectable, conditioning continues; spawning into ammonia kills young mycelium and invites moulds that live on the amines left behind.