Did adding friends start hurt my own??
I have been baking whole wheat sourdough for a few years with great results. About a month ago, my loaves suddenly stopped rising during the final proof. There is just no oomph left in the start. When I feed the start, it bubbles up nicely, and increases about 50% the original amount, but doesn't ever double. No oven spring whatsoever. I wish I could pinpoint the problem, but I have tried powerfeeding, countertop feeding, refrigerator feeding, everything I can think of, but nothing seems to help. The only thing I can think of that might be a factor is that a friend of mine gave me some of his starter a month or two back to add to mine. He has an heirloom starter and I thought it would be cool to take part in that "legacy" (am I a bread geek or what?). I am remembering now that his loaves never turned out as well as mine, could that be the problem? How do I fix it???