Newbie Starter help..
Hi to all, a new guy wanting to bake some bread! Who knew it was this complex?! Love a challenge and learning new skills and it sure seems like both. Sorry for my first post to be about such a mundane subject as getting my starter going but...I assume you were all there at some point. I have to pass first grade to get to the good stuff. My question...where to go...
Began my starter with 120g water and 120g Bob's Red Mill WW pastry flour. It took off like no one's business. Tripled in size in 24 hours, lots of bubbles. Day 2, 24 hours later, feeding was 1/2 cup starter, 1/2 water, and a switch to 120g of King Arthurs Unbleached All-Purpose. 24 hours later, the morning of Day 3, I got some bubbles and it had increased in size somewhat but not doubled and nowhere near the activity from the first day. Day 3 feeding was the same as Day 2. This morning, morning of Day 4 there is nothing. No growth in volume and a 1/4" of hooch on top. Looked deader than a doornail. So...I poured off the hooch, replaced it with the same amount of water, and fed again with the same ratios. I am now approaching 12 hours after that feeding and see bubbling but no increase in volume.
Question is do I move to feeding it twice a day now, feed it tonight to get more activity, or should I just be patient and wait until tomorrow morning, a full 24 hours to feed it again?
Any comments appreciated!!