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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
Dead Souls said: A lot of things went wrong with the PF Tek for me... And I'm not a moron, I understand the concept of it completely.
Well, still. You need to go back and touch first base. PF is seriously the easiest way to cultivate mushrooms. If you can't do it, you can't grow mushrooms. You say you can do it- we'll see.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
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Quote:
Dead Souls said: And I'm tryin' to get pretty good yields with it, and from what I read the PF Tek is lacking.
I'm not trying to change your mind because I rarely use the pf tek either, but the fact is that no other method will return so much product for so little substrate. You'll get a biological efficiency in the 300% range if you do it right.
If you're going with grains, popcorn is the worst choice, rye berries the best choice. You can sterilize quarts of rye berries @10 psi for two hours and succeed. With popcorn, the failure rate will be higher, even if you use 15 psi.
Look on craigs list or other boards for a used AA 921. It's about the best choice for intermediate growers, plus you can cook roasts, seafood, etc., in it. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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M11
White Thumb

Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 1,840
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I found the PF tek to be kinda lame; I know the mistake I made. The jars became too compacted and dry, so it took forever for them to colonize. But once they did, and I birthed, dunked, and rolled, I managed to get about 4-5 dry grams a cake. I really found bulk to be just as easy. Preparing rye isn't hard at all. I really didn't find bulk all that difficult, thanks to the wonderful resources on this site.
I can attribute my sterile and prep techniques to the PF tek, but bulk is the way to go. I would go with RR's advice and get some rye berries. I have heard nasty things about popcorn.
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: M11]
#11743281 - 12/30/09 03:13 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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Well I decided to go with WBS since everyone was suggesting it earlier. I already bought a bag of it. I threw the Popcorn idea out the window.
But I went to some local nurseries and garden supply stores and I got my perlite and verm, but no one has any coco coir at all. A couple of people had the fiber.
What could I substitute for the coir?
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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You don't need coir for a couple of weeks, if ever. You can get it at a pet shop when you do need it. Meanwhile, scope out sources for horse poo and straw if you can find them.
Did you decide on jar lids? I'm partial to polyfil, with an RTV injection port- but there's a lot of options.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Citizen13
Jack's wasted life.


Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 1,319
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Quote:
Dead Souls said: Well I decided to go with WBS since everyone was suggesting it earlier. I already bought a bag of it. I threw the Popcorn idea out the window.
But I went to some local nurseries and garden supply stores and I got my perlite and verm, but no one has any coco coir at all. A couple of people had the fiber.
What could I substitute for the coir?
coir can be found in bricks for animal bedding at any pet store.
don't substitute anything for it unless you want to use poo or straw (more work but they are good too), just go pick some up and be content knowing you got an easy to prep, high performing substrate for dirt cheap.
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743321 - 12/30/09 03:20 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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I went and checked the price on some Tyvek at Lowes, 10 bucks for a pair of coveralls.
I was thinkin' of just doin' that since I read a lot of people use that.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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It is popular. Grab some RTV or silicone too.
Edit- cut the sleeves off the tyvek suit, use them to make a deluxe glovebox.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Citizen13
Jack's wasted life.


Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 1,319
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743364 - 12/30/09 03:26 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Edit- cut the sleeves off the tyvek suit, use them to make a deluxe glovebox.
that's exactly what i did with mine. elastic bands at the wrist so all i have to do is put some plastic gloves on and im set
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743394 - 12/30/09 03:29 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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That's brilliant, I would have never thought of that.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Me either. I think I got the idea from RR, but I don't know if he invented it himself or not.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Citizen13
Jack's wasted life.


Registered: 11/01/09
Posts: 1,319
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743421 - 12/30/09 03:34 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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i think anyone that ever has owned a tvek jumpsuit only has to look at the arms and put 2 and 2 together.
i was cutting up pieces of it and when i had the arms off i thought "wait a minute...."
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Citizen13]
#11743442 - 12/30/09 03:37 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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Haha. Yeah, I have never bought one before.
But I'm checkin' around with the local pet shops and none of them have the coir either, it's all fiber.
So... I might as well just break down and do the PF Tek, I suppose.
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daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
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If you are in the US, try Petco. I find other local shops don't have exactly what I want.
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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There isn't a Petco anywhere near me. I'm in NC
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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And you can't get a block of Bed-a-beast or Eco Earth coco coir? There has to be a garden store or hydro shop or pet shop around there. Post your zip code, I'll Google it. Or just buy it online. But seriously, you are weeks away from needing it. Make your jars now, worry about spawning later.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743535 - 12/30/09 03:52 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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Wait... Eco Earth? There is an Eco Earth at Petsmart, but it said it's Coco Fiber. "Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate."
It's made by Zoo Med...
It's 28307, though.
Edited by Dead Souls (12/30/09 03:52 PM)
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daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
Posts: 6,962
Loc: In my garden
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Yeah, that's a the bigger stuff I believe. The coir is the dust produced from the hulls.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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That will work. But did you check Bell's Seed Store? Looks like a likely source.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Dead Souls



Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 115
Last seen: 14 years, 10 months
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Re: Sterl. without PC? [Re: Doc_T]
#11743651 - 12/30/09 04:06 PM (15 years, 21 days ago) |
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Yeah, Bell's doesn't ever answer their phone. LOL
I just tried calling them again since you mentioned them.
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