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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: dizzim]
#1606455 - 06/03/03 10:15 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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Limestone is OK Oyster shell is OK Calcium Carbonate is OK Hydrated lime is sometimes OK
Here is the archived original THE 50/50 + casing tek.
And a relevant quote:
Quote:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure you buy horticultural hydrated lime, not dolomitic or other kinds, or it will burn the mycelium and they wont grow. So look at nurseries for horticultural hydrated lime, it usually says "to sweeten the soil on the bag". NEW UPDATE: Although most people including us have great success from using horticultural hydrated lime, some do not. They end up burning there mycelium or the mycelium just never colonizes through to the casing soil. We think perhaps the hydrated lime they are buying has a much higher alkaline level then then the Hi Yield brand we are using. Hi Yield brand is our preference and works great for us. But just to play it on the safe side, we are going to suggest you buy calcium carbonate. A ground calcium carbonate is a gentle buffer. Some brands of hydrated lime are not. Calcium carbonate is basically ground up limestone, a soil sweetener. It works just as good if not better then horticultural hydrated lime. Its a much safer bet as well. You should be able to find calcium carbonate in just about any garden supply store.
Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: fugu] 1
#1606464 - 06/03/03 10:17 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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Here------------------------------------------------------------------------------/\ PM me if you have any more questions. Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
Edited by Joshua (06/03/03 10:18 PM)
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dizzim
Born Again Head
Registered: 04/30/03
Posts: 238
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1607690 - 06/04/03 11:18 AM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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thanks for the info. The lime i have ( been in the basement since i moved in) says "will NOT burn" . So i think it should do the trick.
dizz
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mindXplorer
mind xplorer
Registered: 10/19/02
Posts: 85
Last seen: 15 years, 10 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: dizzim]
#1669576 - 06/28/03 01:42 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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Can Coco Coir be found at a local garden store? I live in a city and was just wandering where you got your Coco Coir. Also will straight vermiculite and oyster shells work?
One thought...oyster shells is composed of mainly calcium carbonate. Can oyster shells be substituted for baking soda instead? Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate but still neutralizes acids...just a thought.
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Snobrdr311
outdoorenthusiast
Registered: 09/03/01
Posts: 1,468
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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You can buy coco coir at PetLand or most pet stores under the name "Forest Bed". It's used for an expandable bedding meterial for reptiles. Look in the reptile section, it comes in a brick that expands in water.
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Snobrdr311
outdoorenthusiast
Registered: 09/03/01
Posts: 1,468
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1669635 - 06/28/03 02:17 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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Joshua wouldn't you agree that you don't need a PH buffer if you use Coir and Verm mixed together? PH buffers are generally only used for Peat Moss casing layers which do need adjustment. My neighbor uses Coir and Verm with no buffers and has great results
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Anonymous
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buffer is a necessity when using peat. without the peat, it's not absolutely essential, but it'll help keep the pH in a healthy range while the mycelium ages and produces acidic wastes.
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cd666cd
Stranger in thenight
Registered: 03/21/03
Posts: 200
Loc: quebec,Canada
Last seen: 19 years, 9 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: ]
#1669953 - 06/28/03 05:49 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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nice tek Joshua, first, where can i get oysters shell???? second, with this type of casing layer, what would you recommend as far as bulk substract ??????
-------------------- Sure i have a deep and positive message...........but i just lost it somewhere in my head... pi.....un jours yavais un groupe ouainssss, aut'chose, le gars y s'appelait francoeur pi la........j'ai tous compris!!!
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Snobrdr311
outdoorenthusiast
Registered: 09/03/01
Posts: 1,468
Loc: Midwest
Last seen: 10 years, 5 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: cd666cd]
#1670563 - 06/28/03 11:53 PM (20 years, 9 months ago) |
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Compost is the #1 best bulk substrate, but it varies a lot depending on how long it's been composting and what the ingredients are. Other than that good old dry aged horse dung works wonderful. I haven't tried straight straw yet, i've heard a few rumblings about the fruits not being as potent though? Horse Dung is awesome though, and pretty easy to come by.
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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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I just noticed these posts.
You all have answered each others questions accurately.
Verm/shell can be used as a casing, however it is extremely messy and hard to clean.
The shell does help to neutralize acidic metabolic wastes produced by the fungi.
I prefer a slightly composted horse manure/bedding mix. I find it to provide an excellent texture and appropriate water retention. The flushes are usually very good and several in number.
I have friends who use a straw/compost mix with excellent results. The straw allows quick substrate colonization because the hyphae travel through the straw very easily, like cars through tunnels.
Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
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JonnyBravo
J-lo
Registered: 07/14/03
Posts: 53
Last seen: 18 years, 1 month
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1717075 - 07/15/03 01:31 AM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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In your casing set up how deep do you make all of your layers? and how do you keep it moistened and how do you keep the temperature right? sorry so many questions it is my first time casing and I am trying to get a good feel for it before I start
-------------------- I pray to god but I doubt that he's listening
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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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The substrate layer may vary from 2 inches to 8 inches. I try not to exceed 6 inches too often. My casing layer is 1/2-1 inch. Once the substrate is moistened in the preparation it does not need to be moistened again until it starts drying out. I usually use a mist bottle a few times a day to rehydrate dried out casings.
Durring the winter I use a space heater for heat. During the summer I use nothing.
Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
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KingBolete
enthusiast
Registered: 06/14/02
Posts: 235
Loc: Gulf Coast
Last seen: 20 years, 7 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1746180 - 07/24/03 09:44 PM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hey there,
You know I have shopped around plant nurseries, Home Depot, Lowe's, online hydro and garden centers and I don't remember seeing bags of crushed oyster shell. Do you remember where the 25lbs came from there Joshua? The small size vermiculite is hard to find nowadays. I have only seen coir bricks in hydro shops or online.
Best regards,
King Bolete
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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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I got my first batch of crushed shell at a feed store. I got the ground shell I use now at a local garden center. I seem to have no problem finding oyster shells. I know of a friend who went to a restaurant that served oysters and asked for the leftover shells. I live in a coastal state, perhaps that helps.
I buy whatever vermiculite is available. I haven't developed a preference for fine, medium, or coars verm.
Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
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TheHobbit
Pot Head Pixie
Registered: 09/04/02
Posts: 863
Loc: the Oily Way...
Last seen: 20 years, 5 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1747300 - 07/25/03 07:16 AM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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Most helpful, and pretty easy to do; nice to hear that microwaving is sufficient, and of course people should remember that a PLASTIC lid is to be used Just out of curiosity, did the plastic lids come with the quart jars; the ones I buy always have the metal lids.
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Joshua
Holoman
Registered: 10/27/98
Posts: 5,398
Loc: The Matrix
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: TheHobbit]
#1761119 - 07/29/03 09:13 PM (20 years, 8 months ago) |
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I bought the lids seperately.
Joshua
-------------------- The Shroomery Bookstore Great books for inquiring minds! "Life After Death is Saprophytic!"
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JazzMatazz
addict
Registered: 09/07/02
Posts: 770
Loc: Vienna, Austria
Last seen: 2 years, 8 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: Joshua]
#1868535 - 08/31/03 02:22 PM (20 years, 6 months ago) |
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How essential is the oyster shell? Do you think I can use coco-soil? I cant find the bricks, and it look identical when wet. thanks Josh, jazz
-------------------- Perception is limited to consciousness.Expand it and unfold other realities.
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lysergic
Mycophile!
Registered: 06/09/03
Posts: 691
Last seen: 20 years, 3 months
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Crushed oyster shell is used for chicken feed and other bird feed, 50 lbs of it costs around 8.00$
-------------------- In response to an attack killing 15 American Servicemen PsiloKitten said: Just give em a little more time, the iraqis are making great progress. And this is unorganized. Wait till they get organized.
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Jack_Straw
ROC
Registered: 06/19/03
Posts: 383
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Casing Mix 101 [Re: lysergic]
#1869102 - 08/31/03 06:30 PM (20 years, 6 months ago) |
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This casing mix works great but it sucks to bite down on a piece of oyster shell....
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alienated
contaminationgrower
Registered: 05/14/02
Posts: 425
Loc: kali-forn-I-A
Last seen: 17 years, 11 months
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Quote:
Jack_Straw said: This casing mix works great but it sucks to bite down on a piece of oyster shell....
LOL!
sorry to bring up this thread again, but i was just reading over it and read that, and HAHA i can imagine.
nice tek joshua, using it now
-------------------- -m. I dont even grow these things... I just post for this guy that knows a guy, who's sisters boyfriend dumped about 2 months ago.
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