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GernBlanston
unintended sideeffect


Registered: 05/28/03
Posts: 842
Loc: OR
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Will perlite work in place of vermiculite?
#1672534 - 06/29/03 10:05 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm 'bout to work my first ever jars (PF Tek), but am unable to find vermiculite in my neck of the woods. I have, however, been able to find perlite at the same size/consistence of the verm I was looking for.
Will perlite work with the PF Tek in place of vermiculite? Thanks
-------------------- There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. -- Howard Zinn
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ganjaguru
I'm not really here

Registered: 10/21/02
Posts: 636
Loc: Austin, TX
Last seen: 13 years, 1 month
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GernBlanston]
#1672551 - 06/29/03 10:14 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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The answer is no. Perlite is made from volcanic rock and is used to let water run through the medium, or soil, pretty quickly. Vermiculit on the other hand is made of mica and absorbs water and stores it in the soil. Thats why you'll see people mixing them a lot. Hope that helps some. Ive heard of people using chopped up cardboard bits and then boiling it to sterilize it which I did once and it actually worked relatively well.
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GoodOlBattonAss
Stranger

Registered: 03/31/03
Posts: 333
Last seen: 20 years, 1 month
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: ganjaguru]
#1672687 - 06/29/03 11:23 PM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Mixing perlite and brown rice flour causes a chemical reaction that produces a deadly gas.
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OJK
Stranger

Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GoodOlBattonAss]
#1673232 - 06/30/03 04:50 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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You can get vermiculite online from many of the excellent Shroomery sponsers...
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cd666cd
Stranger in thenight

Registered: 03/21/03
Posts: 200
Loc: quebec,Canada
Last seen: 19 years, 7 months
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: OJK]
#1673247 - 06/30/03 04:59 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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check your local flower or plant store, they bot should carry vermiculite
-------------------- 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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shirley knott
not my real name

Registered: 11/11/02
Posts: 9,105
Loc: London
Last seen: 7 years, 1 month
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GernBlanston]
#1673333 - 06/30/03 05:55 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Will perlite work with the PF Tek in place of vermiculite? Thanks
it's far from ideal, as everyone says, but i've read a few posts from people who did it successfully.
-------------------- buh
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soochi
Chef


Registered: 08/13/02
Posts: 2,420
Loc: The Richest County
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GernBlanston]
#1673341 - 06/30/03 06:02 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Perlite spawn:
120ml water 40 grams perlite 50 grams wheat bran 6 grams gypsum (calcium sulfate) 1.5 grams calcium carbonate
screen the perlite to remove the fine powder and particulates. Fill the container (small mouth) with the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the water and continue mixing until the ingredients are thoroughly moistened. Sterilize for one hour at 15 psi. Inoculate from agar media or syringe.
From "The Mushroom Cultivator" by: P.Stamets & J.S. Chilton
-------------------- Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie, O, what panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
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GernBlanston
unintended sideeffect


Registered: 05/28/03
Posts: 842
Loc: OR
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: soochi]
#1673670 - 06/30/03 09:55 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hmmm... Sounds like I will be better off trying (harder) to find the vermiculite. I've checked every plant/flower/nursery in my area, to no avail. Actually, that's not true. I found verm at one place, but it was almost powder fine, and I'm pretty sure that's not going to work. Looks like I'll be hitting the sponsor pages 
Thanks for the input, all.
Gern
-------------------- There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. -- Howard Zinn
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searsponcho
Machine Elf

Registered: 03/14/03
Posts: 82
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Last seen: 20 years, 3 months
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GernBlanston]
#1673684 - 06/30/03 10:04 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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It's impossible to find it in my area too. My poodle orders it from True Value. It's fine grade, cheap price and so is the shipping. Check out the link for more info:
http://www.truevalue.com/index.cfm?action=shoppingProductDetail&intProductID=28181&CFID=1137618&CFTOKEN=51650309
-------------------- Your dashingly colored toupee twists my right boot into a state of ennui with the speed and dexterity of many lemon meringue-coated conquistadors.
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GernBlanston
unintended sideeffect


Registered: 05/28/03
Posts: 842
Loc: OR
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: searsponcho]
#1673730 - 06/30/03 10:28 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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Outstanding! Thanks, SP 
By the way... is that a Sears poncho, or is that a regular poncho? Hmmm... No foolin?
=P
-------------------- There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. -- Howard Zinn
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searsponcho
Machine Elf

Registered: 03/14/03
Posts: 82
Loc: Pacific Northwest
Last seen: 20 years, 3 months
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Re: Will perlite work in place of vermiculite? [Re: GernBlanston]
#1673782 - 06/30/03 10:58 AM (20 years, 7 months ago) |
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LOL Good Luck!
-------------------- Your dashingly colored toupee twists my right boot into a state of ennui with the speed and dexterity of many lemon meringue-coated conquistadors.
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