|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
LiquidSubstrate
Wanderer



Registered: 06/18/13
Posts: 131
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
|
Field Capacity
#18750067 - 08/24/13 02:59 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Hey Guys.
How does one apply field capacity properly to a coir substrate? Is it nessecary? Thanks had no luck searching this.
|
LTSwoomz
Dweller


Registered: 02/16/13
Posts: 190
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
|
|
The first thing I searched was "coir field capacity". One of the first threads had this answer in it by RR.
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: No, that would be too wet. There's a video demonstration of field capacity as the term is used in mycology in the casing layer prep video clip. RR
There's also a whole bunch of other threads looking for ismilar answers.
Here's another thread that seems legit. Hope this helps. http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/12430093
Edited by LTSwoomz (08/24/13 03:21 AM)
|
LiquidSubstrate
Wanderer



Registered: 06/18/13
Posts: 131
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
|
Re: Field Capacity [Re: LTSwoomz]
#18750159 - 08/24/13 03:49 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
So this method is applied to only casings? Do you have squeeze the water to get to field capacity or if you squeeze the coir and the small river comes out for a second or two means the coir is at field capacity?
|
Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,326
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 56 minutes, 59 seconds
|
|
1 Brick of coir takes 4 qts of water. 1 qt of verm takes a half qt of water. It is that easy
|
quisp65
Stranger


Registered: 04/10/13
Posts: 116
Last seen: 4 months, 25 days
|
|
There is the squeeze test and what psillyshroomer discussed. I'm new to "bulk" substrates and since my coir is already separated and partly moist, I have done the squeeze test and I don't think I've had much luck with it. To a skilled grower it works, but to a newb grower I think there some chance of error. I went ahead and bought me a kelway meter which is expensive ($125), but at least my guess work will now be gone on my substrate prep.
-------------------- A bit expensive but the largest clear tote I've found. Great if you want a large SGFC that can easily do both trays and cakes. If you decide to go all out on a SGFC, be sure to get coarse perlite. It keeps it cleaner and allows better FAE and humidity.
|
Stromrider
This must be the place



Registered: 06/02/13
Posts: 7,326
Loc: Dept of know what I'm say...
Last seen: 56 minutes, 59 seconds
|
Re: Field Capacity [Re: quisp65]
#18750471 - 08/24/13 08:18 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Yeah learning to test field compacity by feel takes some practice. The best way to get a feel for it is add about a half qt of water to a qt of verm and play around with it. Feel it squeeze it etc.
|
quisp65
Stranger


Registered: 04/10/13
Posts: 116
Last seen: 4 months, 25 days
|
|
I did the cookie cutter premix spec with a brick of coir/verm and noticed a slight squeeze produced a stream. It seemed a bit wetter than what I would go for with a squeeze test.
Also I have done the squeeze test with coir/verm/gypsum and have got it right to the point where a slight squeeze had a few drops and firm had a slight pour, and I eventually threw it away due to what I determined was a too dry substrate. Was it really too dry? Maybe I lost moisture in pasteurization or colonization. Maybe I don't have my squeeze test down yet. Never will really know for certain but that's where I lean. I got me the kelway meter just take out that guess work and end me wondering.
I don't have kids to spend money on, so I can spend it on a hobby
-------------------- A bit expensive but the largest clear tote I've found. Great if you want a large SGFC that can easily do both trays and cakes. If you decide to go all out on a SGFC, be sure to get coarse perlite. It keeps it cleaner and allows better FAE and humidity.
Edited by quisp65 (08/24/13 09:24 AM)
|
PussyFart
Retired Cultivation Extrodinaire



Registered: 04/08/12
Posts: 22,502
Loc: Orbiting Earth
Last seen: 17 days, 16 hours
|
|
Quote:
LiquidSubstrate said: So this method is applied to only casings?
Casing layers and bulk substrates.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Damion 50/50 elementary coir tek has never failed me like he says better dry than wet maybe piss poor answer but it may help getting a feel from him before you try to figure it out and fail
|
FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
|
|
Coir performs amazingly when on the damper side of field capacity.
I have stuck with 4.75-5qts of water per 1 brick coir, 2 quarts verm.
I've done this for a hundred tubs or so now.
As long as I don't get it too wet (sopping, dripping, puddling), it only seems to colonize faster.
This is unique to coir IME.
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Agreed ive done up to 4.5 quarts water with no problems. All I was saying is get a feel before trying your own way... ive been doing 4 quarts because I soak my grains before spawning
|
FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
|
|
Quote:
blueconfusion said: Agreed ive done up to 4.5 quarts water with no problems. All I was saying is get a feel before trying your own way... ive been doing 4 quarts because I soak my grains before spawning
I soak my grains before spawning too, silly, that's my write up 
4.75 quarts of water, soaked grains, and I've had some tubs at 100% in 3 days flat at a 1:2 ratio. Most take 4-6.
This is just for coir. Hpoo prepped this wet causes all sorts of problems.
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Coir and verm are pretty forgiving if you are really worried about it bottom casing of verm can work as a dummy reservoir
|
FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
|
|

No reason at all for that.
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Lol right its Saturday im drunk
|
FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
|
|
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Please excuse me from this thread while I get my head back on
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
Oh and btw thanx for that write up on soaking it has really helped!
|
blueconfusion
Strangest



Registered: 12/14/12
Posts: 1,727
Last seen: 4 days, 23 hours
|
|
I guess the only reason I suggested a bottom casing is when I first started doing monos I too was overly nervous about getting things to wet it gave me a buffer until i got a feel and was more confident
|
|