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OPB
Wanderer

Registered: 05/30/15
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Testing Coir for Microorganisms
#21933704 - 07/12/15 02:19 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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There seems to be an assumption that coir contains beneficial microorganisms on this forum, but if you search online there are many references to it being sterile. Infact MJ growers even suggest adding beneficial bacteria cultures to coir since it is "such a good bacteria environment". I haven't really found any mentions of beneficial bacteria being already in coir outside of fungi forums.
Is there really any magic inside these bricks? It is compressed under immense heat and pressure which would certainly kill anything in it at the time so I think this is a reasonable question to ask.
If they are mostly sterile than pasteurizing is doing little more than making your job more difficult. I am not trying to shit on anyone who pasteurizes coir (aka most people here) I just think this is a question worth answering.
To test for presence of bacteria couldn't you just bring a brick into a SAB, split it in half, swab the inside, swab the outside, transfer both to separate agar, and look for bacterial growth? This wouldn't test for beneficial bacteria but it would tell you if there is anything living in there.
I have had success with agar but I am by no means an expert so I wouldn't trust my plates to know if bacteria was from the coir or my mistakes. If someone with some more experience wanted to give this a go it might help solve the mystery.
Maybe I'll just give it a shot the next time I open a new brick for fun.
Thanks for reading OPB
-------------------- "Wasn't that fun"
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
Loc: Canada
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: OPB]
#21933715 - 07/12/15 02:23 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I have sterilized coir many many times. I have used the bucket many many times. IMO there is no point in pasteurizing something that has little to no bacteria in it. I sometimes pasteurize coir when I plan to case with it. This makes it less easily consumed by the mycelium.
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spacechildo
proletarians rise up



Registered: 01/24/13
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21933767 - 07/12/15 02:37 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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considering how coir bricks are made it doesnt really matter what temps you subject it to.
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: spacechildo]
#21933772 - 07/12/15 02:38 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
spacechildo said: considering how coir bricks are made it doesnt really matter what temps you subject it to.
Sterilize some and see if a) looks different and b) colonizes different
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spacechildo
proletarians rise up



Registered: 01/24/13
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21933786 - 07/12/15 02:42 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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oh, lol, not like that. I know there's great difference between cooked and just watered. What I meant was if something in it dies at sterilizing temps it died way before you got the brick!
I havent ran a PC with coir yet I usually do the muda-double-bucket but if you see a notable difference I might be tempted to try it!
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: spacechildo]
#21933791 - 07/12/15 02:44 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Both tubs in my sig were done with sterilized coir 
Overall I have noticed that I get bigger initial flushes but fewer overall.
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spacechildo
proletarians rise up



Registered: 01/24/13
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21933797 - 07/12/15 02:47 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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doesnt nearly all your tubs look like that?  but I'll try it on a clone soon to get with the deal! 
almost sounds like you make the food so available that the myc is able to actually eat it all or at least most of it before its aged.
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,893
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: spacechildo]
#21933805 - 07/12/15 02:48 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I pasteurized coir no more than a couple times ever. I sterilize the fuck out of it these days. it's black and more potting soil like after it's been blasted at two hours 15psi.
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
Loc: Canada
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: spacechildo]
#21933823 - 07/12/15 02:53 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
spacechildo said: doesnt nearly all your tubs look like that? 
Yep 
Like bodhi said it resembles potting soil after sterilization. I sometimes use the bucket when I need a lot of it and the sterilizer is already loaded. Or I use the bucket when I want to case a bunch of tubs and sterilized coir isn't great for casing as the cubes just eat it all up.
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OPB
Wanderer

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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21933853 - 07/12/15 03:01 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I was expecting much more blowback from this post.
Response expectations: 
What I got:
-------------------- "Wasn't that fun"
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
Loc: Canada
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: OPB]
#21933915 - 07/12/15 03:13 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hell if it works and there is no good reason why it won't, most people here are gonna say Fuckin A!
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d0urd3n
Just call me "D"

Registered: 09/15/10
Posts: 5,237
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21934016 - 07/12/15 03:37 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I should try this.
I usually use hpoo, but after trying pasteurized coir a few times I am unimpressed with the strength of colonization and the speed. It doesn't seem nearly as quick or thick at the surface.
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
Loc: Canada
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: d0urd3n]
#21934048 - 07/12/15 03:46 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yep I know what you mean. Check out sterilized coir.
Some of it is genetic of course but it really does seem more accessible for the cubes.
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d0urd3n
Just call me "D"

Registered: 09/15/10
Posts: 5,237
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21934107 - 07/12/15 04:00 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I always toss tubs after 1 or 2 flushes anyways.
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OPB
Wanderer

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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: d0urd3n]
#21934445 - 07/12/15 05:31 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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So no one wants to weigh in in favor of pasteurizing?
-------------------- "Wasn't that fun"
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,887
Loc: Canada
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: OPB]
#21934463 - 07/12/15 05:38 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Its needed for anything that is not coir, verm or gypsum
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blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Pastywhyte]
#21934502 - 07/12/15 05:53 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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i think some people are afraid of the bucket or sterilizing it because they got bad results in their first few tries, then switched to pasteurizing, but in reality, at the same time, after a few tries, they were also getting better at making and identifying clean spawn, and their tubs started doing better, so they assumed it was switching to pasteurizing the coir, but really it was coincidentally just the fact that their spawn was healthier as they progressed and learned more
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,893
Loc: Milky way
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: blindingleaf]
#21934510 - 07/12/15 05:54 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Darkhome
•Shaman•N•Training•



Registered: 07/10/15
Posts: 517
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: bodhisatta] 1
#21934538 - 07/12/15 06:05 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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I am a new member, but a long time lurker. I have researched the hell out of it, and I know that accepted practices are constantly changing. I've got a few PF grows under my belt and recently started a bulk project. My spawn (Wbs) will be ready soon, using Frank's methods... I thought I was going to pasteurize (Frank's method again) but now I am considering Muda's improved bucket tek...using CVG only. Anyone care to weigh in?
-------------------- “The shaman is not merely a sick man, or a madman; he is a sick man who has healed himself.” ~Terence McKenna~ "NOTHING"...I post or say is "TRUE"...Any pictures are taken from the Web and any conversation is just research for a fictional character. That being said; He is constantly seeking knowledge and evolving.
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blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
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Re: Testing Coir for Microorganisms [Re: Darkhome]
#21934546 - 07/12/15 06:07 PM (8 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anyone care to weigh in?
look at franks two last grow logs. he switched to the bucket, and his last TEK (12 steps) uses the bucket.
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
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