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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Casing high PH
#24018550 - 01/17/17 09:13 PM (7 years, 13 days ago) |
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I feel like I made my casing layer too alkaline for my kings.
I was messing around with a 100% peatmoss mix
I did a ratio of
10 cups peatmoss 1 cup gypsum 1 cup Hydrated lime
I feel like it should be more 1/4 to 1/2 cup hydrated lime.
I know verm is recommend but it is rather expensive here. I would rather have a 100% peat to 50/50
Anyone have 100% peat experience? Can't seem to find a decent right up on the forums about it.
Should have gotten a digtal soil PH tester when I was in the store today. I would like one that could test soil and water.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: vatman]
#24018624 - 01/17/17 09:49 PM (7 years, 13 days ago) |
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Here ya go mate. Chef used hydrated lime and peat for his casing and had great results. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/17791781#17791781
Edited by MycoFlora (01/17/17 09:51 PM)
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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My math is a little wanky with ratios
So I did 10:1:1
So lime being one of the 1s would it be 1/12=0.0833333
So I used 8.33% lime by volume?
Seems like a high rate for hydrated lime but chef said he has used up to 25%. It feels a little chalky still after hydrating. Didn't bother doing a true pasteurization did a 170F pour into the peat moss.
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: vatman]
#24018929 - 01/18/17 12:48 AM (7 years, 13 days ago) |
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Aside from chef, The general consensus seems to be about 1% for hydrated lime. So that's about 1 cup per 5 gallons of peat.
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Without the meter most attempts will be folly. Peat Moss has an acidic pH, generally in the range of 4.4 -- Source
Its as acidic as tea leaves, you need to measure, you want pH 7.5-8 for a casing.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: Ferather]
#24019322 - 01/18/17 08:21 AM (7 years, 12 days ago) |
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Most commercial ops skip the lime and just use limestone. That and heat treatment might not hurt. But yeah, it's supplosed to be near neutral pH. Mushroom mycelium will not grow in an alkaline environment.
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: drake89]
#24019838 - 01/18/17 12:29 PM (7 years, 12 days ago) |
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So would you recommend removing that casing?
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MycoFlora
Farmer


Registered: 10/06/14
Posts: 309
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: drake89]
#24019861 - 01/18/17 12:38 PM (7 years, 12 days ago) |
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I have a hard time believing mycelium won't grow in an alkaline environment. When I did lime past. my entire sub was soaked in a highly basic lime solution. The ph would sometimes be as high as 13-14. Colonized in two weeks with no problems. Drake, I know you used to run with lime, what's the difference here?
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vatman
I'm Vatman


Registered: 04/17/14
Posts: 1,642
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Also a follow-up to flora's question if limestone or oyster shell is used is heat pasteurization required?
My casing feels a little chalky so thinking it should be removed and remixed with more peat and water.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Quote:
MycoFlora said: I have a hard time believing mycelium won't grow in an alkaline environment. When I did lime past. my entire sub was soaked in a highly basic lime solution. The ph would sometimes be as high as 13-14. Colonized in two weeks with no problems. Drake, I know you used to run with lime, what's the difference here?
he was talking about adding a 10% w/w hydrated lime. I don't think the peat or mycelium will be able to get that back to neutral. with straw bathing, the base eventually degrades back to calcium carbonate i believe. the straw and mycelium help a little bit but it's mostly basic chemical rxn. which is partly why you want a colder water bath.
When the masonry has been laid, the slaked lime in the mortar slowly begins to react with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate (limestone) according to the reaction: Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O. The carbon dioxide that takes part in this reaction is principally available in the air or dissolved in rainwate
Edited by drake89 (01/18/17 01:53 PM)
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Ferather
Mycological



Registered: 03/19/15
Posts: 6,325
Loc: United Kingdom
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Casing high PH [Re: drake89]
#24020354 - 01/18/17 03:16 PM (7 years, 12 days ago) |
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Some acidic materials will breakdown to higher pH, they either re-assemble or become smaller detached units. Also molds have a very hard time germinating the higher the pH, 7.5-8 makes it very difficult.
I agree with calcium carbonate, powdered or as a grit, as "drake89" mentions.
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