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 Fiery
mandala
 
Registered: 12/24/12
Posts: 21,650
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 Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! 
#25797883 - 02/07/19 08:15 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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So I got a huge truckload of fresh cut red maple and I'm going to order 1000 Shiitake plugs. However, even though that seems like a lot of plugs, I was calculating I might use 30-50 per log.
Obviously the more plugs the faster the colonization and resistance of other fungus.
However, has anyone ever stretched the plugs thin, what about using MORE plugs than recommended?
If you use less plugs will it just take longer? Or do you risk failure?
Thoughts/Ideas?
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 DnDRnD
Hobby cultivator
Registered: 10/08/18
Posts: 2,887
Loc: Washington 
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: Fiery]
#25797897 - 02/07/19 08:28 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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I havnt worked with plugs but id like to make an educated guess
1. Less plugs and it will take longer to colonize, I assume wood is semi resistant to contaminates but I'm not sure
2. Using more plugs would increase colonization time potentially but may also introduce more vectors for contamination
Again this is just a guess
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Fiery
mandala
Registered: 12/24/12
Posts: 21,650
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: DnDRnD]
#25798012 - 02/07/19 09:28 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks... So. The advice I can find on red maple is wait at least two weeks to inoculate., but maybe 3-4.
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DnDRnD
Hobby cultivator
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: Fiery]
#25798044 - 02/07/19 09:40 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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That would make sense, i would say do a couple with the recommended amount of plugs and then some with more and sone with less, adding more shouldnt hurt in theory
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iwh678
Budget Mycologist
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Loc: USA
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: DnDRnD]
#25798092 - 02/07/19 10:03 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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I would just try to be conscious about what the size of each log is and many plugs it actually needs instead of giving every log 30 plugs regardless of size.
You can also look into using sawdust spawn and a palm inoculator if you wan't to stretch your dollar a little further.
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Fiery
mandala
Registered: 12/24/12
Posts: 21,650
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: iwh678]
#25798178 - 02/07/19 10:59 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks guys! I can't wait. I'm going to take pictures and post a tek in the next few weeks with all the info. Wood type, plug amounts, etc.
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DutchMyco
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: Fiery]
#25798253 - 02/07/19 11:41 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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No experience with log cultivation, but I'm pretty sure most people that go trough a lot of logs use sawdust spawn, not sure at what point this gets a lot cheaper though.
And heard that the 'waiting x weeks' is outdated info and it's better to plug immediately, but maybe there are wood species where it might matter.
Good luck!
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Fiery
mandala
Registered: 12/24/12
Posts: 21,650
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: DutchMyco]
#25798293 - 02/08/19 12:08 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
DutchMyco said:
No experience with log cultivation, but I'm pretty sure most people that go trough a lot of logs use sawdust spawn, not sure at what point this gets a lot cheaper though.
And heard that the 'waiting x weeks' is outdated info and it's better to plug immediately, but maybe there are wood species where it might matter.
Good luck!
Yeah thanks.
I'm going to wait at least a week but max of 2 weeks.
Also, my plan is to use some of the spores or even one of the plugs to start my own culture, and then I can make my own sawdust bags, and then BAM
GUys, it's highly advisable to be on the lookout for trees being taken down this time of the year. this is a good time to get log wood.
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 BigGameHunter
Tech
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: Fiery]
#25799997 - 02/08/19 08:39 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Obviously the more plugs the faster the colonization and resistance of other fungus.
However, has anyone ever stretched the plugs thin, what about using MORE plugs than recommended?
If you use less plugs will it just take longer? Or do you risk failure?
Thoughts/Ideas?
I would probably use more plugs than less with maple to colonize it faster.
In my experience with maple, it tends to lose its bark sooner than oak as it ages, probably because the layer of bark isn't as thick as oak & once it loses its bark your log is pretty much done then.
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Fiery
mandala
Registered: 12/24/12
Posts: 21,650
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: BigGameHunter]
#25800005 - 02/08/19 08:45 PM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
BigGameHunter said:
I would probably use more plugs than less with maple to colonize it faster.
In my experience with maple, it tends to lose its bark sooner than oak as it ages, probably because the layer of bark isn't as thick as oak & once it loses its bark your log is pretty much done then.
OK!
Thank you. I was actually wondering this.
I've heard how important bark is. I plan to use more plugs , like you said.
But can you please explain to me or link me why the bark is so important?
If the bark falls off the mycelium still lives, so I am assuming the bark is important because it holds moisture?
Is there ANY other reason why the bark is so critical?
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BigGameHunter
Tech
Registered: 04/14/05
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: Fiery]
#25800598 - 02/09/19 04:28 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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Your welcome.
Yeah, it mainly helps to protect your log from drying out. It may also protect from external pests such as insects or other fungi.
Here is a link. It doesn't seem to go into great detail on bark but overall seems like a good article.
https://www.mushroomcompany.com/resources/shiitake/CornellShiitakeGuide.pdf
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Blastfrompast
Stranger
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Re: Need advice- Ordering 1000 plugs - got a truckload of red maple! Woot! [Re: BigGameHunter]
#25800882 - 02/09/19 09:42 AM (2 years, 2 months ago) |
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The bark is like ur casing layer provides the perfect microclimate also man 1000 plugs is a whole lot of work . Its gonna take 8-12 hrs to install.make sure u have sawhorses and a grinder w/bit . Just my opinion burn the maple wood in big bonfire and get u some sawdust spawn and hydrate some sawdust pellets . Its a hell of lot less work and produces more . But to each there own you ll feel the same way after u do 1000 plugs
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