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nimbochromis



Registered: 07/11/07
Posts: 105
Last seen: 4 years, 10 days
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Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips
#26363470 - 12/05/19 05:16 PM (4 years, 2 months ago) |
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I have a dump truck load of wood chips that I had dropped off in my back yard to do a "back to eden" garden 2-3 years ago. I never did the garden, so they've just been sitting in a pile that's about 40'X40'X2-3' for 2-3 years. Since it's 100% wood it's taken a while to break down, but it's probably about 50% broken down or so. if you grab a handful it is moist and chunky, you can definitely tell it's wood chips, but it's on it's way to becoming soil. This was mixed chips from a local tree trimmer, so I have no idea of the original soft wood content. I'd imagine it's probably about half pine or so, and the rest is hard wood. Elm and Oak is common around here.
Would this be good for growing mushrooms in place of fresh wood chips? I have some BBQ pellets that I could add to it...I was thinking of doing like 1 part of the composted chips, 1 part BBQ pellets and 1 part wheat bran, then pressure cooking it in a grow bag. Should I add them or just do a mixture without them? I'm growing Lions Mane and Shiitake.
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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,850
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 4 days, 19 hours
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: nimbochromis]
#26365302 - 12/06/19 03:21 PM (4 years, 2 months ago) |
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I would do a test run with them. Then you can decide by the results of the test run. Try a few bags with the pellets mixed in and a few without the pellets mixed in. Then do a few with just the pellets and the same supplements as the other bags. Then you will be able to compare all three and decide from there.
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nimbochromis



Registered: 07/11/07
Posts: 105
Last seen: 4 years, 10 days
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: nimbochromis]
#26365411 - 12/06/19 04:14 PM (4 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
SHROOMSISAY01 said: I would do a test run with them. Then you can decide by the results of the test run. Try a few bags with the pellets mixed in and a few without the pellets mixed in. Then do a few with just the pellets and the same supplements as the other bags. Then you will be able to compare all three and decide from there.
Good idea. I might try using some 32oz #5 plastic "soup cups" with lids to do the testing, and just fruit out of the top VS using a whole bag. I think I saw a tek on here for that, I'll have to dig it up. If this works it's going to be a game changer, since I've had such a hard time sourcing cheap hardwood around here.
Going to try: 1) 80% composted chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 2) 50% BBQ pellets / 30% composted chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 3) 50% BBQ pellets / 30% BBQ pecan chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 4) 80% pellets / 15% bran / 5% gypsum
Will report back with the results
Edited by nimbochromis (12/06/19 04:19 PM)
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SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,850
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 4 days, 19 hours
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: nimbochromis]
#26366058 - 12/06/19 11:38 PM (4 years, 2 months ago) |
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Sounds good my friend good luck!
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nimbochromis



Registered: 07/11/07
Posts: 105
Last seen: 4 years, 10 days
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: SHROOMSISAY01] 1
#26392755 - 12/20/19 04:36 PM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
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Here are the results so far, the photo shows them from left to right:
1) 80% composted chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 2) 50% BBQ pellets / 30% composted chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 3) 50% BBQ pellets / 30% BBQ pecan chips / 15% bran / 5% gypsum 4) 80% pellets / 15% bran / 5% gypsum

As you can see, the composted wood from my backyard has colonized the fastest! I wonder if this will translate into fruiting performance.
I did end up finding some cheap fuel pellets locally, but after emailing the manufacturer, I found out that they are a 50/50 soft/hardwood mix. Surely if the backyard compost is outperforming the 100% hardwood BBQ pellets, it would be better than the 50/50 fuel pellets I found as well. I'll try fruiting them here in a few days, and will post the results.
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ScotTony
Stranger

Registered: 03/13/18
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Loc: Europe
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: nimbochromis]
#26398801 - 12/24/19 08:06 AM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks for posting. Very interesting. I tried short composting sawdust and it was a disaster.
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zeegos
Shroomagator


Registered: 04/03/06
Posts: 827
Loc: bat country
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Composted wood chips VS fresh wood chips [Re: ScotTony]
#26401866 - 12/26/19 04:40 PM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
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Looking forward to the results, is it shiitake you're growing?
I've got builders bags full of ash woodchip which has broken down after a few months, hopefully it's good to use!
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