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BrownBear
Warrior-Traveler



Registered: 06/06/20
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BrownBear's Corncob Tek 9
#27336817 - 06/06/21 07:02 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Corncob is my go to substrate. I typically use a 60% corncob/40% coir mixture. It has given me great results.
 
For the 60% corncob/40% coir substrate I use 1 small brick of coir, 2 full quarts of corncob pellets and 7 qts of water. This recipe makes 18 qts of substrate.
No one in mush cult seems to be familiar with corncob as a viable substrate. With this tek I would like to prove that corncob can be used as a stand alone bulk substrate and not just a additive or a substitution for verm or something.
Paul Stamets wrote about it in one of his books. Here is a short exerpt from the book.



Fortunately for me and hopefully others who give it a try, it now comes in a shredded and pelletized form. This makes prep super easy. For some, the one downside is that it must be heat treated. I used warm tap water to hydrate it the first time I used it. Ran a test in a container of just hydrated pellets and I ended up with cobweb mold a week later. I like hydrating the corncob and coir with boiling water anyway. I have used corncob based substrate that was prepared with boiling water and after a week of sitting before using it, it colonized and fruited with no problems.
A 40# bag is like $9.95 at tractor supply. Each 40# bag will expand to 140 qts of hydrated substrate.

For this tek, I am going to use 100% corncob pellets and water. That's it. I am also going to run 2x 64 qt tubs. Full size monotubs aren't really my thing but since a majority of folk around here use full size monotubs, I am going to use them for this particular tek.

I use a 24 qt stock pot to hydrate my substrate. This recipe makes 30 qts of substrate. You maybe wondering how you can fit 30 qts of substrate in a 24 qt pot. Even though the pellets hydrate and expand, it still stays well compact inside the pot. When you remove the corncob from the pot and fluff it before using, it will expand the rest of the way.
6 quarts corncob pellets 9 quarts of tap water
I pre measure my pellets. Bring water to a rolling boil. Turn off burner. Add the pellets. Put lid on. Take the pot off the burner. Let it sit until its cool enough to handle without being burned. This typically takes around 6 hours.
This is what it looks like when hydrated to field capacity.
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZU7vTBsIocyZk3ZZYN

Each 64 qt monotub will receive 10 qts of corncob substrate, 4.5 qts of ESS wheat spawn and just enough corncob to cover the top.

5 days after spawning

I began to see contamination on day 6.

I will continue to seek the limitations of this substrate. Through this thread, we will continue to discover all of its uses within this hobby. Thank you to all who have participated and will continue to participate.
Edited by BrownBear (06/14/21 12:10 AM)
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TheMagicConch
MC



Registered: 09/12/20
Posts: 825
Loc: Over here
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: BrownBear]
#27336837 - 06/06/21 07:31 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Damn I never thought of corn cob as a substrate. Nice tek! Will be following
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alaskappalachian
peakbagger

Registered: 10/22/19
Posts: 1,448
Loc: The 49th Dimension
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Ah hell yeah can't wait to try this. Think I saw a comparable product at my local store... Tracking.
-------------------- LAGM2023 Our hands imbibe like roots,
so I place them on what is
beautiful in this world.
—SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
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elpico
Stranger

Registered: 11/29/16
Posts: 272
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Very cool, thanks for sharing. Never even heard of corn cob pellets, but I think I'm sold already. How's the consistency of the rehydrated pellets? I find straw pellets to be a little tricky to get right.
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BrownBear
Warrior-Traveler



Registered: 06/06/20
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: elpico]
#27336894 - 06/06/21 09:05 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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You're welcome. I have used straw pellets in the past but the brand I was using discontinued and I was unable to find anything else like it until I came across these. It does clump a little when using it by itself but it shouldn't hurt anything. The clumps are fluffy and break up real easily. Other than that, I have found no other negatives, if that even is one.
Edit: I'm not sure if I even answered your question. I have been through a half dozen or more bags now and the pellet to water ratio is very consistent.
Edited by BrownBear (06/06/21 09:17 AM)
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DERRAYLD
Constructus

Registered: 05/14/02
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: BrownBear]
#27336904 - 06/06/21 09:20 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Interesting, following closely 🤔
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Crackatoa
Stranger in a strange land



Registered: 04/01/19
Posts: 5,235
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: DERRAYLD]
#27336958 - 06/06/21 10:19 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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I just happened to order 40# of corncob rabbit bedding tonight. I'm assuming it's the same. I couldn't find the brand you're using at tractor supply near me. Should be here in a few days.
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BrownBear
Warrior-Traveler



Registered: 06/06/20
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: Crackatoa]
#27336969 - 06/06/21 10:35 AM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Let me know how that works out for you. It might take some experimenting to get the water content correct. It took me a little adjusting over a few runs to get it on point.
This pic was taken yesterday at day 4 after inoculation. I used 5 qts of hydrated corncob and 1.5 qts ESS wheat spawn. I made 12 of these bags.
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fahtster
Now With 33%More Faht



Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 8,522
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: BrownBear]
#27337036 - 06/06/21 01:13 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Sockadin



Registered: 01/04/10
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: fahtster]
#27337068 - 06/06/21 02:38 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Yes. I love it when people find new stuff that can expand operations.
So just boiling water and no PC run? I do that with my coir anyway. Can't wait to see the results.
Cause 40lbs for 9.99 is way cheeper than coir.
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roarkell
The Roar Master!



Registered: 08/30/19
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Loc: Southern WI
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: Sockadin]
#27337075 - 06/06/21 02:52 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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I drive right by a tractor supply on my way to work but ive never been in it... maybe ill pop in and see if they carry anything like this...
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nonamekevin
Stranger


Registered: 02/22/21
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: roarkell]
#27337112 - 06/06/21 03:45 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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In for the results. Coir got harder to find locally and expensive over the past year, this looks interesting.
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Samushlove
Water



Registered: 03/10/21
Posts: 248
Loc: Foothills
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Awesome!! Will be watching
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Sockadin



Registered: 01/04/10
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: roarkell]
#27337233 - 06/06/21 06:01 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Roar they carry it at certain locations. Look for Premium Horse Bedding Corn Cob just like the one in the OP. Best Cob is the brand.
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PitcherCrab
Crescent Fresh



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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: Sockadin]
#27337242 - 06/06/21 06:07 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Dope Brown Bear! I'm stoked about this. Nice to see some other easy to source substrates coming out of the woodwork.
-------------------- PC's LAGM 2021 (TOC & TWC)P. natalensis Growlog 2021Pans for PC Fall 2021 Growlog “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” - Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
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E_Dubbya


Registered: 05/15/21
Posts: 609
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Just grabbed a 40lb bag from Tractor Supply today, $9. I'll give it a shot.
-------------------- Trade List
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Smartattack
C'mon man



Registered: 12/22/18
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: E_Dubbya]
#27337269 - 06/06/21 06:29 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Huh, cool beans man! I wonder how much more nutritional it is vs coir? Not that it is needed but must be more so. I def like having an alternative so I'm gunna check my feed store and give this a shot.
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mushboy
modboy



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BrownBear
Warrior-Traveler



Registered: 06/06/20
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Thank you, everyone.
It is most likely more nutritious than coir since it needs a heat treatment but, from what I've read, it mostly contains lignin and cellulose.
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Psicomvb
not a weirdo


Registered: 01/13/18
Posts: 4,429
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Re: BrownBear's Corncob Tek [Re: BrownBear]
#27337422 - 06/06/21 08:41 PM (1 year, 7 months ago) |
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Very cool and interesting tek, Bear! Thanks for the write up
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