Anomalocaris said:

Should the substrate be compacted and leveled as much as possible like with cubes or leave it a bit loose?

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Kloakk said:

Anomalocaris said:

Should the substrate be compacted and leveled as much as possible like with cubes or leave it a bit loose?

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I wouldn't compress like I do cubes. I'll fill a tray, level with my hand, lift it a couple of inches and drop it to get a little compression. I'll also compress very lightly with a trowel to make sure my surface is leveled.

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Centerfinger said:

Thanks kloakk, I was hoping someone would answer that question.

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chris77 said:

personally i dont ever see any benefit in compressing substrate with force. easy does it imho

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For cubes(I don't use liners) I've had major side pinning if I don't compress it like it owes me money And I have less evaporation during colonization.

For pans, semps and other exotics I compress very lightly, but it's mostly about keeping it as leveled as possible, then it's way easier to also get the same thickness on the casing and that will(most of the time) give a better and more even pinset in my experience

thirdeyewild said:

For pans I like to mix the spawn and bulk in freezer bags. Sort of a liner.

Once mixed I put it in the FC and cut the top off. Then case when colonized. I do this with Semps too.

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Sounds neat, got a picture? I'm slow and a visual learner

Kloakk said:

Centerfinger said:

Thanks kloakk, I was hoping someone would answer that question.

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chris77 said:

personally i dont ever see any benefit in compressing substrate with force. easy does it imho

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For cubes(I don't use liners) I've had major side pinning if I don't compress it like it owes me money And I have less evaporation during colonization.

For pans, semps and other exotics I compress very lightly, but it's mostly about keeping it as leveled as possible, then it's way easier to also get the same thickness on the casing and that will(most of the time) give a better and more even pinset in my experience

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chris77 said:

i compress very lightly BUT i compress the sides really hard with my fingers like tucking it in all around the sides. then i fill up with pseudocasing and level gently.
zero sidepins

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Makes sense, will give it a go next time I'm doing cubes, thanks man

Kloakk said:

thirdeyewild said:

For pans I like to mix the spawn and bulk in freezer bags. Sort of a liner.

Once mixed I put it in the FC and cut the top off. Then case when colonized. I do this with Semps too.

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Sounds neat, got a picture? I'm slow and a visual learner

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thirdeyewild said:

https://files.shroomery.org/files/24-44/040464812-IMG_20241031_122033_4842.jpg


(Pic is ttbvi)
My sig too

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ansr said:

The shops didn't have cactus soil
Got something similar to it I think. Gonna try 50/50 with vermiculite. Do you PC or pasteurize the casing layer?

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ansr said:

"Premium Seeding Soil" it's called. NPK is 11-5-18

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ansr said:

Others they had was 14-7-15. I need to get calcium hydroxide too? They only have 10 kg bags. Do I want to mess with that in my tiny apartment kitchen?

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10kg is a lot for sure, and you don't need calcium hydroxide, but you want the pH of the casing around 8. I use my calcium  hydroxide indoors, but I always use gloves and I try to minimize spreading it in the air, but I'm not in a hazmat suit and gas mask