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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Mr Piggy]
    #29498857 -

I'm almost out of my verm and looking for an inexpensive "filler" material. Cocobliss is a pretty nice upgrade from eco earth in terms of uniformity, but I'm also out of my Black Kow manure and that stuff turns into mud balls easy, so it needs a filler to make it less claggy. I'd like to not buy a whole slew of other things...It'd be cool if it could do double duty as a bulk sub additive and a casing ingredient. or i can just keep doing pure coir casings.

(some cubes, mostly leaning pans)

@TF, is "Royal Oak" 20lb pelletized charcoal for $16 similar to what you're using? Sounds like it might go well with the CV+ (instead of V) as an aerator and fert reservoir.

...thinking about it peat moss + CaCO3 like you do might actually be cheaper for casing than using coir lol.

Edited by Kunta Kente (02/26/26 04:29 PM)

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kunta Kente] * 2
    #29498968 -

i just dont get verm.  always found it worthless in hort too.  but in cult, its only use to me was soaking up water when i fucked up my coir prep.  a good scale was the game changer for me.  havent over saturated in years.  i do sometimes under saturate and i enjoy "fixing" it.  more like fine tuning as i still think the apes want a bit more water than the classics. in terms of water retention and structure, coir can do anything gypsum can do. the main difference is the color im terms of what mycelium see.

gypsum has no use for cubes whatsoever.

im not a pan guy but charcoal is an incredibly energy intensive product to manufacture and the price tag does represent that.  Its best used as a water filter in small quantities. 

coir is perfectly capable or retaining NPK, like any other pete based soil.  manure is abundant.  straw is virtually infinite. lots of structured substrates are available without mining finite resources.


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The Cultivation Confessional Booth - The OFFICIAL Cultivation Off Topic Discussion

✸-✸-✸

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Shroomery

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: BeefExtreme]
    #29498972 -

but im not a pan guy. i do like the concept of charcoal as a substrate id just think itd be expensive.

where are you getting thid $16/20lbs?  i wanna seeeeeee


--------------------
The Cultivation Confessional Booth - The OFFICIAL Cultivation Off Topic Discussion

✸-✸-✸

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Shroomery

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kimono]
    #29499002 -

Kimono said:
Or just squeeze the coir with sanitised, gloved hands until you've got a few drops coming out. Works for me :shrug:


I mean, not much point in worrying about the sanitizing, though I admit that I oftne wear gloves just because I'm not a fan of getting coir all over my hands.

But yeah, I went through a massive overhydration phase for a while, and did it all. Put the coir in a collander and squeezed out the excess. Drained pooling condensation from my tubs for the first week or two. Etc.

Getting it dialed in is wayyy less hassle for me. And I finally realized that it's much easier to add water than get rid of it, and the occasional small dry patch will pretty much resolve itself during spawning.


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ACAB  🖕🧊


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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: B Traven]
    #29499007 -

tellin you.. a fuckin scissor jack press.  been dreamin of that tek for years but.. ya prepping light and adjusting is just so ez.


--------------------
The Cultivation Confessional Booth - The OFFICIAL Cultivation Off Topic Discussion

✸-✸-✸

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Shroomery

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: BeefExtreme]
    #29499012 -

BeefExtreme said:
i just dont get verm.  always found it worthless in hort too.  but in cult, its only use to me was soaking up water when i fucked up my coir prep.  a good scale was the game changer for me.  havent over saturated in years.  i do sometimes under saturate and i enjoy "fixing" it.  more like fine tuning as i still think the apes want a bit more water than the classics. in terms of water retention and structure, coir can do anything gypsum can do. the main difference is the color im terms of what mycelium see.

gypsum has no use for cubes whatsoever.

im not a pan guy but charcoal is an incredibly energy intensive product to manufacture and the price tag does represent that.  Its best used as a water filter in small quantities. 

coir is perfectly capable or retaining NPK, like any other pete based soil.  manure is abundant.  straw is virtually infinite. lots of structured substrates are available without mining finite resources.


I think the verm thing might well just be marketing across the board. I never really got why it's used in horticulture, either.

I'm a little confused by what you mean when you say charcoal is incredibly energy-intensive to produce, though. It's like the one processed soil amendment that I know how to make in my backyard. At least in terms of the biochar that treefrog mentioned. I imagine the price tag reflects specific parameters that the particular product needs to meet, critical for water filtration but I'd imagine not so much a s asubstrate component.

What am I missing here?


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ACAB  🖕🧊


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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: BeefExtreme] * 4
    #29499074 -

BeefExtreme said:
tellin you.. a fuckin scissor jack press.  been dreamin of that tek for years but.. ya prepping light and adjusting is just so ez.


So I got this idea for two buckets with holes drilled in the bottom, some rope and a ceiling fan. Might need a faster motor.

Hold my beer.


--------------------
Stoned Gummys | BRF Pucks | Primo Reusable Plates | Easy LI 4 Preserv & Propo
"Psychedelics are powerful substances. Nothing that powerful is completely safe... and nothing completely safe is that powerful!" - Abigail Calder at ALPS 2023
Don't Panic

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: ReverendMyc] * 1
    #29499087 -

ReverendMyc said:
BeefExtreme said:
tellin you.. a fuckin scissor jack press.  been dreamin of that tek for years but.. ya prepping light and adjusting is just so ez.


So I got this idea for two buckets with holes drilled in the bottom, some rope and a ceiling fan. Might need a faster motor.

Hold my beer.


Use a ratchet strap.

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: ReverendMyc] * 7
    #29499094 -

So much hard work. SO MUCH HARD WORK. I know its neither a question nor ask, but considering you guys have given so much to me in terms of your knowledge and time. This is my first ever grow, and it may only be 5g fresh.

To the newcomers, this is my advice as someone who's had their first grow and though it may not be much, trust that these guys commenting mean well. They want us all to succeed. LISTEN TO THEM. LET THEM GUIDE YOU. TRUST THE TEKS THAT ARE TRIED TRUE.

This will be my first grow, but it will lead to so many more ventures.





--------------------
Successful Grows: ONE

Agar Plates Gone Through: 46
Agar Plates successfully cultivated: 6

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: ladynightshade]
    #29499105 -

Grab a Q-tip. Swab the gills.
Nice work!

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: ModularMind] * 2
    #29499106 -

ModularMind said:
Grab a Q-tip. Swab the gills.
Nice work!



I have a cap sitting on a foil ready for spores! :laugh:


--------------------
Successful Grows: ONE

Agar Plates Gone Through: 46
Agar Plates successfully cultivated: 6

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: B Traven]
    #29499108 -

BeefExtreme said:
but im not a pan guy. i do like the concept of charcoal as a substrate id just think itd be expensive.

where are you getting thid $16/20lbs?  i wanna seeeeeee


Here, but from some searching apparently there were some lawsuits about Royal Oak containing weird chemicals recently...it's not activated.

This seems promising though? about $30 for 10lb, organic, no additives, premixed 50/50 with WC?

Or, their 100% biochar version, 22lb for $33.


Apparently its OMRI certified so no nasty additives.

B Traven said:
I'm a little confused by what you mean when you say charcoal is incredibly energy-intensive to produce, though.


I'm assuming he means literally the need to burn the wood to create the charcoal. And activated would be worse as that's an additional high heat burn...a search shows activated charcoal by far the worst, then vermiculite / perlite, then biochar, due to the relative heat needed to produce it. (apparently, i didn't vet the info)


--------------------
My posts are long winded and dense.
Supplemented coir experiments< Currently ongoing spring 2026.

~Agar~ 1000mL water = 1000g water. use ~1% agar...1% of 1000g is 10g.  For cubes, use between 1-2% nutes (10-20g). For pans use 0.5% nutes (5g).

Everything I have typed is purely fiction, and is purely for personal amusement.
All images I've posted are not mine and I am simply posting interesting things I found on the Google.

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: ladynightshade]
    #29499112 -

ladynightshade said:
ModularMind said:
Grab a Q-tip. Swab the gills.
Nice work!



I have a cap sitting on a foil ready for spores! :laugh:


:hellyeah:

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kunta Kente] * 1
    #29499174 -

Kunta Kente said:
B Traven said:
I'm a little confused by what you mean when you say charcoal is incredibly energy-intensive to produce, though.


I'm assuming he means literally the need to burn the wood to create the charcoal. And activated would be worse as that's an additional high heat burn...a search shows activated charcoal by far the worst, then vermiculite / perlite, then biochar, due to the relative heat needed to produce it. (apparently, i didn't vet the info)


But wood-based charcoal typically produces its own heat. It's traditionally made in a kiln that simply prevents the wood from completely burning. Charcoal remains an important heat source for cooking across much of the developing world. Easier to transport than firewood, with a higher energy-to-weight ratio. There's basically a spectrum of different types of charcoal that simply reflects how completely it was burned. Biochar as a general concept actually encompasses an even wider range of potential feedstocks. One can make straw-based biochar, for instance. Again, the distinction for biochar is its specific place on the spectrum from unburned to completely burned.

I understand that the industrial charcoal production employed to produce packaged soil amendments may involve additional energy costs, but I'm curious how that may work (assuming that's the case.)


--------------------


ACAB  🖕🧊


Edited by B Traven (02/26/26 09:32 PM)

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kunta Kente] * 2
    #29499201 -

Kunta Kente said:
@TF, is "Royal Oak" 20lb pelletized charcoal for $16 similar to what you're using? Sounds like it might go well with the CV+ (instead of V) as an aerator and fert reservoir.

...thinking about it peat moss + CaCO3 like you do might actually be cheaper for casing than using coir lol.


Nah, those are turned into pellets.  I'm using a small grade biochar, I think it just isn't charged.  Old Potters is the brand.  It's probably more affordable at a green house, or garden center but I bought it online.

I don't know how it's energy intensive to make.  I've seen videos, it's a smoldering pit that runs on the wood itself.  We just don't have the space to make it.  It does produce carbon monoxide.  But it's likely carbon negative on c02 since what doesn't burn goes into the ground and doesn't decompose.

And I'm not using much at all per grow.  It doesn't take much.  And it gets composted to improve our clay soil in the garden.  Which is a big part of the appeal for me in using it as an ammendment.

https://www.davidmoore.org.uk/

Quote:
I like trees and I’m all in favour of planting more of them, but as a mycologist I have to say that forests don’t only contain trees that can store gigatonnes of carbon in the wood they make; forests also contain wood-decaying fungi that can (and do) digest that wood, releasing the stored carbon as CO2 in the process.

Lliving trees store carbon; dead trees give it back to the atmosphere. That’s life.

Dead shellfish leave behind 50% of their live weight in the form of crystalline calcium carbonate, which is mineralised atmospheric carbon dioxide.

That's the legacy we need to save the atmosphere.


He's encouraging growing shellfish by the way.  Mushrooms also produce a lot of c02 :shrug:

Sorry, definitely not a short answer.


--------------------
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kunta Kente] * 1
    #29499210 -

The readi soil looks good, cheaper than what I paid too!


--------------------
And if I only could
I'd make a deal with God
And I'd get him to swap our places
I'd be running up that road
Be running up that hill
With no problems

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: tree frog] * 2
    #29499238 -

Forests typically retain a shit-ton of below-ground biomass, and fungi are a part of that process. All life has a  net carbon balance, in the case of decaying and burning wood it's mainly a matter of where it came from. Cutting down an old-growth forest and burning all the trunks while the stumps decompose is very different from collecting flammable brush from the surface and running downed branches through a woodchipper.

I'd say shellfish AND buried charcoal are both extremely important, but it's not gonna matter too much until we stop fracking and drilling and mining coal.


--------------------


ACAB  🖕🧊


Edited by B Traven (02/27/26 09:44 AM)

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: B Traven] * 2
    #29499252 -

ive seen people make charoal.  seems pretty straight forward actually i thought we were talkin activated charcoal.

it would be the trick to get the airflow right i think . too much air it turns to ash.  not enough it goes out.  would be fun to try.  makin tree ghosts.


--------------------
The Cultivation Confessional Booth - The OFFICIAL Cultivation Off Topic Discussion

✸-✸-✸

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Shroomery

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: BeefExtreme]
    #29499289 -

BeefExtreme said:
ive seen people make charoal.  seems pretty straight forward actually i thought we were talkin activated charcoal.

it would be the trick to get the airflow right i think . too much air it turns to ash.  not enough it goes out.  would be fun to try.  makin tree ghosts.


Ah yeah...i was kinda talking about either as I wasn't sure what was being used.

Side comment though, I remember watching one of those 'Primitive Tech' and him making a kiln from river clay. No activated charcoal though.

This video from Cody's Lab I never actually saw, but he makes activated charcoal. (easy....if you have a ridiculous set up).

Pretty cool though...it makes me think though, even if you waterlogged activated charcoal it would still adsorb and absorb nutrients by simple gradient. Could be irrelevant and the nutrients remain available, a bit too in the weeds for me to test though lol


--------------------
My posts are long winded and dense.
Supplemented coir experiments< Currently ongoing spring 2026.

~Agar~ 1000mL water = 1000g water. use ~1% agar...1% of 1000g is 10g.  For cubes, use between 1-2% nutes (10-20g). For pans use 0.5% nutes (5g).

Everything I have typed is purely fiction, and is purely for personal amusement.
All images I've posted are not mine and I am simply posting interesting things I found on the Google.

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Re: Ask Quick Questions, Get Quick Answers [Re: Kunta Kente]
    #29499372 -

First timer!!!

15 days into fruiting stage of Jack Frost. You can't see it in the picture, but there is tiny beads of "dew" on the surface.

Do these look ok, or is anything wrong?



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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
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