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Ogerwon
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Registered: 01/04/05
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Last seen: 19 years, 2 months
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Perlite instead of Vermiculite?
#3579943 - 01/04/05 03:00 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Okay, so I tried to search all over for this and I couln't find a direct answer. Hopefully I can get some help here. I've considered trying the BRF method of casing described here: http://www.theomc.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=GrowGuide.mmgg The problem is, I've had trouble finding vermiculite at any stores around me but I did find perlite. Is it okay to substitute perlite for the vermiculite on the top of the jars (during the inoculation)? The only thing that seems a problem is the fact the perlite doesn't actually absorb moisture, it just holds it. I apologize if this is answered somewhere on this site, I have searched quite a bit to find out if this is okay. Thanks for any help!
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OJK
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Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: Ogerwon]
#3580213 - 01/04/05 03:47 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Surely if you can't find vermiculite, you'll also have to substitute the vermiculite in the PF substrate with perlite as well as the vermiculite filter layer?
To answer your question, I am aware of at least one person who has successfully substituted perlite for vermiculite in the substrate and filter of the PF tek. He reported that the yields were not huge, and colonization was slow, but it was ultimately successful.
Many will argue that perlite won't work at all because it releases the moisture it absorbs, but I am 100% certain that it has been done successfully in the past.
However, it is much, much better to use vermiculite if at all possible. Have you tried ordering online?
A google search for -vermiculite buy online- gives many online retailers. While this isn't the most cost effective way to buy it, it will ultimately pay off.
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midway
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Registered: 02/20/04
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: Ogerwon]
#3580219 - 01/04/05 03:48 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Its been answered..perlite doesnt work very well for pf jars. Advice: look @ Lowes, or specialty garden stores. Failing that, use grains and case with peat moss.
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IGnosticAbhorI
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Registered: 11/06/04
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: midway]
#3580285 - 01/04/05 04:02 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Um you probably can't find Verm, b/c it's not in season, around winter they typically don't have it, but you can find it at a speciality gardening store and if you can't, then that's what the Internet is for Gl
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Ogerwon
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: Ogerwon]
#3580422 - 01/04/05 04:41 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thanks for the help. I was trying to avoid buying it online because I hate paying for the shipping and I want to start my experiment in the next few days. Oh well.
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scatmanrav
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Registered: 05/08/04
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: IGnosticAbhorI]
#3580426 - 01/04/05 04:42 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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I just looked out my door and relized bghydro.com delivered my verm...all 180 quarts (6 cu ft) of it. Was like 50 bucks shipped but I think I ordered some neem oil at the same time, I believe its about 30 for just the verm. They have 1 cu foot (30 qt) bags too...
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Ogerwon
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: scatmanrav]
#3580508 - 01/04/05 05:04 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Damn, I don't think I need that much Vermiculite. Thanks though, I'll check it out. I was just calling around and the Wal-Mart guy said he had peat moss. He said it was just like vermiculite but relatively fine compared to it. Would that work???
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scatmanrav
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: Ogerwon]
#3580611 - 01/04/05 05:26 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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The guy at WalMart told you that because the brands they carry dont make verm..Walmarts dont carry it and its very different from peat moss. Peat moss is more like coco coir. You could case in straight peat moss but it would be better to add verm and youll need to test and correctly alter the pH of peat moss if you use it (with or without verm).
Oh wait your talking PF Tek..I doubt peat moss would work well.....I'm not to sure what the best thing for the PF Tek would be...not a PF Tek guy. Hard to find a verm substitue though. Perlite definatly isnt a good thing to use...just about anything will "work", perilite, coir, peat...but how well it will work, how long it will take to colonize, how well it would keep out contams as the barrier and how well it would fruit and provide/absorb moisture is all up in the air and none of what I listed will work as well as verm. You could try but you quite probably will end up with crap results. And maybe you'll get wonderful results somehow..you never know for sure with shrooms...its just a long shot without verm.
Do you have a PC? Perhaps you should just forget cakes and do casings...still verm is a good thing to have but you could use straight peat moss (adjusted pH to 7.5 or so) as the casing layer if you need to.
And check out local garden stores...those are the places that will have it. Its out of season now though, I myself cant find it locally where I normally can..resorted to ordering online and am happier for it..
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Ogerwon
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: scatmanrav]
#3580691 - 01/04/05 05:42 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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Alright, Thanks. I certainly don't want crap results... Maybe ordering online isn't a bad idea. Thanks for all the help folks. I'm sure I'll have more questions in a few weeks
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midway
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Re: Perlite instead of Vermiculite? [Re: Ogerwon]
#3589619 - 01/06/05 04:08 PM (19 years, 2 months ago) |
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really really consider using grains....
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