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ShroomFarmer
Level 0 zilch

Registered: 09/13/01
Posts: 39
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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First Casing
#494080 - 12/17/01 06:20 PM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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My 2 experimental jars of 100% birdseed have came along nicely. They're 95% colonized. I figured I'd try a casing for the first time. I really have no clue how to do one as all I've ever used is cakes. From what I've read, tell me if this will work. Bottom layer of Perlite, middle of BRF and Verm with birdseed mycellum, top of Verm. Will this work? What's the thickness of each layer?
-------------------- crinkle crinkle
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Hammerloaf
addict

Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 439
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 21 years, 8 months
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might work.. bottom layer 1", middle layer 1", top layer 1/8th of an inch... thats a pretty good way to do it.. it's what my girlfriends beaver is trying right now, and seems to be fine.
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puscle
genius of love
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 4,539
Loc: NY
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Your substrate layer should be the thickest. 2 - 3 inches.
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Hammerloaf
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Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 439
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 21 years, 8 months
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Re: First Casing [Re: puscle]
#494640 - 12/18/01 08:45 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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so then, puscle, wise old sage, you are saying that if you put 1" of vermiculite on the bottom, then 2" or 3" of crumbled cakes... then a thin layer of 50/50 or 70/30 or such... this would work very well?
and what would be deep enough to case such a thing..?
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puscle
genius of love
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 4,539
Loc: NY
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Re: First Casing [Re: Hammerloaf]
#494644 - 12/18/01 08:54 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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That's about right, although I don't bother with the bottom layer. 1/2 inch of whatever on top. But let's hear from some of the other experts.
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isis
addict
Registered: 05/16/01
Posts: 484
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Re: First Casing [Re: puscle]
#494646 - 12/18/01 09:01 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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I think you mention using a bottom layer of perlite. I don't bother with a bottom layer either but if I was going to use one it would not be perlite. Perlite will pull moisture away from your substrate and dry it out. If you choose to use a bottom layer, you should use vermiculite. A thin top layer like 1/8 will work, but a thicker layer like puscle states of 1/2-1inch will support larger fruits.
Edited by isis (12/18/01 09:02 AM)
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puscle
genius of love
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 4,539
Loc: NY
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Re: First Casing [Re: isis]
#494649 - 12/18/01 09:05 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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Perlite makes a great bottom layer. Try it.
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Hammerloaf
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Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 439
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 21 years, 8 months
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Re: First Casing [Re: puscle]
#494709 - 12/18/01 10:22 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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if you don't use a bottom layer, but use 2" of spawn, then 1/2" top layer of whatever.. do you have problems with casings shrinking because they're too dry? and if no.. then how often and heavily do you mist before pins show?
puscle, your help is much appreciated here, and you as well isis.
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Anno
Experimenter



Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,168
Loc: my room
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: First Casing [Re: Hammerloaf]
#494723 - 12/18/01 10:37 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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I also don?t use a bottom layer.
>do you have problems with casings shrinking because
>they're too dry?
The casing shrink a bit, but that?s natural becase during the life cycle app 50% of the mass of the ingredients are converted to CO2.
After a flush you simply filled the shrinked parts with fresh casing material.
Also important, don?t let the mycelium overgrow the surface too much.
> and if no.. then how often and heavily do you mist before
>pins show?
The casing surface shouild allways be moist, but not wet and mudddy.
Read TMC: CHAPTER VIII THE CASING LAYER
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Hammerloaf
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Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 439
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 21 years, 8 months
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Re: First Casing [Re: Anno]
#494734 - 12/18/01 10:48 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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Anno.. you're the bomb-shot.
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isis
addict
Registered: 05/16/01
Posts: 484
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Re: First Casing [Re: Hammerloaf]
#494767 - 12/18/01 11:27 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks puscle fro the bottom layer advice. I really just don't use a bottom layer. Do you find a difference in your fruit size with the use of a bottom layer or do you just use it to collect moisture etc?
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puscle
genius of love
Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 4,539
Loc: NY
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Re: First Casing [Re: isis]
#494821 - 12/18/01 12:41 PM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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No, Isis, i don't believe the bottom layer would effect size. Yes, it makes for a nice reservoir in the event of over-watering.
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ar393
old timer

Registered: 01/26/00
Posts: 702
Loc: VT
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Re: First Casing [Re: isis]
#494822 - 12/18/01 12:41 PM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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My cat just uses a thin layer of perlite as the bottom layer. just because this prevents the rye/cakes from sitting in any stagnant water. and we all know that stagnant water is a contams favorite place to grow. also mycelium doesnt tend to grow well underwater, you know that whole drowning thing, and dead things rot.....
peace, ar393 and cat.
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isis
addict
Registered: 05/16/01
Posts: 484
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Re: First Casing [Re: ar393]
#495036 - 12/18/01 04:16 PM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks.
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ShroomFarmer
Level 0 zilch

Registered: 09/13/01
Posts: 39
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Re: First Casing [Re: isis]
#495344 - 12/18/01 09:27 PM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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So now it looks like if the bottom layer should be perlite or verm. Maybe l'll have my iguanna do two little casings and try both. This whole thing is just one big experiment so the iguanna doesn't care too much about results for now, just gaining knowledge.
-------------------- crinkle crinkle
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Hammerloaf
addict

Registered: 11/26/01
Posts: 439
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 21 years, 8 months
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thats a very good way to succeed/look at this ShroomFarmer.
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TCatz
Manic
Registered: 11/09/01
Posts: 215
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Re: First Casing [Re: ar393]
#495762 - 12/19/01 08:49 AM (23 years, 4 months ago) |
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One reason for puttin a bottom layer is as the flushes go by the mycelium produces
waste by-products (fluids) and its nice to have something down there to soak up
these fluids so the substrate isn't just sitting in the stuff....
sterilized moist vermiculited is a good choice for this job
-------------------- Flying in a Blue Dream
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