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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing?
#5746609 - 06/13/06 05:57 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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So what do you guys think about using this stuff straight from the bag? (Well, taking necessary sterilization precautions of course, straight from the bag otherwise without adding anything I mean.) I've seen it everywhere lately its so easy to come by and a big ol bag is only a couple bucks. Sounds good to me, might be a super easy way for the newbies to get into casing without having to mix up all sorts of harder to find ingredients.

* Formulated with AquaCoir® natural fiber technology to absorb excess water and release it to the plant as needed. * Protects against over- and under-watering. * Enriched with Miracle-Gro® Plant Food. * Ideal for all potted plants, especially outdoor container plants that are more prone to heat and drought.
Ingredients:
This product is formulated from 50-60% sphagnum peat moss, coconut husk fibers (coir pith), composited bark fines, perlite, a wetting agent, and fertilizer (see below).
Total nitrogen........ 0.18% Available phosphate... 0.10% Soluble potash........ 0.10%
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Snaggletooth
Stranger in a Strange Land


Registered: 10/24/05
Posts: 6,109
Loc: blinks stupidly
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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Re: Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing? [Re: creamcorn]
#5746617 - 06/13/06 05:59 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Great for plants, but not for mushrooms,
--------------------
Atheist Chat
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure


Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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Re: Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing? [Re: creamcorn]
#5746631 - 06/13/06 06:02 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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If it didn't have the fertilizer, it would be great. The fertilizer will feed algae and god only knows what else on the surface of your casing layer. You need your casing layer to be exposed to light. Ask any hydroponic guy why they keep their geolite or rocks protected from light. It's to prevent algae buildup. Jiffy mix and sunshine mix #3 can be used right out of the bag after adding lime to balance ph. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#5746676 - 06/13/06 06:17 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ah damn you RR with a good answer so quick before I could get more theories out of folks. I actually stole your maneuver and asked a question I already knew the answer to. I've used it on four cases already that went through 3 flushes a piece. Nary a contam problem... but I do typically chuck my cases after 3 good flushes to make room for more rather than trying to squeeze the last little bits out. Contams aren't a problem for me to begin with so folks' mileage may vary... but sometimes I go out of my way to purposely let things contam just to remind myself its still possible. (like leaving a cake sitting out somewhere to get dry and crusty and even then it takes weeks for something to show up)... I guess I'm blessed with a clean environment.
Here's a case at the moment.

Algae of course is a plant and won't spontaneously appear... but of course it can be in your water source. I simply use brita filtered water in my mister and have never seen it either, but I don't doubt the possibility. Never a problem from the fertilizer. Its such a miniscule amount if you compare it to other potting mixes.
I reccomend folks at least try it, as I said it works awesome for me. No buffering, nothing fancy. Just get it wet and nuke it in the microwave loosely covered for a few 2 minute intervals and use when cool, misting to bring up to the right moisture level after.
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hyphae
born to grow


Registered: 12/13/02
Posts: 6,228
Loc: the rain forests
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Re: Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing? [Re: creamcorn]
#5747136 - 06/13/06 08:06 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I've used aquacoir after removing all the fert pellets (PITA) and it performed very well. A casing with nutes and i'll say very high nutes here is a recipe for contams sooner or later period. In a pinch maybe.
-------------------- Getting the most out of your casings!, A pinning strategy. Oyster Shell "Flour" $2 for 1lb. a hell of a deal Not what is overlay but rather what overlay is Gas Exchange vs. FAE "We all have priorities. I used a closet once setup a nice little lab trouble was all the shit that was in there ended up in the bedroom that pissed off the GF then I ended up dumping her as she was getting in the way of my sterile culture technique! Ya I got priorities too!!!"
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Miracle Gro Moisture Control potting mix as a casing? [Re: hyphae]
#5747193 - 06/13/06 08:17 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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are the fertilizer pellets those little yellow balls? i know the white ones are obviously perlite... there's some yellow ones too that are few and far between. like literally 4-5 in total across my entire casing surface that could have really easily been picked out had i been so inclined. (obviously would have wanted to pick them out before hydrating, as i know some of the fertz are soluble)
ironically i just looked in a sealed tupperware of leftover microwave-ghetto-sterilized mix from the case in my picture to look for those yellow pellets, and found a little tiny spec of mold in it, so now i really dont doubt it can contam easily... (granted was in a sealed container for almost 2 weeks now, totally stagnant air, my babies never get such a harsh treatment!) *shrug* still with no problems in my cases thus far with a few under my belt using it, and totally fantastic pinsets every time, i'm gonna stick with what works for me as its so damn easy
but those of you contam-paranoid might want to reconsider my initial reccomendation, that peak in the container just now made me eat my own words
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