|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
Gunnthier
Habit
Registered: 10/20/03
Posts: 81
Loc: Behind You
Last seen: 17 years, 6 months
|
60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question
#5800068 - 06/28/06 04:53 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I'm about to case my mushrooms (1st time) and it says to put about 1inch of vermiculite on the bottom, then crumbled substrate, and then casing mix (verm/coir), creating 3 layers total ( i can count ladies and gents'). what I want to know is, should i sterilize the vermiculite on the bottom layer?? I prolly should but i haven't read that should... can you pro's tell if i should? I feel like idiot even asking.
-------------------- -The things said on this board is nothing but ficticious thoughts that I dream-up daily- -My life is like comic book prints, filled with issues- -Everything else is just an option-
|
LateForTheFuture
Old Hand


Registered: 02/24/03
Posts: 845
|
Re: 60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question [Re: Gunnthier]
#5800077 - 06/28/06 04:55 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
the 60/40 casing layer works great without the bottom layer of vermiculite, but yes, I would sterilize it.
|
SDP
ChronicAficionado



Registered: 01/21/05
Posts: 1,297
Last seen: 5 months, 28 days
|
Re: 60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question [Re: Gunnthier]
#5800082 - 06/28/06 04:57 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
The verm layer is fine unsterilized and it tends to slow the process down to try to do so, however, the top casing layer should be pasteurized or pressure cooked. The verm/coir mix is good, but do watch out for the mycelium colonized the coir as opposed to growing through it (which is what you want). For this reason, i switched to peat moss/verm... however, it generally shouldn't make a difference. Good luck!
-SDP
-------------------- Teonanacatl, open up my eyes This sacrament, this prayer, beyond the world of lies Guide me clearly through that which I dont understand Give me strength to find the path Help me fight any demons as you flow through me wholely This is my prayer, that you protect me from evil, and bring me closer to peace And open up my eyes, so i can see things as you do Amen
Edited by SDP (06/28/06 04:59 PM)
|
creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
|
|
agreed you don't really need the bottom layer. it can help if you overwater, but if you underwater your casing it will only suck more water out making it worse. its optional and a matter of preference, have done it both ways personally and never seen a difference either way... so i don't bother because its one less thing to do.
sterilizing it also isn't entirely necessary. its generally pretty clean to begin with (its formed under extremely high heat and contains no nutrition to feed contams anyway). i've always used it straight from the bag with absolutely zero problems. buuut... getting it damp and microwaving it (keeping it covered but with a little crack somewhere so steam can escape, nuke 2-3 minutes on high, wait about 10 minutes, 2-3 more minutes on high, wait again, and finally a third nuke at 2-3 minutes, and allow to cool for several hours) is totally sufficient. you certainly can pack it into jars and PC it, or even lay it out on a baking tray and bake on high heat (like 350) for 30-45 minutes.
|
Gunnthier
Habit
Registered: 10/20/03
Posts: 81
Loc: Behind You
Last seen: 17 years, 6 months
|
Re: 60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question [Re: SDP]
#5800092 - 06/28/06 05:01 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
thanks. w/ peat/verm, whats the ratio? is it the same as coir?
-------------------- -The things said on this board is nothing but ficticious thoughts that I dream-up daily- -My life is like comic book prints, filled with issues- -Everything else is just an option-
|
SDP
ChronicAficionado



Registered: 01/21/05
Posts: 1,297
Last seen: 5 months, 28 days
|
Re: 60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question [Re: Gunnthier]
#5800118 - 06/28/06 05:11 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I do a 50/50 mix of peat-moss\verm...
I soak the verm and peat-moss (in separate containers) for about 5-10 minutes... then get a bigger container and take a double-handful of peat-moss and squeeeeze until all the water is squeezed out, then put in big container. Then get an equal sized amount of vermiculite, squeeeze, and put in the big container (you might need to do 2 rounds with the verm, since it can sometimes be hard to get equally as much as the peat-moss in 1 double-handful). Do that until you have enough, then mix it all together. Put in your jars with your lids rubber side up, lids 1/4 loosened, foil over the top, and pressure cooked for 1hour and 30min at 15psi. W00t! 
There is this tek though: http://www.shroomery.org/index.php/par/7977
For more "complete" casing mix... as an easy additive, get some hydrated lime from the garden store and put just a little bit in the mix for good luck. Good luck! 
-SDP
-------------------- Teonanacatl, open up my eyes This sacrament, this prayer, beyond the world of lies Guide me clearly through that which I dont understand Give me strength to find the path Help me fight any demons as you flow through me wholely This is my prayer, that you protect me from evil, and bring me closer to peace And open up my eyes, so i can see things as you do Amen
Edited by SDP (06/28/06 05:14 PM)
|
creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
|
Re: 60/40 verm/coir Sterilizing Question [Re: Gunnthier]
#5800121 - 06/28/06 05:12 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
with peat/verm you can use much more peat than you would coir. mycelium eat up coir fast which can lead to overlay, which is why you want less of it in your casing layer. i've used mixes that were almost entirely peat and did just fine... but there's the pH problems with peat, its quite acidic, so you'll either want to find a source that's pre-buffered (it will say it has a neutral pH on the bag) or plan on buffering it yourself... and for that maybe somebody can chime in with a "recipe" they use (or just look up the standard 50/50+, its under casing in the cultivation section of the site, outside the forums...), when i've done it in the past it was a lot of eyeballing and occasionally testing with pH strips so i dont have exact numbers for ya
|
|
|
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Shroomism, george castanza, RogerRabbit, veggie, mushboy, fahtster, LogicaL Chaos, 13shrooms, Stipe-n Cap, Pastywhyte, bodhisatta, Tormato, Land Trout, A.k.a 1,148 topic views. 35 members, 257 guests and 55 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ] |
|