Home | Community | Message Board
You are not signed in.
Sign In New Account
Forum Index Search Posts Trusted Vendors Highlights Galleries FAQ User List Chat Store Random Growery

PlanetSpores.ca
This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.

Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Shop: North Spore Boomr Bag   Original Sensible Seeds Bulk Cannabis Seeds   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order   Mushroom-Hut Mono Tub Substrate   Sporeworks.EU Spores for European Microscopy

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
!!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency
    #7811571 -

I went to the local Hydroponics store and found this product: Fox Farm Soil & Fertilizer Co. Curious if this might be good as a substrate or casing additive? As a casing, I belived it comes with nutrients, so, not sure. But as a substrate component, this may be great!!

Check out the ingredients:

Composted Forest Humus
Sphagnum Peat Moss
Earthrworm Castings
Vermicultural Compost (bedding material and livestock manure)
Sandy Loam
Fossilized Bat Guano
Granite Dust
Norwegian Kelp Meal
Dolomite Lime
& Oyster Shell (for pH adjustment)

The guy said that everything is organic and that it is supposed to be neutral.

1) After doing a lot of research I notice a lot of ingredients here that are found in both suggested subrates and casing layers. I recently found a Synthetic Casing Patent online (www.freepatentsonline.com/4079543
) that mentions granite as a good supplement, when combined with Activated Carbon, which can be bought in the fish section of a pet store. I have some of this. I also have Hpoo, and shredded straw. I need to to do the casing tomorrow. Please send suggestions!!!

2)The patent says to also add gypsum, but the only I could find has 80% gypsum, 18.6 calsium, and 14.9 sulfur. Would this hurt a mushroom?

3) Is the Hpoo acceptible with grass bits in it. It's what I have to work with. Totally shredded, but grassy!

Link to my Grow Log: http://www.shroomtalk.com/forum/index.php?...mp;#entry112867

Thanks,

Sha

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: ShaTipote37]
    #7811749 -

the fox farm shit should be alright for a casing layer and yes hpoo with grass in it is ok most hpoo does have some in it. actually im pretty sure the myc will like it more seeing how cow poo with straw/ hpoo with straw both are nice substrates


--------------------
lol i just lied to whoever was reading that.....

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: ShaTipote37]
    #7812737 -

dolomitic lime is a nogo. from what ive read it puts a halt on mycelium growth. do a serch on it, not sure if there is enough there to harm it.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: Twiggs]
    #7814037 -

I used it by mistake a couple of times and while it worked the flushes were pitiful.


--------------------
Newcomers guide-----> For all things shroomy

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: Nibin]
    #7826369 -

Thanks for the good feedback. I'll return the mix. Reason being, casing is meant to be non nutritive, and for a reason. Actually, two I think. The first is so contaminants have a harder time getting a foothold, and the second is because (or so I've read) if the casing layer is insufficient in nutrients, then the mycelium growing into the casing is unable to form the polyphenol oxidase enzymes, which in turn produce the "quinones" that prevent fruiting. The quinones are useful to the mushroom as a defensive mechanism, but must be destroyed in order to induce fruiting. The alkalinity and reducing substances occurring in the casing also serve to destroy these quinone inhibitors volatilizing into the casing. The casing also serves as an additional source of moisture.

It's too bad there isn't a product made premixed for casing.

I've been on vacation for a few days and realized the heat was turned off. I spawned the substrate right before I left, so I still have a day or two to figure out something else. I guess it's coco coir/vermiculite with oyster shells. Haven't found out where to get those yet.

Edited by ShaTipote37 (01/05/08 10:27 AM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: ShaTipote37]
    #7826379 -

Quote:
ShaTipote37 said: It's too bad there isn't a product made premixed for casing.


Uhh... Micracle Gro Moisture Control? some people don't even adjust the pH

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: somebody041]
    #7835270 -

Thanks Somebody! I really appreciate you turning me on to Miracle Grow Moisture Control (MGMC). I picked up a bag yesterday and a few other things. I did some research and I'm sort of adapting something I've read from online to the MGMC method: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4079543.html.

A good plan might be to mix the MGMC with All Natural CALCIUM SAND by All Living Things in order to buffer the Peat Moss portion of the mixture. And also to add Activated Carbon (Fish tank filter filler that is crushed with a hammer or some sort of pulverizer).

This brand of Calcium Sand is supposed to be natural, untreated, and uncolored, unlike some products out there. It can be found in the reptile section at a pet store. As a buffer, I'm not sure how it will work. I've been having a hell of a time trying to learn about Calcium Carbonate, and all I can gather is that there are many forms of it that occur naturally, though the forms differ by structure, not by it's molecular makeup.

For example you can find it from Shells, Calcite growing in caves, Aragonite (similar to Calcite), and in Limestone, etc.

From what I understand, Calcium Carbonate Sand is simply that, Calcium Carbonate that has "been ground into a fine sand to simulate the feel of desert terrain."

I'll keep everyone posted. If anyone has further suggestions let me know, i.e. ratio suggestions, etc. :grin:

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: ShaTipote37]
    #7835872 -

I mixed Calcium Carbonate into some MGMC and tested it's PH level against a control without the Calcium Sand.

Unfortunately I am not an authority on the subject of chemistry, but my hopefully this will help get some answers! :smile:

Here are the results:

The first test (the control - MGMC as is) registered as acidic (6.0).
The second test with added Calcium Sand (roughly 10%) registered as neutral (7.0).
The third test with Calcium Sand and Activated Carbon registered as Alkaline (7.5); I added equal parts activated carbon and calcium sand (10% each).

It does augment the PH. I believe it will do well as a buffer.

-Sha

Edited by ShaTipote37 (01/05/08 03:11 PM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: ShaTipote37]
    #7836418 -

nice work! i have not heard of using activated carbon in a casing but it looks like it may be beneficial. keep us posted with your flushes

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: Nibin]
    #7838201 -

Nibin said:
I used it by mistake a couple of times and while it worked the flushes were pitiful.


I meant dolomitic lime, not the actual mix or calcium carbonate. Just so no confusions occur.


--------------------
Newcomers guide-----> For all things shroomy

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: !!! Fox Farm Planting Mix ??? Hpoo Consistency [Re: somebody041]
    #7838972 -

Re: Dolomitic Lime - Thanks for clarifying Nibin. I think that's the only ingredient in there that is harmful. I wrote the company asking what percentage is in there. I believe it's harmful because of the magnesium in it, but I may be mistaken. When I get an answer back I'll post it. If it's a trace amount this may be a great substrate mix out of the bag, with no need for casing. It may be good to mix with a bit more Coco Coir. And it still might benefit from a 50/50 casing or straight vermiculite. It has a mixture of worm castings, bat guano, "vermicular bedding material" (straw?), and cow manure, plus tons of great ingredients for a casing, such as forest humus, loam, peat moss, granite dust (calcium carbonate source) and oyster shells (also a calcium carbonate).

About the Activated Carbon, etc., will do. Just got done with the casing. Did not think to take pictures. It was stressful doing it in open air. I'm doing three double tubs. One without a casing, with no real atmospheric aid. The second two are in a temperature regulated closet (87 degrees F), with about a 1/2 in. casing ea. In one I added a bit more calcium carbonate than the other. I PH tested the one with less and the PH registered about Neutral, so I was hoping to get the one with more alkaline at about 7.5 minimum. If there are no contams, it will be interesting to see how the results turn out.

-Sha

Edited by ShaTipote37 (01/07/08 07:09 AM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1

Shop: North Spore Boomr Bag   Original Sensible Seeds Bulk Cannabis Seeds   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order   Mushroom-Hut Mono Tub Substrate   Sporeworks.EU Spores for European Microscopy

Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Mushroom Cultivation
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Similar ThreadsPosterViewsRepliesLast post
* substitute for vermiculite lostnthought 1,445 3 12/15/03 06:37 PM
by Cloud9
* Casing mix question KentuckyPWRLFTR 609 2 10/01/03 09:29 PM
by mushroomspoon
* .. pf-birdseed tek, how much to mix ..
( 1 2 all )		 BluntOMatic 4,219 20 03/13/03 10:16 AM
by BluntOMatic
* Farm & Fleet goodies? Pugslee_Atoms420 562 6 05/01/03 12:57 PM
by Pugslee_Atoms420
* Quick tip for mixing brf substrate Mykey 1,873 7 06/09/12 05:59 AM
by cool
* planting flushed out casing outside Iowa Rasta 934 5 06/01/02 01:23 PM
by Iowa Rasta
* Consistancy of substrate of pf tek? tokewl4aname 976 3 07/13/02 03:44 PM
by walt
* shults starting mix????? pleezr 541 1 02/16/02 01:49 PM
by puscle

Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Shroomism, george castanza, RogerRabbit, veggie, mushboy, fahtster, the_chosen_one, LogicaL Chaos, 13shrooms, hamloaf, cronicr, Stipe-n Cap, Pastywhyte, bodhisatta, Tormato, Land Trout, A.k.a
1,197 topic views. 14 members, 1,122 guests and 178 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2026 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.025 seconds spending 0.009 seconds on 16 queries.