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tahoe
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8047042 - 02/20/08 12:15 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I have not read through this post at all so forgive my ignorance on this subject. I also do not cultivate cubes so this is the main reason why I havent followed up on coir although I have my concerns. I remember back in the day when b+ was said to be a cube/azure hybrid. People were all jazzed up about it because they were spawning it to wood chips and they though they were getting great yeilds. Come to find out they were not getting great yeilds. They were only getting what was expected with the amount of spawn that they used.
Is this the case with coir? Is this stuff really adding nutrients that cubes can digest? Of is it just giving a bigger surface area/deeper sub depth which is producing a very good first flush but not more then to be expected from the amount of spawn used?
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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doc34
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: tahoe]
#8047052 - 02/20/08 12:18 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Of is it just giving a bigger surface area/deeper sub depth which is producing a very good first flush but not more then to be expected from the amount of spawn used?
Bingo, along with more water = IMO & IME
Doc
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tahoe
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8047123 - 02/20/08 12:37 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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pretty good for not reading the post or any other coir threads, huh? If it is too good to be true it probably is.
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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axis_tech
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: tahoe]
#8047219 - 02/20/08 01:00 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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so for people spawning to coir it would be wiser to use a spawn ratio of say 1:1 for larger/more flushes?
I know it's probably not worth it but for some people hauling horse poo and straw into their house isn't much of an option.
-------------------- takes a token' and keeps on smoken'
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Tomandjerry58
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8047386 - 02/20/08 01:44 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
doc34 said:
Quote:
HybridprX said: coir alone does not give off terribly high yields, mix in some coffee grounds with it and it's just as good as straw/hpoo
Straw/poo is the hands down winner for monster shrooms, it can't be beat. I don't know when coir became a substrate, because it contains only minute nutrients, being high in Sodium and Potassium, it is very low in Nitrogen. It is Coconut husks, the outer shell of the coconut seed that is shredded, it has very little nutrient values as compared to Poo/Straw. Using it as a substrate isn't really a good idea IMO & IME. Using it as a substrate your adding water not nutrients-Coir holds about 10 times its size/weight in water-just like verm. Why do you think people add it to their substrate of straw, poo, or grains? To add moisture not nutrients.
Coir dust is very similar to peat in appearance. It is light to dark brown in color and consists primarily of particles in the size range 0.2-2.0 mm (75-90%). Unlike sphagnum peat, there are no sticks or other extraneous matter. Independent analyses of coir dust were performed in May and June 1991 at Auburn University, University of Arkansas, and A&L Analytical Laboratories (Memphis, TN). G. C. Cresswell (1992) looked at coir dust in comparison to sedge and sphagnum peat products and concluded that it has superior structural stability, water absorption ability and drainage, and cation exchange capacity compared to either sphagnum peat or sedge peat. Coir dust tends to be high in both sodium and potassium, compared to the other peats, but Na is leached readily from the material under irrigation. The high levels of potassium present in coir dust are interesting, and may actually prove more a benefit than any detriment to plant growth. Coir dust from sources other than Sri Lanka have also reportedly contained chlorides at levels toxic to many plants, thus it is very important that salinity in the raw material be monitored before processing into a horticultural amendment. It is evident, that chemical properties of this material can vary widely from source to source. The higher pH of coir dust may allow less lime to be added to a coir dust-based medium, though adding dolomite to container soils is more important for Ca and Mg nutrition than for elevating pH. Cresswell did find that a small amount of nitrogen drawdown (N kept from availability to plants during decomposition of organic amendments low in nitrogen) occurred with coir dust, but typical production fertilization practices would likely compensate for the small amount of resulting N loss. At present, it is unclear how else fertilization regimes may need to be adjusted, if at all, in media composed chiefly of coir dust.
I use it for casing material only (and I get huge yields, check some of my posts) unless I add it the substrate to add moisture, but, that's just how I do it, some will argue differently
Doc
thank you.... that was making me go a little crazy... some of the newbs are so off track... it think there to afraid to pasturize poo in there house.. when all and all it doesn't stink or anything smells like brownies me thinks
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tahoe
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: axis_tech]
#8047503 - 02/20/08 02:15 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
axis_tech said: so for people spawning to coir it would be wiser to use a spawn ratio of say 1:1 for larger/more flushes?
I know it's probably not worth it but for some people hauling horse poo and straw into their house isn't much of an option.
Like I said, I do not have any experience with coir but from what I have seen the flushes are not huge compared to the amount of spawn used. If someone knows differnt for sure then??
Substrate depth and size plays a huge role in yeilds. It would be nice to know the amount of brf/wbs used and the total weight of the yeild to figure out effiecent the whole set up it.
-------------------- Stop experimenting half way through your first grow. Grow it to maturity, watch it, learn from it. Do this a few times then experiment with different ideas and figure out what works best for you.
My Legacy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/22140987#22140987 Teh=The I need to proofread
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kupa trooper



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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: tahoe]
#8047537 - 02/20/08 02:26 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I am doing a coir coffee right now and i know that adds the missing nitrogen. But I used only 2 Qt spawn to 14 Qt sub and cased with jiffy mix. I can post my result on first flush in a couple days. Oh and it is MS Malabar to WBS.
-------------------- I don't know but I've been told. It's hard to run with the weight of gold On the other hand I heard it said. It's just as hard with the weight of lead.
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axis_tech
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: tahoe]
#8047563 - 02/20/08 02:30 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I'm in the process of moving and stopped growing awhile ago but if no one else tries it before i get settled in i will get an isolate and mix different spawn ratio's to coir and see what i come up with. if anyone knows of an experiment like this all ready lemme know plz.
-------------------- takes a token' and keeps on smoken'
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FooMan



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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8048249 - 02/20/08 05:05 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I'm not sure about that Doc. I've used coir with low spawn:coir ratios and still achieved magnificent yields. I know coir is high in lignin and cellulose, which is ideal for woodlovers, but cubes seem to tear it up just the same. You can grow cubes off of low nutrition cardboard and newspaper, so why not coconut husks?
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doc34
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: FooMan]
#8050804 - 02/21/08 08:20 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
I'm not sure about that Doc. I've used coir with low spawn:coir ratios and still achieved magnificent yields. I know coir is high in lignin and cellulose, which is ideal for woodlovers, but cubes seem to tear it up just the same. You can grow cubes off of low nutrition cardboard and newspaper, so why not coconut husks?
Your water content was what got your yields so high-along with what nutrients were present in your substrate and the surface area of your casing, but water is the main factor. Mushrooms are 90 % water and they have to get that water from some where right(That's why they fruit after it rains)? Right, so, when you add coir, verm, shit, straw to your spawn, you are not only adding food but you are adding alot of water to support the flush and allow for it to be huge. Not to mention the high humidity and the misting that will be done to add even more water. Your mycelia has to have a foundation to fruit from and coir gives it just that. Your cubes have to have a sustainable surface to fruit from or they won't fruit(or fruit well). Coir resembles horse shit in texture, aeration and water holding capacity(actually more so than shit), mycelia love it because it can consume it very fast due to its texture and aeration(why don't you compact the substrate in PF style jars?-Because the mycelia has a hard time colonizing it when it is compacted). Compact your coir and watch how slow it takes it to colonize it. Adding more coir than spawn isn't a good idea because all the mycelia is doing is trying to get to the surface to fruit
Look, when you use Coir it creates a perfect environment for the mycelia. As long as you can keep it at the appropriate temperature the coir itself provides the humidity and the mycelia just loves it and it flies through it due to its aeration and humidity-you supplied the temps. Mycelia needs co2 to grow and underneath the surface is co2 in the coir(aeration)-that is why the mycelia rips through it. And as far as it goes about it ripping through the coir, that has alot to do with the strain used also,but the reason for the fast colonization of the coir is still from the aeration(co2 build-up) and texture(fluffy strands like straw) of the coir itself. This is my own personal opinion about Coir from my own tests and comparisons. Coir is better suited as a casing material than a substrate, but, it can be used as both, a casing layer material or as a filler to add moisture and aerate the substrate. Either way it adds aeration(co2 and room to grow) and water to your casing.
My two pennies
Doc
P.S. I don't want to start another "COIR-Substrate or Casing material" arguement. People do different thiings and thats how this hobby grows=experiment, experiment = try new things. I am just one of those people that believes that if something isn't broken don't try to fix it and if it works, use it! 
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Yrat
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: tahoe]
#8051246 - 02/21/08 10:09 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
tahoe said: Is this the case with coir? Is this stuff really adding nutrients that cubes can digest? Of is it just giving a bigger surface area/deeper sub depth which is producing a very good first flush but not more then to be expected from the amount of spawn used?
A simple experiment could confirm this either way. Perhaps a single grain transfer to a sterilized jar of coir to see if it is indeed colonized. Perhaps I will try a tray of coir with only a couple grains on top to see if they eat their way through the whole thing.
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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RoYaL_fLuSh
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8051384 - 02/21/08 10:48 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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im getting good results substituting coir for straw in hpoo and adding coffee and verm .. 40hpoo/25coir/25verm/10cofee ratio .. am also using the course grade of coir though .. not the fine grainy stuff ..
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TobesCanaian



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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: RoYaL_fLuSh]
#8051464 - 02/21/08 11:26 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I may not be an expert such as doc and tahoe however I do use coir myself with good result only because i live in Northern Canada and hpoo is not available. The reason i chose coir was because i read and read and read. Now anybody who is still starting posts like this does not read I personally take alot of RR advice because to me he is one of the best on the boards and seems to know something about everything. I cant say he is better then doc or tahoe that i dont know but to me he is one of the best now to just search his name with Coir as a substrate i see the same argument everytime pages upon pages how coir is a suitable substrate does well as hpoo, does perform better with a nitrogen boost such as coffee grounds, worm castings..... and so on so to quote RR.
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: So far, every mushroom species I've attempted to grow on coir except shiitake has done quite well. I generally add the coffee grinds from that mornings coffee pot to the coir. I've grown oysters, cubes, reishi, pan stipticus, hericium, and a few others on it. Coir actually works well for both wood lovers and dung and straw lovers. This is based on several years of tests.
That's why starting back in 2003 I suggested here that people try it as a substrate rather than as a casing which is all it was being used for at that time. That was pure heresy and I took a lot of shit for saying it, but since that time many growers have produced nice fat crops of high potent cubes, as well as other species on coir alone as a substrate. RR
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coAsTal
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: TobesCanaian]
#8052267 - 02/21/08 03:05 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Nothing. But. Coir.
-------------------- I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart's affections and the truth of Imagination-- John Keats Spore Trading List
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Tomandjerry58
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: TobesCanaian]
#8052277 - 02/21/08 03:07 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i think your coir is an alternate source. the poo compost or straw would be ur primary source. sometimes its hard to understand other peoples techniques...but to each his own.. once i saw a poo/straw flush i never went back to anything else ... it was just so much more and the shrooms were anywhere from 6 to 10 inches tall and just massive flushes... way more than i could handle
every time i see these coffee post its like a forign language... i think that its good as far as recycling and shit.... but neccessary or bigger.. better than what we were already doing... no in my opinion.... also i think newbs should learn the basics first then experiment with mycology....
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Tomandjerry58
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: coAsTal]
#8052292 - 02/21/08 03:11 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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well ...ill shut my mouth nice flush
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doc34
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: RoYaL_fLuSh]
#8052300 - 02/21/08 03:13 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
im getting good results substituting coir for straw in hpoo and adding coffee and verm ..
You have Horse poo & coffee & verm = Food & Speed( ) & Water and you get big shrooms
The food was there before you added the coir.
coAsTal said:
Quote:
Nothing. But. Coir.
What was your spawn composed of?
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FooMan



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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: doc34]
#8052489 - 02/21/08 04:04 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
doc34 said: P.S. I don't want to start another "COIR-Substrate or Casing material" arguement. People do different thiings and thats how this hobby grows=experiment, experiment = try new things. I am just one of those people that believes that if something isn't broken don't try to fix it and if it works, use it! 
--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
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FooMan



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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: Tomandjerry58]
#8052535 - 02/21/08 04:15 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
preschooler said: every time i see these coffee post its like a forign language... i think that its good as far as recycling and shit.... but neccessary or bigger.. better than what we were already doing... no in my opinion.... also i think newbs should learn the basics first then experiment with mycology....
I don't think most people who use coir do so because they're against using poo/straw. It's just that many of them don't have access to poo or straw, especially people in urban areas, so substituting for coir is a no-brainer.
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Quick WBS Prep
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doc34
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Re: Straight coco coir - inferior substrate? [Re: FooMan]
#8052699 - 02/21/08 04:50 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
I don't think most people who use coir do so because they're against using poo/straw. It's just that many of them don't have access to poo or straw, especially people in urban areas, so substituting for coir is a no-brainer.
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