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imnotthere
Registered: 02/23/08
Posts: 343
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I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in
#9058405 - 10/10/08 11:38 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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been calling around and found a place that specializes in hardwood flooring. The nice owner agreed to give me all the sawdust I want, free - he even has already bagged it up for me! It is mostly oak, which I understand will work excellent for Hericium, Reishi, and Oysters which I want to begin to grow indoor greenhouse style.
But...
he said it is very fine, and seems no wood chips included. I believe verm or coir? can be used to fluff fine sawdust up to avoid it being too compacted - I intend to get some kind of bran as well to do this thing right!
He said the wood is untreated, but something about polyurethane being on the floor - I think he meant the floor was varnished... And possibly drywall mud or paint cause he has swept the stuff off the floor.
My guess is it will be pretty good sawdust.... but what what about the above issues?
I can pick this stuff up on Monday, so please enlighten me on if this will be an issue!
sorry, on a side note... if bran is a supplement that helps the grow hugely like I understand.... what about just using more rye berry spawn to cover this supplement... and skipping the bran? do the rye and the bran give similar nute or different? rye is cheap as shit and I wouldn't mind using extra spawn to avoid buying bran....
Thank you to the pros!
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denger
Mycelium keeper



Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 1,177
Loc: Unites States of Dreams
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: imnotthere]
#9059298 - 10/10/08 02:46 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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If it is too fine, its not going to work well, if at all. The particles need to be bigger then 1mm in length, otherwise forget it. There are not too many tools that grind wood to a finer powder than that (I can only think of sanders or finish blades on a table saw), so chances are for you. Drywall or paint flakes or powder is not a problem. Drywall actually can be beneficial: its mostly CaSO4 (gypsum), which is a recommended additive. Bran is cheaper then grain, so check your local health food store before you say no to it. I get mine for under $0.50/lb. Grain can be used instead of bran, but you have to be careful not to overdo it.
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imnotthere
Registered: 02/23/08
Posts: 343
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: denger]
#9059572 - 10/10/08 03:42 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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it was more the elimination of steps that made using rye as the supplement instead of the bran. It would be easy enough just to do a higher spawn to bulk ratio to provide supplement. Not sure on the suggested ratios for rye to sawdust - something I need to read about still. I will just get the bran if it is that cheap and beneficial.
Assuming it is normal sawdust, and not too fine... what would you suggest adding to it to fluff - or is the spawn and bran enough to provide the fluffing.
I was thinking the drywall would be okay, or even as you said an extra kick. If there is a noticeable amount I will adjust the gypsum accordingly.
I know woodchips are not necessary. But is rye berries spawned to sawdust supplemented with bran enough of a fluffy substrate to prevent becoming a block...
thanks
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denger
Mycelium keeper



Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 1,177
Loc: Unites States of Dreams
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: imnotthere]
#9059678 - 10/10/08 04:08 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
imnotthere said: But is rye berries spawned to sawdust supplemented with bran enough of a fluffy substrate to prevent becoming a block...
Well, thats exactly what normally happens: mycelium binds the sawdust and it all becomes a "brick", which will fruit when exposed to the right conditions.
I don't know what to suggest for "fluffing". I myself use chainsaw sawdust and electrical planer sawdust, which is way too lite to begin with, its an opposite problem of yours (Although you don't know yet if you have a problem). I pack my sawdust tight to reduce air gaps. I guess you can just not pack it too tight... Just sift it into the whatever container you'r using.
In any case, try things out and before long you will figure your own methods.
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imnotthere
Registered: 02/23/08
Posts: 343
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: denger]
#9059828 - 10/10/08 04:46 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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in that case I don't think I'll have a problem. Just i've read that sawdust with no chips can be too tight of a substrate. Just like adding verm to poo for dung loving shrooms because the straight poo can be to dense and tight. Mycelium likes a fluffy substrate to rip through when doing a spawn run.
I think I am overthinking and the sawdust with bran will be plenty fluffy.
Do you have any suggestion on spawn ratio of rye berries to sawdust/bran?
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denger
Mycelium keeper



Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 1,177
Loc: Unites States of Dreams
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: denger]
#9060115 - 10/10/08 05:41 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Speaking of vermiculite: you can try using it in the mix if you end up with too dense of a mix.
As far as spawn to sawdust mix ratio, its a matter of personal preference. The more you use the faster it will colonize. However, if you use grain as spawn media, you can potentially go too high. Not sure what that means and what that causes, because I do not generally use grains as spawn media. For wood decomposers like oysters I use wood chunks or sawdust/bran for spawn (same as main substrate). I like to inoculate a quart jar of sawdust mix with a few chunks of agar culture (1/4 to 1/3 of a fully colonized petri dish per jar). When that colonizes, I take a sterilized knife and break it up into 1/2" chunks and mix it in the bags of sterilized sawdust mix. I use ratio of 1:10 for faster colonization.
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veda_sticks
Cultivator




Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 years, 25 days
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: denger]
#9062281 - 10/11/08 08:42 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have heard of sawdust being used instead of BRF for making pf cakes to grow shitakes, the sawdust in RR's video looked pretty fine. I dont see a problem with using vermiculite to fluff up the mix.
I dont really have much experience in sawdust or wood chips, but from reading around that substrate mixes dont really have much of a formula and you can pretty much mix at whatever ratios you want. its not an exact science. so i would think that mixing the sawdust with coir and possibly verm could work quite well. Oysters grow well on coffee grounds and coir. or in straw and cardboard. lots of options with oysters, planning on starting some oysters myself.
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denger
Mycelium keeper



Registered: 09/19/08
Posts: 1,177
Loc: Unites States of Dreams
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Re: I have a possible supply of sawdust.... but I have some questions before I dive in [Re: veda_sticks]
#9062637 - 10/11/08 11:03 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
veda_sticks said: but from reading around that substrate mixes dont really have much of a formula and you can pretty much mix at whatever ratios you want. its not an exact science.
This is incorrect. Sawdust is supplemented with nitrogen source at a very particular ratio. When using bran the ratio is 4:1 by weight. When using other nitrogen sources, the ratio will be different. GGMM has an entire chapter dedicated to sawdust based substrates.
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