148 replies to this topic

[Micogi]

Quick Q about the fruiting in the guide. How important is vermiculite, and are there alternatives to use?

Doesn't seem like any place has locally smaller than a 2cubic foot bag, slightly more than I'd need...

[jkdeth]

For which purpose exactly? Are you referring to the bed of vermiculite, in foil, to set cakes on? You can skip that and just set the cake on foil, but it really helps. You might use hydrated coir or peat in place of it

[rockyfungus]

Vermiculite serves two purposes. The brown rice flour on it's own will clump and not allow myc to colonize.
The vermiculite on top is an aseptic barrier to try and prevent contamination getting to the nutritional rice under it. (saves your ass if you got bad technique)

[Micogi]

Sorry, I'm not following the Tek per say but trying to take bits from it.

Once my grow bag is colonized I'll probably fruit it in a chamber, but a more legit attempt than previous.

Page 26 says "One at a time, put the cakes into your bowl of damp vermiculite and roll them around so that the vermiculite sticks to the sides."

I'd cut the plastic off the colonized bag and cut it into two "cakes", setting it in pieces of foil in a perlite bottomed tub.

So I probably wouldn't need but a handful of vermiculite, I can try a garden center near me but I don't want to buy 2 CF for a handful lol

[Sidestreet]

Usually I have a harder time finding the big bags!  I find small bags at Lowe's, Home Depot, that kind of place.

[MushLuvR]

Usually I have a harder time finding the big bags!  I find small bags at Lowe's, Home Depot, that kind of place.

I usually buy Verm by the 4 Cubic Foot, but awhile back(couple months), the Grow Store I go to every once in awhile(HD was out they usually have the 2cu ft) said their was a shortage of VERM(factory/Covid issues) and they were sold out.  I had to go to a local hardware place to get a small overpriced bagged to get me through until I could get a Big bag.  I use it for my Cannabis Soil as well and you will get beat up by them small bags.  All the projects I do... BULK for everything.  It's the only way.  

Edited by MushLuvR, 20 November 2021 - 11:36 AM.

[bezevo]

i bought a gigantic 4 cu ft bag of verm from amazon for less than two of the little bags from lowes or home-despot

 

i am farly certan it won't go bad heh.................THRIFTY !

 

bez

Edited by bezevo, 20 November 2021 - 09:29 PM.

[krongi]

So glad to see something like this. The last time I did any growing was 8 years back. Just recently started back up again. Took me forever to remember the name of this site. Was happy my username still worked lol. My first comeback grow went ok, but prob would've gone better with this. Also if I didn't use an instant pot and a proper PC 

[MushLuvR]

When I first started out, I had been doing a ton of research and prepping, and I found a PC on clearance for 49.99 way back when (2010/11ish) and it was the first thing I bought.  It's a smaller 16qt but she's been great and I can do 7 quarts ALL the same.  I can even squeeze 4 5lb Unicorn bags in there (with a layer of rings below the trivet), it's snug, but she gets ER done No doubt.  I started with WBS so it was a MUST and a tool you can use for MANY many projects.  I also use it to pasteurize bags or jars, PC's are fairly expensive these days, sometimes you can come up on one at a yard sale or thrift store used, maybe one of the "LIST" sites, plenty of people who buy them and just don't use them to their full capability.  Could be a SCORE for the winning team.  

Edited by MushLuvR, 13 October 2022 - 12:30 PM.