40 replies to this topic

[TurkeyRanch]

So I bought a bale of straw only to break it open and find a bunch of nasty black mold in there. Not surprising for where I am and what time of year it is. . .

Later in the week I was out on a walk with the pooches in an unused wooded area by my house where there is a lake. All along the shore I noticed large patches of canary reed grass (Phalaris arundinacea). The new growth is 3 or 4 feet tall already, but there were clumps of standing dry grass at least 5 feet tall. They were so nice and cellulosey that I decided to pick some.

I know there has been discussion of triptamine containing grasses boosting the potency of the end product, and that interests me. But I have to agree with the folks that say personal bioassay is too subjective and I obviously don't have the resources to test alkaloid content. I have to admit I was mainly just looking for something to add to my subs and I know cubies will like it, and there it was . . . I guess the experiment is just "will this work at my nasty house?" :lol:

So I took it home and stripped off most of the leaves, hacked it into 1/4 inch pieces with my paper cutter and gave them a 12 (18?) hour bleach soak.

Sub is roughly as follows: 30% Phalaris arundinacea stalk, 30% horse poo (some goat and elk mixed in too) 20% coir, 10% castings, 10% verm.


EDIT: I tossed in some super fluffed polyfil on one of the deep square tubs as I intend on fruiting it as a cake, and want to see if this will help hold it together more. . . just messing around.

I have terrible trich issues at my new place (three runs and only a few tubs have given me a third flush even w/o straw) so I have been avoiding straw entirely. Thus I was a bit paranoid with the sub prep. Water pasteurized for 3 hours, oven pasteurized for 4 hours.

Spawn was a voracious cambo isolate on popcorn.

Spawned to mini bucket style tubs inside my mammoth glove box at what I guess to be about 35% to give a jump on colonization and trich. I normally don't case my bulk subs, but I figured I would do all I can to stave off the green, so I applied a super thin verm/coir casing to the top. Left 1 sans casing to see how it does. Into the incubator they went tonight.

Will do my best to get pics up of what the mix looks like before it gets too colonized to see. Computer and phone (and thus camera) issues atm.

K!

Peace and Light,
:pirate: TR

z

Edited by TurkeyRanch, 19 May 2010 - 08:50 AM.
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[Freaky]

This will be great to see how it works out for you.

[Buzztea]

did you leave the grass to dry first (like straw) or fresh?

[TurkeyRanch]

Ha, I did everything I could possibly think of to defeat the trich, and if this doesn't work I may just tear my hair out. . .

:pirate:

[TurkeyRanch]

did you leave the grass to dry first (like straw) or fresh?

I used the standing dry stuff from last year.

:pirate: TR

[hyphaenation]

I was just looking at a patch of phylaris grass and you can tell the stuff is quite contam resistant by the way it does not rot even as its laying dead on the ground the next year.

Good luck. Phylaris is a very renewable resource.

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Edited by hyphaenation, 19 May 2010 - 11:45 AM.

[copelandiaKidd]

Iv Been wanting to do the same thing. Im sure there is nothing much left in that last year's grass. My variation will be to chop fresh and dry it..... thanx for this thread though..... It gives me a boost of desire to try this!!!!!:rasta:

[kcmoxtractor]

Heck yeah man, I have also been wondering about this one for a while! Keep us updated on this experiment!

[Freaky]

I've only used it as an outdoor protective barrier, casing like.

I can't wait to see how this works out for you TR.

[TurkeyRanch]

Thanks everyone! I will do my best to take a picture of the uncased sub so everyone can see it pre-colonization. If this does well I will go get as much as I can, and spend a day filling a big rubbermaid to stash. . .

I was just looking at a patch of phylaris grass and you can tell the stuff is quite contam resistant by the way it does not rot even as its laying dead on the ground the next year.

Good luck. Phylaris is a very renewable resource.

Phylaris is anywhere that has water around here, not that it should be, but it is. And I was very impressed with how well the dead grass from last year wintered. A very few stalks had spots of mildew on them, but on the lower sections that were layered and moist. Anything that was exposed to the sun was white, shiny and clean.

I think i will gather some in the late fall or early winter when it is dry but before any mildew sets in, and give it a try in an outdoor bed. The mature stalks are very cellulostic and woody.


Peace!
:pirate: TR

[TurkeyRanch]

I've only used it as an outdoor protective barrier, casing like.

I can't wait to see how this works out for you TR.

I believe that would work well just from handling the material and feeling it. I would think it is much more contam resistant than straw just from how it feels.

:pirate:

[Freaky]

Yes, I just lay a covering over outdoor patches and it creates a nice barrier from hard rain and aids in keeping humidity just right.

[TurkeyRanch]

Well, so far the cambo is ripping thru the sub at supersonic speed. Thanks for all the interest. Pics to come I promise. :rasta:

:pirate:

[WarezHaxor]

Awesome TR, definitely tuned in! Ive got so much of it around where I live, nice to know I can have a bunch in case I run out of straw, or who knows, maybe Id like it better...gonna have to test this myself. Can't wait for the pics though!

[TurkeyRanch]

Phylaris is an invasive, and is very prolific. If you live in a climate that it likes it is around. Plus if you cut some down you are helping (a bit). Its more work to go gather and strip the grass yourself than buying a bale of straw for $5, but more fun this way.

Plus as people that have experience with phylaris already say and observing how it wintered, its fairly contam resistant. If these tubs go well I am stocking up. Plus the doggies like going to the lake where it grows . . .

For pics I have to borrow someones phone, take a pic, borrow their computer that has bluetooth, and then post. BAH! In a week my computer issues will be solved, but the sub will be colonized. I have a feeling I will be using more phylaris, so will have plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Peace!
:pirate: TR

[TastyBeverage]

Looking forward to when your computer issues will be solved! :)

I am looking forward to seeing the results of this experiment.

[TVCasualty]

Cool, this was something I'd wanted to try too. I've pulled up my chair to await the results!

BTW, I've been exploring a WBS blend for parakeets that's a little more expensive but has no black sunflower seeds to strain out and contains Phalaris seeds (listed as Reed Canary Grass seed on the label). It might be a great blend for spawning bulk grows.

[TurkeyRanch]

Sounds cool TV.

Brand? I would like to give that a shot.

Update: So I really really like this mix, its catching up to the stuff I spawned a week ago. Means I need to make a few more racks for my dryer. If i didnt know better I would say the subs are at least 3 days further along then they are! :eusa_clap

:pirate:

[Freaky]

TR!


TV, I use the parakeet mix you speak of, pricier but makes for good spawn.

[Freaky]

TR!


TV, I use the parakeet mix you speak of, pricier but makes for good spawn.