Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
When I make a batch of substrate (1 650 gram brick of coir and vermiculite) it makes enough substrate to do four 6 quart shoe boxes. I can post a link for the recipe if your interested.
Tok's First Mushroom Diary - Medical First/Recreation
- Thread starter Tokin Roll
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #322
I was thinking this method @Ramblinrose1965
What do you think?
Ingredients for the substrate Quantity
1 brick of coco coir650 grams
Fine dry vermiculite8 cups
Gypsum1 cup
Boiling Water16 cups
One large pot
One large bucket with cover
Measuring cups
Stirrer or spoon
2. Boil the water in the large pot
When all ingredients and equipment are prepared, add the water to the large pot and bring it to a boil. Lower the temperature to 165°F (74°C) which is the ideal temperature for pasteurization.
3. Add ingredients to the bucket
Collect the brick of coco coir and the vermiculite and add them to the bucket. Add gypsum at this stage so it will also be pasteurized. Pour the recently boiled water into the bucket.
4. Mix the ingredients with water thoroughly
There are three different methods to mix the coco coir and vermiculite substrate mixture thoroughly. It will require a strong spoon or stirrer to evenly distribute the vermiculite to the coco coir properly. It will require a strong spoon or stirrer to evenly distribute the vermiculite to the coco coir properly.
Mixing is an important process as breaking up the substrate into pieces produces more surface area for the mycelium to colonize, thus speeding up colonization.
1. Mix the substrate before closing the bucket
When you add the boiling water to the bucket with coco coir, break it up with a spoon until no lumps or dry spots are visible. Add the vermiculite and gypsum at the same time and mix the ingredients well. Close the lid and leave the mixture at room temperature for at least 6 hours to cool down before moving on to inoculation.
2. Mix the substrate after an hour
When you add the boiling water to the bucket with all the other ingredients, close the lid. After an hour passes, open the lid and stir the mixture well to blend all the ingredients. After mixing, close the lid again and let the mixture cool down for at least 6 hours.
3. Mix the substrate after it has cooled down
This method works best if you don’t like to deal with hot mixtures. When you poured the water into the bucket with coco coir, vermiculite, and gypsum, close the bucket cover.
TR
edit: I already have all the supplies.
What do you think?
Ingredients for the substrate Quantity
1 brick of coco coir650 grams
Fine dry vermiculite8 cups
Gypsum1 cup
Boiling Water16 cups
One large pot
One large bucket with cover
Measuring cups
Stirrer or spoon
2. Boil the water in the large pot
When all ingredients and equipment are prepared, add the water to the large pot and bring it to a boil. Lower the temperature to 165°F (74°C) which is the ideal temperature for pasteurization.
3. Add ingredients to the bucket
Collect the brick of coco coir and the vermiculite and add them to the bucket. Add gypsum at this stage so it will also be pasteurized. Pour the recently boiled water into the bucket.
4. Mix the ingredients with water thoroughly
There are three different methods to mix the coco coir and vermiculite substrate mixture thoroughly. It will require a strong spoon or stirrer to evenly distribute the vermiculite to the coco coir properly. It will require a strong spoon or stirrer to evenly distribute the vermiculite to the coco coir properly.
Mixing is an important process as breaking up the substrate into pieces produces more surface area for the mycelium to colonize, thus speeding up colonization.
1. Mix the substrate before closing the bucket
When you add the boiling water to the bucket with coco coir, break it up with a spoon until no lumps or dry spots are visible. Add the vermiculite and gypsum at the same time and mix the ingredients well. Close the lid and leave the mixture at room temperature for at least 6 hours to cool down before moving on to inoculation.
2. Mix the substrate after an hour
When you add the boiling water to the bucket with all the other ingredients, close the lid. After an hour passes, open the lid and stir the mixture well to blend all the ingredients. After mixing, close the lid again and let the mixture cool down for at least 6 hours.
3. Mix the substrate after it has cooled down
This method works best if you don’t like to deal with hot mixtures. When you poured the water into the bucket with coco coir, vermiculite, and gypsum, close the bucket cover.
TR
edit: I already have all the supplies.
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
That sounds good......Let the water boil long enough to help get rid of any chlorine if it's city water.
PH is another consideration.......mine is around 8 so I lower it to about 6.8 or 7. I forget what is optimum for shrooms are but I think 8 is too high.
I also wrap my 5 gallon bucket in a quilt to help insulate it so it stays warm for a longer period of time.
Sounds like you have done this before!
PH is another consideration.......mine is around 8 so I lower it to about 6.8 or 7. I forget what is optimum for shrooms are but I think 8 is too high.
I also wrap my 5 gallon bucket in a quilt to help insulate it so it stays warm for a longer period of time.
Sounds like you have done this before!
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
How many and how big are your grain spawn jars?
- Thread starter
- #325
No, this is the first time for me, but I have been reading a lot.
Right now, only one 32 oz grain jar.
The second grain jar should be showing sign of mycelium growth, but I am going to wait a couple more days before I check it.
Would 16 oz. of colonized grain work for one shoe box?
Or use the whole 2 oz. on one shoe box?
Right now, only one 32 oz grain jar.
The second grain jar should be showing sign of mycelium growth, but I am going to wait a couple more days before I check it.
Would 16 oz. of colonized grain work for one shoe box?
Or use the whole 2 oz. on one shoe box?
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
Well Tokin Roll you have done your homework. I mix my grain spawn and substrate usually 1:1. I like my substrate/ grain spawn depth in my shoe boxes to be at least 2" deep or a little more. Anywhere between 2 and 4 is good.
- Thread starter
- #327
One think I don't know, is how long is the substrate good for after it is made?
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
It's snowing here today , So I'm working from home with lots of time to jump on 420. Love this great forum!
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
Not sure but I would think you could half the recipe
- Thread starter
- #330
Thanks, I will be half-ing it, so not to waste.
Those brick can't be that hard to break or I have some coco (bag) I was going to use for a grow and never got around to it.
It just needs weighed and re-hydrate it.
I am in southwestern Pennsylvania, so far we have had about three inches over night, but it's not done yet.
Those brick can't be that hard to break or I have some coco (bag) I was going to use for a grow and never got around to it.
It just needs weighed and re-hydrate it.
I am in southwestern Pennsylvania, so far we have had about three inches over night, but it's not done yet.
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
Started snowing here about 6am this morning. Hell we are practically neighbors....Im in jerzy.
I get the coir in bricks.....and yes it breaks up easily. I always add coir to a brick cause it always falls short of 650 grams. Also learn how to test for field capacity. Its very important!
I get the coir in bricks.....and yes it breaks up easily. I always add coir to a brick cause it always falls short of 650 grams. Also learn how to test for field capacity. Its very important!
- Thread starter
- #332
It is basically the same way I test coco coid if I was going to grow cannabis with it.
Squeeze it in my hand and watch how much moisture drips out. Minimal is best.
Squeeze it in my hand and watch how much moisture drips out. Minimal is best.
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
You are spot on!!
- Thread starter
- #334
My current guess is I will be making it this weekend; with the way the grain jar is colonizing.
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
I have 8 quart jars of spawn ready to go.....I have been too busy to get my tubs going. I have been busy with 2 girls in mid to late flower and 5 clones I just up potted to 1 gallon pots. One of these days I will start a shroom journal.
Stay warm and have a great weekend.
Stay warm and have a great weekend.
- Thread starter
- #336
Good morning @Ramblinrose1965
Which spores did you colonize?
TR
That's a lot of spawn; what do you do with all the mushrooms? I know it's a dumb question.
Which spores did you colonize?
TR
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
I have more than I can choke down by myself. I gave them out for Christmas stocking stuffers. 
I started with a single Golden Teacher spore print. Transfered the spores to agar and from the agar to the grain jars.Once I get the grain spawn jars going, I just do a simple grain to grain transfer in my still air box. Do you have a SAB? if you don't I highly recommend one. Its a game changer. I have not had any contaminates in my jars in a very long time using the SAB.
I started with a single Golden Teacher spore print. Transfered the spores to agar and from the agar to the grain jars.Once I get the grain spawn jars going, I just do a simple grain to grain transfer in my still air box. Do you have a SAB? if you don't I highly recommend one. Its a game changer. I have not had any contaminates in my jars in a very long time using the SAB.
Ramblinrose1965
Well-Known Member
For people just getting their feet wet in this world of mycology I recommend strains that are easy to grow and stand up well to contaminates. Golden teachers are a great place to start. What strain are you playing with?
- Thread starter
- #339
Yes, I did recently buy SAB, but it still in the box right now.
I will most likely follow your path of progression.
Did a quick peep on the Tidal Wave grain jar and I think I will be making my substrate tomorrow. Also, the Pan Cyan grain jar is starting mycelium growth stage.
I will most likely follow your path of progression.
Did a quick peep on the Tidal Wave grain jar and I think I will be making my substrate tomorrow. Also, the Pan Cyan grain jar is starting mycelium growth stage.
- Thread starter
- #340
A little update
I got a couple quick images of what's happing with my grain jar.
Tidal Wave grain jar has another day or two before it is transferred to a substrate.
The Pan Cyan grain jar is starting to come to life with mycelium growth.
Here are todays images.
Tidal Wave
Pan Cyan
That's all folk's.
Be safe and grow well my friends,
Tok..
I got a couple quick images of what's happing with my grain jar.
Tidal Wave grain jar has another day or two before it is transferred to a substrate.
The Pan Cyan grain jar is starting to come to life with mycelium growth.
Here are todays images.
Tidal Wave
Pan Cyan
That's all folk's.
Be safe and grow well my friends,
Tok..