Hey guys,
Is casing grains the same as casing PF Cakes? From what I can tell it is, I just want to know for sure. I'm starting a popcorn grow today, 2 pint jars being inoculated right now. Also, will 1 quart be enough for a lasagna sized tray? If not what's the recommended size?
Thanks,
Deadneck
I've innoculated a couple of popcorn quart jars and am waiting patiently (not) for some signs of mycelial growth. I started with an LC of azurescens. I haven't had any luck with that strain to date. What strain are you growing? :huh:
I've got two pint jars (1 quart) of B+ going. I'm going to get 3 more quarts of Cambodia inoculated tomorrow. Good luck to us all.
Peace,
Deadneck
You can use a straight verm casing layer, though its a poor choice of casing layer.
50/50+ is a much better casing layer, which is peat/verm/hydrated lime.
Another easier option is a rez effect, which is mixing your grain spawn with hydrated vermiculite and allowing to colinse. The problem with grains is that they ust dont hold the moisture required to fruit, mixing in verm solves this.
You'll get 1 great flush (providing its in the ginetics) then a 2nd with alot let but larger mushrooms, and if your lucky maybe a few on the 3rd.
Upto to you, verm does work ok for a casing layer. From the results ive seem, the rez effect seems better
If it's the same as casing PF Cakes, I'm going to use a 60/40 Verm/Coir casing, maybe throw some coffee in the mix if I can find evidence that it has a positive effect in casings. I'm stoked on the grains!
Wow lots of people starting pop corn teks all of a sudden ... interesting.
My plan with the corn is to crumble into a mix of coir and birch chips. I will sterilize the coir and chips, probably with the microwave. But I'll have to wait and see how it goes. There may be signs of myc on the corn it's too early to tell. Anyone on this forum had luck with azures?
QuoteWow lots of people starting pop corn teks all of a sudden ... interesting.
I'm broke and can't afford anything else at the moment and I had a fresh bag of popcorn at the house. It just kinda fell in my lap.
Cool Deadneck .. it's cool to see other techniques being used. I am anxious as to see some pictures of the out come of some of these things.
looks like i'll be casing some corn this weekend. i'll be using 60/40 peat/verm.. i will keep you guys posted..
Hell yeah, I'm glad a more experienced grower is doing this before me. I'll stand by for your advice Fatt.
Peace.
dont use coir in your casing layer. Its good food for fungi, it will usualy just colinse and become part of your substrate which isnt a biggy. If you have coir, simply spawn your grains to coir/verm and allow to colinise and fruit uncased.
Id stick to 50/50 recipie for the casing layer.
Do not add coffee to your casing layer.
Also, bulk substrates should not be sterilised, they should be pasturised. Also the microwave is not a great method for either pasturisiation or sterilisation.
If I have enough spawn, I'm going to do a mono-tub using this tek to pasteurize the bulk substrate: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/8311725
If not, I have plenty of time to come up with a contingency plan.........
Lost my two jars of corn to something smelly and orange. Pretty color just the wrong place for it to grow. bummer.
QuoteLost my two jars of corn to something smelly and orange
Did you take any pictures so we know what to look for in case it happens to me or anyone else? It would be a huge help! Sorry for your loss.
Later,
Deadneck
Ej veda sticks, when do you mix your grain spawn with vermiculite( is that wet or hydrated verm) and how much do u add to it?
Just wanted to get my 100th post out of the way and become a full fledged member of the forum.
Oh, I love my PC too!!!
Cool Deadneck!
I'm really surprised that all of you guys and gals, of whom I have been reading your posts and comments for at least a couple of years are just now getting your heads in the game with grains. I have only recently even thought about BRF cakes, and believe that method to be nothing more than a waste of time energy, and resources.
I have used Brn. Rice, sometimes mixed with millet constantly for years with superb results. Alternately, I will spawn my colonized Brn. Rice, 1 pt), into a 4 qt container, filled with sterilized Black Kow, mushroom compost, and perhaps case with pure sterilized verm, or not,... Cased or not the fruits are prolific. I have rarely produced less than 130 - 145 grams dried in the first flush. Even in pt jar, whether they are cased with 60 / 40 sphagnum peat / verm, the results are consistant. and I can't remember the last time I have encountered any "true" contaminants. There were time I thought the green that appeared on the sphagnum peat was bad, but i found it occurred naturally outdoors on the medium, and after tests at the local college, I was informed that it is benign-ed, and a natural effect due the environment here in Florida.
Trust me, whether you are growing indoors, or out, grains are the way to go if the strain you are working with likes that particular substrate.
Peace :ph34r:
It sounds intriguing Malabar. How about writing up a formal TEK with pics for us know nuthins.
Well Mr. Malabar .. I am quite liking doing cakes. They yield enough fruits for me with out having an abundance of fruits to store. I really like reading ADVICE, but please don't TELL us what we should or should not be doing. I'll be doing cakes forever .. so whats it to you as long as I am yielding fruit to enjoy. I am not a distributor nor do I even share very often. So for me its cakes cakes cakes ... although I did try a casing one time, and ended up with too many fruits.
Shroomzer~~ I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I by No Means, ever tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do. Let God, and your conscience rule your path. I just felt after reading so many posts on the site for years raving about BRF cakes, as though they were the be all end all, that I might put my 5 cents in. And it does seem that most are looking for a high yield. So,.... Whooops there it is,.....
As for myself, I can do a grain to grain transfer, and have fruits in 18 days. And, I love an abundance of fruits which I share within my network of friends. A matter of fact we all do,.... we cultivate various strains, and share during these hot sultry nights here on the beach. Nothing like Glowin' by firelight at a clam bake at night, or drifting out on the ocean under moonlight.
As for storage,... There will always be rainy days. Stick them in a "seal - a - meal, or jar of honey, and you will always be prepared.
So, if cakes are working for you,.....by all means, go with what you know is good for you.
Love and Happiness,... We are all here to share, and enjoy.
:mellow:
i wouldnt be to worried about identifying the orange goup which is bacteria. its a contaminant so ditch that.
Make sure that your grains are dry on the outside before loading into the pressure cooker, wet grains will make it hard to seprete them plus it can encourage bacterial growth, usualy wet spot.
Also be sure to sterilise for 90 minutes at 15 psi, ensure your inoculation procedures are steriile and your inoculant is sterile.
For the rez effect i believe you mix grains with and verm 50/50.
pf cakes are a good learning tool, and if there done right you can get some great results, plus you can even spawn to bulk with them.
I do agree that grains though require more steps os much easier when working with larger amunts, for the simple fact you can use quart jars. easier to prepare than lots of 1/ pints. Plus you can shake your grain.
No worries Malabar .... we all do what we do .. maybe your first sentence of that post threw me off a bit ...