Fungifun - Forum

Mushroom cultivation => Cultivation => Topic started by: jobes on March 07, 2010, 06:36:27 PM

Title: The benefits of lime?
Post by: jobes on March 07, 2010, 06:36:27 PM
What are the benefits to using lime during a pastuerization bath(w straw)? Also I read an old discussion on mycotopia that lime would help the casing layer resist trich by adding it to the water that you initially get ur casing layer to field cap.  I assuming this all has to do with ph.

Even though I am now sterilizing my casing I still am losing 1/3 to 1/2 my pans to trich in fc.

I have agricultural lime and used it with the straw past. because it was suggested. I just havent seen much dicussed on its benefit or necessity.

Title: Re: The benefits of lime?
Post by: dub504 on March 08, 2010, 12:36:41 PM
Some people like it, some don't. Cubes like environments on the sweet side. The use of it is really just to give optimal conditions for happy vigorous growth. Straw is on the acidic side thus the hydrated horticultural lime is used to bring it towards neutral or slightly alkaline, same with casing. I'm used to recipes for casing where the lime is mixed in dry and water added after.
   If you are getting contams from your casing make sure you are getting up to field capacity and depending if you are using a microwave or not, you may have to add more water.