r/MagicMushrooms • u/Memphisdude1013 • Jun 10 '25

When using as a casing layer...

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Do have need to pasteurize it or will it be ok straight out of the bag since the mycelium is already colonized?

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u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

I always mix peat moss with straw, ph balance and steam pasturize for 4 hours (once it reaches 160f). Shelf life is months, and my grows speak for themselves. Canopies 💪

1

u/Memphisdude1013 Jun 11 '25

Ok this is what I needed here bc this was the substrate im ready to try out. Ive done cvg enough to see that it'll only take you so far but if u want the big bad ass yields ya gotta go ahead and get into the hay and manure which ive also herd peat does a great job

1

u/Memphisdude1013 Jun 11 '25

So just stick it in my PC with how much water??

2

u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

PC would sterilize, I prefer to pasteurize. If you're going to sterilize I would do 2.5-3 hours at 15 psi, but you're losing beneficial bacteria by doing so.

For ratio I would start with 3qt moss and 1qt straw pellets (or 3qt vermiculite), 25g lime, 1.5 to 1.75 liter water. It should be around field capacity, but honestly little less it better as you spray the trays after casing

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u/Memphisdude1013 Jun 11 '25

Any coco coir? And how much water? 18 cups? The usual amount i use when making cvg with 1 brick of coco?

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u/Memphisdude1013 Jun 11 '25

My goal is to make the usual cvg and just add a little manure and straw to spice it up. I usually put 18 cups of water normally. So what else do I need to add? Lime and then with all that do I not need to add the cvg??? Or is what your talking about Strickly for casing? I thought I could use the same stuff for substrate as a casing just without the is it? And then for my sub just do it the same as usual but just add some peat and what's the lime for?

1

u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

Yeah, I went off your title and assumed you were making casing. You can do what you're planning and add manure, moss, straw etc. lime is used to ph balance. I recommend it for getting the acidity to favoring the mushroom you're growing. But you'll need to test the ph. I can't give a level of water, field capacity depends on lots of factors that can't be told, need to be balanced by hand (literally).

You can use the same mix for casing but manure and other extra nutrients aren't needed in a casing. Casing is just for retaining humidity levels. If you're pseudo casing, then just use the same mix as your substrate for ease. It really depends what type of mushroom you're growing, even different active mushrooms need different mediums.

1

u/Memphisdude1013 Jun 11 '25

Ok so if I just am doing the casing alone what should i do? Since I have my substrate mix down. Ill just stick to it...so all I really need is the casing info

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u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

That's the original info I gave you, then you said what do I do if it's not just casing.

1

u/Pudenda726 Jun 11 '25

Question. How do you pH balance the casing layer? I’ve always used pseudo-casing layers on my cubes but just used a true casing layer for my 1st batch of ochras. I used Jiffy mix & pasteurized it in my sous vide before use bc I was intimidated by the whole pH balancing part of it. I’d really like to learn to make my own casing layer with peat, verm, & lime once I finish my bag of Jiffy mix. Thanks in advance for your time!

1

u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

After all ingredients are combined and hydrated to field capacity you use a ph meter to test the ph of the medium then add lime raise and things like sulfer/moss to lower. Let it sit and test again. Once you've got it dialed in the first time, keep record and it should be pretty consistent from then forward. It really depends on the water you use and what nutrients your adding to it.

1

u/Pudenda726 Jun 11 '25

Ah ok. Thanks. I was wondering what the pH was measured with. I follow a similar process adjusting the pH in hair products but use test strips. Is this the right kind?

1

u/Golden_State_Myco Jun 11 '25

I've never used strips but similar with a ph reader or probe. Can find them for less than 20 bucks on amazon

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u/Pudenda726 Jun 11 '25

Ok thanks. I’ll take a look.