Living organic soil from start through recycling

[ClackamasCootz]

Mushroom Compost

First, Mushroom Compost is not real compost. The real name of this product is Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS). It is called “Mushroom Compost” as a marketing ploy to help dispose of it.

SMS is made from a combination of wheat straw, dried blood, gypsum, lime or crushed limestone, poultry litter, cow or horse manure & bedding, hay, corn cobs, cottonseed hulls, cocoa bean hulls, clay, peat moss, etc. depending on what is available in a given area. The material is partially composted for a few weeks and then steam pasteurized (sterilized) which kills off all of the beneficial microbes. Then the material is then inoculated with the species of mushroom (fungus) that the grower wishes to produce. Additionally, the material is often loaded with table salt (Sodium Chloride, NaCl) to ensure only the desired species of mushroom will live and grow in the substrate.

Several crops of mushrooms are raised and harvested on this substrate until yields start to decline as the original nutrients are used up. When the nutrient level drops to low to raise mushrooms, it is at this time the substrate is replaced by fresh substrate. The old used substrate must be then disposed of. Worldwide this is over 4 million tons per year.

Common Problems:

Studies have shown decreased plant growth and yield at levels as low as 5% SMS in a mix due to high soluble salts. Other studies have shown it may have a high pH level which is harmful to plants that like acidic conditions.

Even the low quality bagged manure often sold in Big Box stores often has 3X the amount of nutrients.

Mushroom growers have major problems with fungus gnats hence they regularly spray with toxic chemicals such as methoprene, cyromazine, diflunezuron, Dimlin, and Diazinon. Other toxic chemicals occasionally used are benmyl, thiabendazole, and chlorothalonill. Hence SMS does not meet the standards for use in organic production.

The SMS is often stored in large piles that become anaerobic. This allows pathogens to growinthematerial. Theputrefyingorganicmattercreatesorganicacidsthatoftenhavea strong odor. Common odors are vinegar, sour milk, vomit, rotting meat smell and occasionally ammonia or rotten eggs. All these odors indicate that alcohol is present which is toxic to plant roots in concentrations as low as 1 ppm.

Benefits:

SMS is organic matter and still contains some nutrients. Since most of our area soils are very low in organic matter it may provide some benefit. Best results occur in sandy soils in areas with lots of rainfall so the water can wash out and leach the salts. Note: In clay soils the salts help glue the particles together helping to create hardpan.

Comment:

The quality and usage of SMS varies greatly around the world, from good and useful to very bad and toxic based on regional customs and local regulations.

 

[Microbeman]

My plan to step-up my game is being finalized. I've decided to go with 10 seeds from Breeder Jennifer - Sugar Plum

10 seeds for $400.00 - anything with a medium size bush has to be good, right?

6 rooted cuttings (3 of her work) for $550.00

So that's less than $1,000 and I'll be growing some of Oregon's finest according to Ed - what better endorsement is there?

Touching times in River City......

Gag! Hasn't Ed heard of TIMS Indica?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Ascophyllum nodosum - Norwegian Kelp, Common Wrack, Rockweed, et al. is a brown seaweed which grows along the North Atlantic shorelines of Canada & Europe.

Here is the analysis but it's a slow load - link

Here are the highlights...

Elements

Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Sulfur, Vanadim, Zinc

Carbohydrates - 50%

Alginic acid
Mannitol
Laminarin
Misc. Sugars

Vitamins

Biotin, Carotene, Folic acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Tocopherols, Vitamin C, Vitamin B 12, Vitamin K

Amino Acids

Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic acid, Cystine, Glutamic acid, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalinine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Tryosine, Tryptophan, Valine

Not a bad 'nute profile' for $1.20 a pound - it's right up there with Kushie Kush or maybe even Liquid Karma (this is where Boy George cues in for the effect - Karma Chameleon)

CC

 

[Microbeman]

Well it works like this...

If you let them listen to:

Zappa = goofy ass plants that like complex musical arrangements.

Floyd = spaced out plants.

Grateful Dead = Acid loving plants

Led Zeppelin = Burned out old stoner plants with long hair.

It's really that simple...common sense man....Occam's razor.

Now.....where's my 'Mentor' badge dammit!!!

This plant listened to Black Sabbath...it has a weird heavy melodrama thing going on....

TO x BMR F1

View Image

Careful what you wish for Mentor Gas

 

[Microbeman]

in regards to imprinting whatever on rain water, an aquaintance of mine referenced what the bleep do we know as a scientific source for why one should stir their compost tea with their arm for an hour to get the right "vibes" into the water. they said you could REALLY FEEL the difference!

Dontcha know feely is the new science. Get with it huh?

 

[ClackamasCootz]

Gag! Hasn't Ed heard of TIMS Indica?

I think it's a pretty safe bet that Ed's best days as a weed-writer are behind him - way, way behind him. He wasn't all that much of an expert to begin with but he wasn't quite the worst of the bunch......

The jury's still out on that one

 

[2 Legal Co]

I have been laughing my ass off for the last threee pages or so. For some reason I cannot give rep anymore. Guess it is time to start a new account.

OK...remember I have smokes way too much weed ADD. Please post one more time...I know I am not worth it, I should do my research...the latest clone mix. I promise this time I will pay attention and I promise I will quit using rockwool and IPA (or whatever that rooting compound is).

YS;
I think you're traveling at the same altitude as I've been since mid morning.

 

[xmobotx]

In what media and isn't coconut water involved now?

I kinda vaguely remember details...but not really

yeah i tried the floor-dry for cloning; quick roots but seems to knock 'em back a notch going from the DE to peat

figure just back to str8 peat

but if these guys are on to something w/ this coconut milk bit?

idk i figured on moistening peat w/ weak kelp meal 'tea' and clipping cuttings into aloe water {shot glass} tried and true w/ a kelp/aloe twist

 

[ClackamasCootz]

xmobotx

In the Cannabis Science sub-forum is a discussion near the top about tissue-culture propagation and it's a good thread. One of the early posts has links to a couple of botany lab suppliers that sell the different equipment & materials for testing as well as the tissue-culture paradigm.

Guess what? Purified coconut water, powdered coconut water (I bought a kilo of this one), Maltose (from roasted sprouted Barley seeds) and on this one they had several versions, various auxins, PGRs, etc. and other specific isolated compounds from plants including brown seaweed.

Interesting array of plant-derived materials but they're in quite different forms than what we use in gardening.

CC

 

[somoz]

Ha, looks like I won't be using that (compost) substrate after all. In my research I didn't find that mushrooms are sprayed so heavily with toxins. That post cracked me up, long list of reasons not to use the product and then two sentences on the positive. Thanks for the bold Coots.

 

[ClackamasCootz]

somoz

You're welcome!

Oregon & Washington have a pretty good-size mushroom industry and a handful of producers are certified organic. The SMS from these operations is highly sought after but it's almost impossible to get your hands on it. There's a big demand from large organic farms so their co-ops laid claim to it years ago for producing compost for its members.

I quit looking/trying a long time ago and did what you're going to do - I found something else! LOL

CC

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

SS OG

See what you think: Australian Seaweeds

I think thats a shit ton of info

Bookmarked for later use...

Its amazing how fast the dry seaweed rehydrated and then started to break down in the fresh water. So slimy is like i just squashed a slug!

 

[FatherEarth]

What I find odd is that none of these plants in this room here are 'popular' types. The majority of the room holds my own cross of Nigerian landrace x BMR,and Durban Poison x BMR,followed by a few plants of Blue Orca x NLH,The One,Blue Orca,Mazar-I-Shariff,and TO x BMR....

I don't understand why I don't want,or have the desire to acquire the latest Blue Sour Scout Turbo OG Kush....or that Purple pre-Bubba Wanna-Kush cut....why?

View Image

Another thought worth pondering is why I don't feel I need any sort of meter here in this garden,or why it does so well not using blood meal,mammalian bone meal,greensand,or soft rock phosphate...could that photo be any clue?

Why am I not concerned about ph or brix...or what 'imprint' my rain water may need before dancing beneath the summer moon naked swirling to the left. Or if my plants got any Pink Floyd in today or not...

Questions questions questions...flooding into the mind of the concerned young person today.

So Stan,... Please enlighten us! Could you reveal your ultra homemade uber organic soil mix that made these plants so amazingly healthy!!??

You didnt add crystals to your water? Or meditate with them?

I bet I know a few things you probably threw in the mix.

A few tbsp wild Leprechaun hair

Free range Narwhal guano

heaping spoon of some foraged wild fairy tails

some Indonesian red alfalfa and avocado seed tea

And almost certainly some dried wild oregon rainbow

Right!!? How close am I to your recipe?

So you breed plants that grow themselves? suber impressive, Ill buy some seeds off you if they are at least 20-30$ a seed, any less and it loses its magic. Ill pop em and rename a few GasCan Kush for marketing.

Wondering,

FE

 

[W89]

So Stan,... Please enlighten us! Could you reveal your ultra homemade uber organic soil mix that made these plants so amazingly healthy!!??

You didnt add crystals to your water? Or meditate with them?

I bet I know a few things you probably threw in the mix.

A few tbsp wild Leprechaun hair

Free range Narwhal guano

heaping spoon of some foraged wild fairy tails

some Indonesian red alfalfa and avocado seed tea

And almost certainly some dried wild oregon rainbow

Right!!? How close am I to your recipe?

So you breed plants that grow themselves? suber impressive, Ill buy some seeds off you if they are at least 20-30$ a seed, any less and it loses its magic. Ill pop em and rename a few GasCan Kush for marketing.

Wondering,

FE

No.... That's my mix.....

 

[invocation]

Hard work and this thread pays off. Thanks again for all your contributions!

Sub's Plushberry ready next week

 

[ClackamasCootz]

invocation

Beautiful garden you put together! Well done....

CC

 

[BlueJayWay]

Invocation - are you implying you used both of those products regularly for the duration of the beautiful crops you have pictured?

Nice flowers dood

 

[rrog]

Nice indeed!!!

 

[bigshrimp]

Wandered upon this site a while ago, figured you all might enjoy it.

www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html

Its got information relating to specialty horticultural crops in the US and a cool interactive.map listing agricultural profiles by county.

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

Rrog, do you accept Visa? I must have those nutes.