fruiting from bulk substrate? Casing layers?

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
I have been looking into new methods of doing things. I will start by telling you about how I have done it in the past. I use rye and gypsum with quart jars with pillow stuffing for the lid. I would then use a portable electric skillet to pasteurize cow manure, hydrated lime, and straw that I cut into 2-3'' pieces. I would then use 2 diff mono tub Ideas that I had. First idea: I used the little greenhouse with 6 tubs. They seemed to dry out often and it was hard to keep moisture content right. I even used an amphibian mister that was pretty lame.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bond-Bloom-Greenhouse-Small/22660107
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zoo-Med-Reptile-Fogger-Terrarium-Humidifier-FREE-SHIPPING-NEW-/331297900010?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d22e4c5ea

My second idea: I used totes similar to the link that i posted. For some reason they worked much better for me. I used the shallow type of tote for under bed storage. I was able to just make them and sit them until harvest without having to spray with a water bottle and I kept the lid closed the entire time. A mistake that I may have made was not filling in the whole bottom of the tray with manure/straw and not casing. I made something that I called a "cow pattie" that was balled up in the middle of the tote. It all worked well until after about halfway into the second flush. There would be pools of water that would change color sitting around the ball of shit. I did it a second time with less water and was able to get 2 solid flushes. They were about as beautiful as I could ask for and I was getting a dry oz every day for a couple of weeks.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/37299940?findingMethod=mhl&adUid=ac8d25bb-9038-48e9-8ae9-bf13b01c96da

I was curious about how others have done this? I have tried BRF cakes in the beginning and I am not going back to that method. I have been interested in popcorn or birdseed instead of rye. Also, I was going to replace the straw with coco coir. It is a bitch cutting that much straw! I was also looking into casing layers, maybe it will help me make it past the 2nd flush! I thought about using the pillow stuffing that I use in my lids and make holes in the clear totes to allow more FAE. I love the idea that I can stack these totes! I even put a couple under my flood table and was happy with the results. I think that this winter, I will run these inside my tent again. I have a 4x8 with three lights 2-100wHPS and 1-400wMH in the middle with the totes. I have set these totes outside the tent with a little light coming through a vent hole and had good results. I just cannot get past the 2nd flush.
 

rory420420

Well-Known Member
go to target..in the pharmacy isle,where the humidifiers are,theres a few that are for children,cool mist ones..they have lids shaped like cartoon jungle animals heads..a lion,monkey..get the elephant one..its trunk is vertical,and its where the vapor comes out..a 1in acrylic hose from lowes fits perfectly on the end of this elephants trunk..run it into your chamber..it works perfectly..dumps a fog it there...
this also helps with cloning pot plants in dirt cubes.keeps the humidity perfect till you see roots.
best of all,it has a dimmer knob,so you xan control the flow precisely..even if this doesnt sound like it would work,i urge you to try..it does,and very well..you can also link multiple chambers with tubes stuffed with the poly fill..
 

iconoclast

Well-Known Member
I prefer green houses over monotubs because the air circulation is much better but green houses tend to dry out easily. I don't like mono's much at all. I prefer to use a tote with a rack in the bottom so the tray is surrounded by air and I use 4 air holes in the top and bottom of tub to allow for air exchange. I put moistened hydroton on the bottom to keep the humidity up and this keeps me from having to mist until after the third flush.
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
go to target..in the pharmacy isle,where the humidifiers are,theres a few that are for children,cool mist ones..they have lids shaped like cartoon jungle animals heads..a lion,monkey..get the elephant one..its trunk is vertical,and its where the vapor comes out..a 1in acrylic hose from lowes fits perfectly on the end of this elephants trunk..run it into your chamber..it works perfectly..dumps a fog it there...
this also helps with cloning pot plants in dirt cubes.keeps the humidity perfect till you see roots.
best of all,it has a dimmer knob,so you xan control the flow precisely..even if this doesnt sound like it would work,i urge you to try..it does,and very well..you can also link multiple chambers with tubes stuffed with the poly fill..
I found this:
http://www.target.com/p/crane-ultrasonic-cool-mist-humidifier-elephant/-/A-719438

How does cow manure, coco coir, and hydrated lime sound for fruiting? I am self taught from watching videos!
 

rory420420

Well-Known Member
that be the one..
id go simpler with wps or popcorn,poo is for more finiky strains,advanced growers,and guys who like things complicated...lol..its up to you,but id go popcorn...
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
I prefer green houses over monotubs because the air circulation is much better but green houses tend to dry out easily. I don't like mono's much at all. I prefer to use a tote with a rack in the bottom so the tray is surrounded by air and I use 4 air holes in the top and bottom of tub to allow for air exchange. I put moistened hydroton on the bottom to keep the humidity up and this keeps me from having to mist until after the third flush.
It is hard for me to picture this... I am interested, but am having trouble understanding.
 

iconoclast

Well-Known Member
It is hard for me to picture this... I am interested, but am having trouble understanding.
I'm trying to upload a picture but it's not letting me, I'll try to explain. So with a mono-tub the casing is surrounded by the plastic container. There is no where for co2 to escape and it just sits on top of the casing. I know they like to do the shotgun bullshit but I don't think that help air exchange much and it will dry out your casing material. I like to use a tray that sits inside of the chamber, on top of a wire rack. This way there is air surrounding the casing tray and it allows for much better circulation, imo. This way any co2 can roll off of the tray and into the bottom of the chamber and out of the drain holes in the bottom. I use a layer of wet hydroton on the bottom of the chamber so that the moisture is not being pulled from my casing. I'll try to post more pics later.

Also, having air envelope your casing tray provides a protective buffer from the edge of your bin which is touching the outside elements. This helps regulate the temp of your casing and substrate..
 

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to upload a picture but it's not letting me, I'll try to explain. So with a mono-tub the casing is surrounded by the plastic container. There is no where for co2 to escape and it just sits on top of the casing. I know they like to do the shotgun bullshit but I don't think that help air exchange much and it will dry out your casing material. I like to use a tray that sits inside of the chamber, on top of a wire rack. This way there is air surrounding the casing tray and it allows for much better circulation, imo. This way any co2 can roll off of the tray and into the bottom of the chamber and out of the drain holes in the bottom. I use a layer of wet hydroton on the bottom of the chamber so that the moisture is not being pulled from my casing. I'll try to post more pics later.

Also, having air envelope your casing tray provides a protective buffer from the edge of your bin which is touching the outside elements. This helps regulate the temp of your casing and substrate..
I am picturing something like a pie or cake pan, right? Just something that will not have sides on it.
that be the one..
id go simpler with wps or popcorn,poo is for more finiky strains,advanced growers,and guys who like things complicated...lol..its up to you,but id go popcorn...
Would popcorn be used in place of the rye? What would I use to colonize the substrate with if not manure and coco coir? Am I stuck on a some old method or something?
 

iconoclast

Well-Known Member
I am picturing something like a pie or cake pan, right? Just something that will not have sides on it.

Would popcorn be used in place of the rye? What would I use to colonize the substrate with if not manure and coco coir? Am I stuck on a some old method or something?
Yes, I use a large baking pan, or a plastic dish washing tub, inside of a larger rubbermaid rough. I layer the bottom of the tub with some hydroton and I keep it wet during the entire grow. I evelate the tray off of the bottom of the tub so it doesn't smother the hydroton and also allows for better air flow. I like having a nice buffer of air between my pan and the edge of the tote because it provides some insulation to the casing tray. This something a monotub does not provide.

Personally, I didn't like popcorn as a substrate. I found it to be very contam resistant and I could even do open air jar to jar inoculation, but the fruits were noticeably weaker. I know some disagree with this but that is my experience. You can use whatever substrate you want, I prefer wild bird seed because it is cheap, sold at every grocery store, easy to prepare, and effective.
 

rory420420

Well-Known Member
usually with popcorn it more the ease and production that drives the use of that method..imo..but it does work wonderfully,altho i couldnt give a conclusion on potencey differences with different subs..
 
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