imported>Claude: Batch 2: spores, cloning, culture storage, smash tek, drying, local suppliers; convert sources to footnotes

2026-10-22T20:00:00Z

Batch 2: spores, cloning, culture storage, smash tek, drying, local suppliers; convert sources to footnotes

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 22 October 2026
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	\| '''CVG''' \|\| 1 brick (650 g) \|\| 2 qt (8 cups) \|\| 1 cup \|\| 4.5 qt (18 cups)		\| '''CVG''' \|\| 1 brick (650 g) \|\| 2 qt (8 cups) \|\| 1 cup \|\| 4.5 qt (18 cups)
	\|}		\|}
	One brick of CVG makes about '''11 lb''' of hydrated substrate, enough for a typical 54–66 qt [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub\|monotub]] with 2–3 quarts of spawn.		One brick of CVG makes about '''11 lb''' of hydrated substrate,<ref name="pgtsub">Philly Golden Teacher, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMRjEDMdfs bucket tek substrate video] (YouTube).</ref> enough for a typical 54–66 qt [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub\|monotub]] with 2–3 quarts of spawn.

	These water amounts are for '''dry, compressed bricks'''. Loose bags of "coco coir potting mix" often come partly hydrated already. Start with roughly half the water and add more only if needed.		These water amounts are for '''dry, compressed bricks'''. Loose bags of "coco coir potting mix" often come partly hydrated already. Start with roughly half the water and add more only if needed.<ref name="gennotes">From a league member's notes on a first substrate batch, originally on this wiki's Substrate General Notes page.</ref>

	== Bucket tek: pasteurize and hydrate in one step ==		== Bucket tek: pasteurize and hydrate in one step ==
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	# Seal the lid immediately.		# Seal the lid immediately.
	# Leave it closed. The goal is to keep it '''above about 150–170°F for at least 2 hours'''. A cooler will do this on its own; a plain bucket can be wrapped in towels or a blanket.		# Leave it closed. The goal is to keep it '''above about 150–170°F for at least 2 hours'''. A cooler will do this on its own; a plain bucket can be wrapped in towels or a blanket.
	# Let it sit until it's cooled to room temperature, usually overnight. '''Give it at least 6 hours''' so the coir fully absorbs the water.		# Let it sit until it's cooled to room temperature, usually overnight. '''Give it at least 6 hours''' so the coir fully absorbs the water.<ref name="gennotes" />
	# Break up any clumps with clean, gloved hands before mixing with spawn.		# Break up any clumps with clean, gloved hands before mixing with spawn.

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	=== Fixing soupy substrate ===		=== Fixing soupy substrate ===
	If the mix still looks like soup a couple of hours in:		If the mix still looks like soup a couple of hours in:<ref name="gennotes" />
	* Stir in about 2 cups of dry coir and 1 cup of vermiculite, wait 30 minutes, and check again.		* Stir in about 2 cups of dry coir and 1 cup of vermiculite, wait 30 minutes, and check again.
	* Keeping it hot (a pot on low heat, steaming) speeds absorption and drives off a bit of the extra water.		* Keeping it hot (a pot on low heat, steaming) speeds absorption and drives off a bit of the extra water.
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	Mix colonized [[Tutorials/Spawn/Grain Spawn\|grain spawn]] into the substrate at somewhere between '''1:1 and 1:4 spawn to substrate''' by volume. More spawn colonizes faster and resists contamination better. Then follow [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub\|monotub fruiting]].		Mix colonized [[Tutorials/Spawn/Grain Spawn\|grain spawn]] into the substrate at somewhere between '''1:1 and 1:4 spawn to substrate''' by volume. More spawn colonizes faster and resists contamination better. Then follow [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub\|monotub fruiting]].

	== ~~Sources~~ ==		== References ==
	* Philly Golden Teacher, [https:/~~/www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMRjEDMdfs Bucket tek substrate video] (YouTube): the recipe card above~~		<references />
	* Notes on loose coir, soaking time, and fixing over-wet substrate contributed by league members.

	{{Cultivation}}		{{Cultivation}}

imported>Claude: Wiki rebuild: cleanup and new cultivation articles

2026-10-22T19:00:00Z

Wiki rebuild: cleanup and new cultivation articles

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'''Bulk substrate''' is the material your mushrooms actually fruit from. It's less nutritious than grain on purpose: it gives the mycelium water and structure while making it harder for contaminants to compete. Because of that, bulk only needs to be '''pasteurized''', which kills most competitors while leaving harmless microbes that help defend it.

Coir-based substrates are the easiest place to start. They're cheap, clean, consistent, and hard to mess up.

== Ingredients ==
* '''Coco coir:''' shredded coconut husk, sold as compressed bricks (often 650 g). It holds water well and resists contamination.
* '''Vermiculite:''' a puffed mineral that holds water and keeps the mix airy. Use horticultural grade.
* '''Gypsum:''' calcium sulfate. Adds calcium and sulfur and helps keep the mix from compacting.

'''CVG''' stands for '''C'''oir, '''V'''ermiculite, '''G'''ypsum.

== Recipes ==
[[File:PGTCVG.jpg|thumb|right|Recipe card for coir and CVG, from Philly Golden Teacher]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Recipe !! Coir !! Vermiculite !! Gypsum !! Water
|-
| '''Coir only''' || 1 brick (650 g) || – || – || 3.5 qt (14 cups)
|-
| '''CVG''' || 1 brick (650 g) || 2 qt (8 cups) || 1 cup || 4.5 qt (18 cups)
|}
One brick of CVG makes about '''11 lb''' of hydrated substrate, enough for a typical 54–66 qt [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub|monotub]] with 2–3 quarts of spawn.

These water amounts are for '''dry, compressed bricks'''. Loose bags of "coco coir potting mix" often come partly hydrated already. Start with roughly half the water and add more only if needed.

== Bucket tek: pasteurize and hydrate in one step ==
# Break up the coir brick and add it with the vermiculite and gypsum to a 5-gallon bucket with a lid. An insulated cooler or 5-gallon Igloo drink cooler works even better because it holds heat longer.
# Bring the water to a full boil and pour it over the dry ingredients.
# Seal the lid immediately.
# Leave it closed. The goal is to keep it '''above about 150–170°F for at least 2 hours'''. A cooler will do this on its own; a plain bucket can be wrapped in towels or a blanket.
# Let it sit until it's cooled to room temperature, usually overnight. '''Give it at least 6 hours''' so the coir fully absorbs the water.
# Break up any clumps with clean, gloved hands before mixing with spawn.

At Colorado Springs elevations water boils at about 201°F instead of 212°F, which is still well above pasteurization temperature. The bucket tek doesn't need any altitude adjustment.

== Field capacity ==
Substrate should be at '''field capacity''': holding as much water as it can without any pooling. The test:
* Grab a handful and squeeze hard.
* '''Just right:''' a few drops run out, and it holds together loosely when you open your hand.
* '''Too wet:''' a stream of water runs out. Excess water invites [[Reference/Contamination#Bacteria|bacteria]].
* '''Too dry:''' nothing comes out and it crumbles. Mushrooms are mostly water, so dry substrate means small flushes.

=== Fixing soupy substrate ===
If the mix still looks like soup a couple of hours in:
* Stir in about 2 cups of dry coir and 1 cup of vermiculite, wait 30 minutes, and check again.
* Keeping it hot (a pot on low heat, steaming) speeds absorption and drives off a bit of the extra water.
* Draining it through a clean pillowcase or mesh bag and wringing it out also works.

== Spawning ==
Mix colonized [[Tutorials/Spawn/Grain Spawn|grain spawn]] into the substrate at somewhere between '''1:1 and 1:4 spawn to substrate''' by volume. More spawn colonizes faster and resists contamination better. Then follow [[Tutorials/Fruiting/Monotub|monotub fruiting]].

== Sources ==
* Philly Golden Teacher, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMRjEDMdfs Bucket tek substrate video] (YouTube): the recipe card above
* Notes on loose coir, soaking time, and fixing over-wet substrate contributed by league members.

{{Cultivation}}
[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Substrate]]

Tutorials/Substrate/Coir and CVG - Revision history

imported>Claude: Batch 2: spores, cloning, culture storage, smash tek, drying, local suppliers; convert sources to footnotes

imported>Claude: Wiki rebuild: cleanup and new cultivation articles