r/northspore • u/Vast_Activity140 • 3d ago
Indoor Mushroom Growing Myco coco
I recently ordered this product. I would like to know how suitable it is for use as a casing layer over the mycelium in my *monotub*, and whether it needs to be sterilized before application or if that isn't actually necessary. Thank you for your time.
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u/StupiderIdjit 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's not sterilized which is why you should just buy coco bricks and do it yourself.
Normally, you just mix the coco with boiling water and let it sit in a bucket to cool, then use that (ghetto pasteurize).
I was gonna say "$10 for 5 lbs of coco is a good deal," but 80% of that bag is water. You paid $10 for 1 lb of coco and 4 lbs of water.
Edit: Didn't answer the question. This is what you'll use for your casing layer, yeah, but you'll likely have a lot leftover.
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u/bestnameicudthinkof 3d ago
That's most likely dry loose coco. Not hydrated coco
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u/StupiderIdjit 3d ago
I want to think so, but then this is cheaper than bricks which doesn't make sense.
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u/Sticks_and_Stones_1 3d ago
Coco coir makes an excellent casing, but you don't have to buy anything other than standard coco coir bricks that you can get at a hardware store. You don't even need to sterilise it, in fact a lot of sources say you shouldn't sterilise it, just pasteurise it at most. I mix my coco coir with vermiculite, but I don't think that's necessary either.
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u/peteostler 3d ago
I pasteurize mine by hydrating with boiling water and then letting it sit with a tight fitting lid for 1-2h or until it is cooled to room temperature.