Help me design my bulk substrate

[p2k1]

Hey everyone Id appreciate some help with designing my new bulk substrate. My first time doing bulk I did monotubs and spawned rye to straw/cow poo/verm. I got a bale of straw and bagged cow manure from a farm supply store and fruited uncased with great results.

Now I'm trying to make my own grow bags to fruit in invitro, because they offer a few benefits vs monotubs (easier to conceal, move, dunk, etc...). My plan is to keep it as simple as possible. I live in an apartment so using cow or horse poo may not be possible.
My plan is to prepare enough rye spawn and then mix and hydrate all my substrates, load them into baking trays and pasteurize them in my oven. When cool I'll mix the substrate with spawn in big ziploc bags that I either cut holes for tyvek or polyfill or close the ziploc lid on some polyfill. Once colonized Ill cut air slits or add more filters for increased air exchange.

My 1st ingredient will be verm, simple enough.
For my 2nd ingredient I will use coir, haven't used it before but seems simple enough.
For my 3rd ingredient I probably won't be able to get field cow or horse manure or a bale of straw so I'm considering a few options. I could get bagged cow manure but I could also get bagged organic compost with manure or worm castings. I'm also considering adding a kitty litter I saw called "Swheatscoops" that claims to be organic all natural made of 100% wheat as my straw component.
Is it worth adding gypsum to a bulk substrate? Where can I get it? What about coffee? It has to be used? Any kind? What about PH buffers?

The easiest combo to me seems to be verm/coir/organic compost or worm castings. If I could use that wheat kitty litter as straw that would be clutch. If I can add gypsum or coffee for benefit without risk Ill throw that in too.

Am I forgetting anything?

[kcmoxtractor]

Straw isn't necessary, castings, coir and verm would work fine! The coir and verm would hold plenty of water and let it breathe easier, and the castings add some extra nutrients. Straw is also messy and takes a while to prep. I use it but it is the biggest PITA in my substrate.

[(neo)Figment]

Can you get dung?

Are you not wanting to use dung because of the smell in the place?
Good dung doesn't smell bad and a 30 gallon tote full last a while.

[Golden Teacher]

I would use coir, verm, and order some shit from Hip!

He's got the best shit around....

Seriously, he has donkey shit and horse shit. Both work great and go a far way when mixed with the coir and verm, like you already planned to do.

Best of luck!



GT

[mydarling]

coir + verm + worm castings gets my vote!

[BuckarooBanzai]

coir:verm:castings (40:40:20) would be my suggestion.

Castings work great for growing cubensis.

For invitro bags, I would suggest putting a layer of grain on top of the bulk sub. Inoculate and let the grain colonize, then knead the bag and mix the colonized grain into the substrate. After that colonizes, give it some light to fruit.

Check this:
http://forums.mycotopia.net/popcorn-...llon-jars.html (Buckaroo Bulk Nugget Tek (invitro, spawn bags and/or ½ gallon jars))

[p2k1]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Like I said Im going to keep it simple so verm and coir easy to get comes bagged or wrapped. If I can find worm castings in the area I'll use em too (where do you ask? nurseries? garden supply stores?) seems like a stupid question but I havent seen them in this town. Same question applys for gypsum. Where do you get that? I have no idea what it even looks like, but I hear it's somehow great for cubes so if it comes bagged I'll get some if I can find it. Thinking about it, coffee probably will be excluded as I have no experience using it, if it can be bad, too much etc... will have to go out and procure used coffee grounds probably too much of a hassle.
I tried to order some of Hips stuff before but hes getting raped by the post office on shipping to my neck of the woods. He told me he doesnt ship the horse poo to my area, I just sent him a PM asking if he ships the donkey doo mixed with straw and what the shippings like, thatd be sweet if I could add that, would cover manure and straw.
I'm also considering adding a bit of this bagged organic compost that includes manure, I used it outdoors and it helped
Should I consider using something for pH? My understanding of pH is limited at best. Is their someething I can add that will get my substrate into the ideal range regardless of what the substrate is?
Thanks

[kcmoxtractor]

They sell castings at walmart here.