limestone flour or oyster shells, pros and cons

fattrout · February 22, 2009, 12:38:16 PM

i am going to case PF cakes for the 1st time. so i've been researching teks. the fungifun tek calls for limestone flour. but this is all i could find will this work

i think i read a post where PW said it is not necessary. help..lol

p.s. i just found a pet store that has a oyster shell limestone mix but it also has a small amount of charcoal.. will the charcoal be bad for the casing??

Cameltom · February 22, 2009, 07:05:32 PM

i do casings with coconut fiber that way i dont need lime stone
but when i do use it i get if from work(i work at a tree nursery)
the only thing i would worry about is that it is palletized
lime stone is a buffer for the Ph level if it is to high it will bring the Ph down
what are u using for a casing mix?? if u use peat u should use lime
i think i have heard of people using charcoal but dont hold me to it

psilocybin warrior · February 22, 2009, 07:27:39 PM

I never have, or will I probably ever use limestone flour. If you want to use that, pulverise it into powder.

PW

Cameltom · February 22, 2009, 07:40:17 PM

the pellets would give it chemical burn righ??

fattrout · February 22, 2009, 09:44:55 PM

cool thanks for the info...so i'm going with the 50/50 verm. peat casing mix this time. mybe next time i'l try limestone or oyster shells to see if it makes a diff. for me. i have 20 jars (1/2 pt.) that are ready. i hoping to case most of then i still love my little cakes but i think its time to move to grains.

Cameltom · February 23, 2009, 04:51:05 AM

verm is hard to come by were i live so i only use it in cakes + coir is really cheep
i would love to try some grains as well but i have no PC

psilocybin warrior · February 23, 2009, 12:12:03 PM

the pellets would give it chemical burn righ??

- I dunno about that, I don't think so? but the powdery "flour" is probably better distributed and absorbed.

Some pressure cookers go for 20-40$, if you live by any flea markets you could possibly get one cheaper.

PW

jrfungi · February 24, 2009, 07:30:11 AM

i have better luck with 50/50 coir verm. i use a 1/2 cup of cruched oyster shell form mycsupply. It is cheap and i have had great results. Coir is so cheap and very easy to use.

Baphom3t · February 25, 2009, 08:10:10 PM

limestone flour = waste of money
oyster shells = waste of money

pros: None
cons: waste of money

Baph

sin2win · February 25, 2009, 11:03:11 PM

lol, great 2 c u back, hows everything going.

fattrout · February 26, 2009, 03:56:43 PM

hey baph thanks, i get to save some money!!!