Rick's Monster Grow

[Siberian]

There's a mycorrizhae mix out there called "Rick's Monster Grow" that is getting some very positive reviews. Apparently Rick's has 56 mushroom spores in it (compared to 20 something for Great white as an example), and it's supposed to germinate within 28-32 hours (compared to many spores which could take up to a year).

If you have questions, apparently Rick answers the phone himself. Here's a link: http://monstergrow.tv/index.html

Many on the board here use similar products. Anyone tried this one? Any feedback to report?

[RayR]

Bold claims, sketchy details, no species list or standard spore/propagule count, and a very high price. Sounds pretty fishy to me.

[amideutch]

Bold claims, sketchy details, no species list or standard spore/propagule count, and a very high price. Sounds pretty fishy to me.

I'll second the above. $60.00, I don't think so.

Ami

[Siberian]

The price was startling to me as well. But then I saw some users at various sites who claimed success with it. There is also a 180-day money-back guarantee. Assuming the guarantee is honored, that's pretty substantial.

Anyhow just wanted to see if anyone had tried.

[Hermitian]

The number of spore varieties is less meaningful than the actual spore varieties. Also, many of these sellers are repacking bulk mycorrhizae without adding humic acid powder to give the spores some shelf life. For comparison to other products, here is a 1-lb jar that sells for $20: Grow More Myco-Grow Mycorrhizae Inoculum with Humic Acid

[Cole_Robbie]

Fox Farm Microbe Brew is another similar product. It's about $25US for a quart, $75 a gallon.

[Worth1]

Ok if you have mushrooms growing in your garden and all over your place you dont need this stuff, 'right?
I have all sorts of fungi on my place and discover new ones all of the time.


The claims read like something out of a tabloid yellow journalism paper.
Monster Grow, 4 inch corn stalks. giant cabbage.
Not one time does it really say monster grow will do this it just says they have grow them or you can.
You want to grow monster cabbage move to Alaska.
I dont want 4 inch corn stalks I dont eat corn stalks.
By the way is that 4 inches tall or diameter they dont say.
These ads always lead people to assume things without taking liability.

I'm going to put this one on the shelf with the tomato tree.


Worth

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Ok if you have mushrooms growing in your garden and all over your place you dont need this stuff, 'right?
I have all sorts of fungi on my place and discover new ones all of the time.

Mushrooms are fungi, mycorrhizae are fungi but most mushrooms are not mycorrhizal. Only Ecto-mycorrhizae have fruiting bodies that are mushrooms and they only associate with certain trees. French Truffles are actually Ecto-mycorrhizae and if we could figure out how to grow them commercially, we could be rich.
All our veggies (except brassicas) associate with endo-mycorrhizal fungi, they live their whole life underground connected to living roots.

Originally Posted by Worth1

The claims read like something out of a tabloid yellow journalism paper.
Monster Grow, 4 inch corn stalks. giant cabbage.
Not one time does it really say monster grow will do this it just says they have grow them or you can.
You want to grow monster cabbage move to Alaska.
I dont want 4 inch corn stalks I dont eat corn stalks.
By the way is that 4 inches tall or diameter they dont say.
These ads always lead people to assume things without taking liability.

I'm going to put this one on the shelf with the tomato tree.Worth

I agree, the whole pitch set off my BS alarm.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by RayR

Mushrooms are fungi, mycorrhizae are fungi but most mushrooms are not mycorrhizal. Only Ecto-mycorrhizae have fruiting bodies that are mushrooms and they only associate with certain trees. French Truffles are actually Ecto-mycorrhizae and if we could figure out how to grow them commercially, we could be rich.
All our veggies (except brassicas) associate with endo-mycorrhizal fungi, they live their whole life underground connected to living roots.



I agree, the whole pitch set off my BS alarm.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by RayR

Mushrooms are fungi, mycorrhizae are fungi but most mushrooms are not mycorrhizal. Only Ecto-mycorrhizae have fruiting bodies that are mushrooms and they only associate with certain trees. French Truffles are actually Ecto-mycorrhizae and if we could figure out how to grow them commercially, we could be rich.
All our veggies (except brassicas) associate with endo-mycorrhizal fungi, they live their whole life underground connected to living roots.



I agree, the whole pitch set off my BS alarm.

I bet I have that stuff too well maybe since I dont do anything to kill stuff around here.

We need one of those truffle smelling hogs.
I read they grow on oak tree roots but there is a lot of digging involved.

Worth

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I bet I have that stuff too well maybe since I dont do anything to kill stuff around here.

With all that chemical salt fertilizer you use I'm sure you put a big dent in the mycorrhizae population.

Originally Posted by Worth1

We need one of those truffle smelling hogs.
I read they grow on oak tree roots but there is a lot of digging involved.
Worth

At $1,200 a pound for those black diamonds I'd do some digging.

[Hermitian]

Originally Posted by RayR

With all that chemical salt fertilizer you use I'm sure you put a big dent in the mycorrhizae population.

The mycorrhizae I use when I plant thrives on the chemical salt fertilizers I use. Of course I use a reasonable dosage.

[Worth1]

I only spread 1 pound of 16-16-16 per square foot per month.

I also just discovered there really is a Cheektowaga, NY.

Worth

[Siberian]

Thank you for the responses.

And just to be clear, while I agree with all the comments on how it's marketed/pitched, I was never assuming the product worked based on the content of Rick's site. Rather I had spoken with users who claimed to have had better success with it than Great White, so I thought I would see if anyone here has used it.

After all, there are some products which have a similarly 'slick' marketing feel and actually do work well. Anyone have the new Shark vacuums? They are awesome

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Siberian

Thank you for the responses.

And just to be clear, while I agree with all the comments on how it's marketed/pitched, I was never assuming the product worked based on the content of Rick's site. Rather I had spoken with users who claimed to have had better success with it than Great White, so I thought I would see if anyone here has used it.

After all, there are some products which have a similarly 'slick' marketing feel and actually do work well. Anyone have the new Shark vacuums? They are awesome

Hey products are products and every one of them have to blow their horn some how.
It just seems like the greater the hype the greater the price.

I have found that many of the old products like Bon Ami, Comet. Clorox SOS pads and Ajax work the best for less.

As for the Vacuum Cleaner a few years ago Home Depot was running a sale in shop vacs.

I wasn't even in the store for one but needed one.
I picked this critter up for way less than half price.

It is a stainless steel wet dry vac and can connect to my table saw.
DO NOT let this thing get stuck to you.

Worth