I decided to start another thread, tho it is in response to Sveiks thread about H. multiflora.
Update on the Coir/Peat. The product available here is put out by a company called Crystal, called GRO-BLOCK, comes from Sri Lanka. Ag. Extention did run a Salinity test on it...definitely needs to be "washed". Now, this is really hard because of the "dust" in it that is lost...so some volume IS lost...but not the "good stuff. It really holds moisture well without being soggy, like peatmost.
I found (part of this I was told to do...the soaking part) that by wetting it per the instructions, you gain the raw material. This I keep in a garbage can. Then I soak about 1cu.foot of it at a time in a bucket overnight, and pour it thru 2 pieces of window screen. I do this twice.
Then, I mix it with my other material for starting or growing cuttings. The coir/peat is easy to do in small batches and it helps the peat NOT dry out so completely...all the while providing a good bit of air thru the soil.
NOT knowing this, I used it straight for striking some cuttings, mixed with #2 perlite....I haven't seen any ill effects and it has been over a week now.... Maybe I was lucky and got a batch with low tannins!
Coir/Peat
Coir is also easier to wet down again when needed. Peat dries and then it takes a month to rewet the stuff, because if feels like brick. I use coir up to 50% with my cactus mix, which end up a quick draining material that is light, retains moistuire, and easy to rewater when needed, It also doesn't arraact those nasty flies. It is light easy to store until needed. I have been pay about a buck per brick and it expands to 3 x it size. This is the agrig. stuff.
I noticed that the roots grow faster in the stuff, and ran a small test. It will last forever not breaking down, and may be reused if you don't mix anything else with it. Give it try.
Norma
:-( I've called and searched all around here in MA / can't get coir fiber or coconut peat except in sheets to line planters / not as lucky as those of you in HI and CA. So, I'll have to order it online. Does anyone have a place that they order online?
Found a website that sells Growcoir and explains how to prepare it at http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/growcoir/growcoir.htm
There's also something called CocoTek at http://homeharvest.com/soilconditionerspeat.htm
This place recommends it for hydroponics http://www.3rlighting.com/hydroponics/organic/coir.html
I don't know if they are all equal in the content of salt - will ask if they can provide this. -- sveiks
I talked to the Plant Pathologist at the Extension Service today...the fellow that ran the tests on the salinity levels in the coir/peat. He substantiated something mentioned by a grower in Australia on the msn forum: the salinity levels vary by quite a bit from block to block...from 3% to 12% in his testing. It could run higher and lower.
I am soaking24hrs/rinsing 3 times for each block. I like it mixed with coarse peat....they help eachother.
I agree with Norma...the stuff is great...my cuttings are growing so much better than in t he peat/perlite mix.
Sveik...I tried to find a contact (phone/fax/website) for Crystal...perhaps onling you can find something.
Aloha
Most of our large succulent nurseries use the long fiber coir, they ran test and the roots really stike down faster, and fills the little holders faster. So they can actually get an extra few crops in and out the door faster. The water goes down faster and they stay damp longer, that is not good for succulents so they just adjust and cut down on the watering.
If you don't mix it with anything else, it may be reused many times over, this surprised me. But a porfessional grower from Holland told me this. He grows plants so well and fast I must believe him on this one. I saw the test, I always selected the plants that were grown in the stuff, they had more roots, biger and stronger than the rest of the rows, every other row was planted in coir. I hope the rest of you can find this stuff. This may not work as well on other plants, I have tried it for the Hoya, and it works great. But then again I come from a very hot dry climate, so holding water is important for me, I also think perhaps it then would create more humidity for the plants in my tiny, wee little, hot house. Norma