Ok so I've been reading and researching but am (as always) confused about both buying this and using it.
Seems like an expensive proposition but am totally disgusted with the new fangled, wetting agent, fertilizer added, soil products on the market.
Can I mix coir with regular potting soil (since I have some left) and extra perlite?
Must I use peat with it? Bark of some sort?
I'm finding an assortment of bricks, bales, disks and chunks with no real explanation of the difference between them, weights are hard to figure and prices really vary. Shipping is the killer here (even from a colorado based supplier) especially for wanting lower quantities. Seem I'm better off ordering a larger quantity (ouch)!
RoLanka offers a coir dust in various amounts.
BGHydro offers a long fibered product.
Any one decidedly better? Easier to use? More versitile?
Thoughts on pet store products?
Is storage of hydrated coir a problem/hassle?
You thoughts/experiences (again), please!!!!
another coir thread
Caron - I use two forms of the product, the coir "dust" and the chips.
DUST - even with my large area, 1sq.foot block of the coir dust expands to too much (it absorbs 10 gal. of water) and I only use it instead of peat moss or combined with the coarse peat moss. The coir dust stays wet longer and rewets really easily...doesn't allow the peat to become like bricks! I cut off pieces of the block to hydrate them... It seems I read here that they are available in smaller chunks or discs or cubes or something. Once rinsed, I would think you could dry out any left overs and store them in a ventillated container like peat moss. Nurseries here use this dust mixed with #2 Perlite for a starting medium...it is light and airy.
CHIPS - I get the "fine" chips (never head of the long fiber stuff...but I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as the strings are REALLY long. The chips are about the size of the fine Orchid Bark but cost much much less. They too expand, a bit.
I do mix my chips up with big Perlite and black cinder...but there are nurseries here that use the coir chips with #3 perlite and peat moss....
I know Heather and Dianne use the coir and are really happy with it. My sources are really limited here on the island, so I don't know about everything that's available over there...I am sure you have more choices.
But...be sure to rinse it well. Even tho' some say it is not necessary...the salinity "can" be high...it is very irregular from one block to the next...and you do want it to expand and be wet when you use it.
OK..that's my 2cents...
Caron,
I have ordered coir from Rolanka three times and been very pleased with their service. Their shipping rates are now figured in with the price of the coir.
The first two times I bought the bricks (24 in a box). They are easier to mix up since they are smaller. It takes abut 3.5 qts. of water per brick. I have found hot water works faster than cold in hydrating the brick.
The last time I ordered a box of 4 blocks. It is more economical to order blocks, but harder to hydrate a 10 - 11 pound block of coir than a smaller brick which weighs one pound. If I have any left after potting, I store it in a large plastic container with lid to keep it moist.
I use a mix of coir, perlite, granite chips, and some shredded bark for hoyas.
Hope this helps,
Shirley
Question: what pet store products? Sounds interesting...
Bed-a-Beast can be found at the pet store, it's coir brick. I use it in my lizards viv and the plants in there are all doing very well.
Hi, as Carol mentioned, I use the small coir brick. I'm not sure if I am using it properly, but here's what I do. I soaked one brick w/ 3 quarts of H20, then I simply put a piece of aluminum foil over the top of it. When I need some for mix, I just grab some and throw it in. Some of it is dry on the top of the pile, while what is towards the bottom is still wet. I figure once I have potted up the plant, it will get rewet. I'm not sure if this is how I am supposed to use it, but this is what I do. HTH. Heather
Heather....do you rinse it first? None of the sellers of it say you should, but I was warned by a nursery person to do it. I let it soak in lots of water for 24+ hours and then pour it out over fine mesh. :~)
Yesterday found Eco Earth in the Petco here. Lizard substrate. Not cheap (4.99) but ok for just wanting to try a brick and not invest lots of $$'s at first. It took a good gallon of water or more to hydrate (used boiling water). This morning I lined a colandar with part of an old sheer cutrain and rinsed small amounts at a time in hot water. Took awhile to do the whole batch-expands quite a bit, lol!!! Looks pretty good mixed at 3 parts + 2 parts potting soil + 1 part perlite.
I'm curious what the advantage of using coir is over peat moss?
I can't remember where but I read that coir doesn't dry out fast enough once it breaks down and that over time the coir chunks turn into a wet blob of sorts.
( I think I read this on GW or someone wrote it in a private E-mail, I wish I could remember) It seems the writer was thinking this may be causing root rot.
I didn't pay it alot of attention since I am happy with the mixes I find in my area.
Many people complain that peat is too hard to rewet once it dries out. I don't seem to have that problem maybe because I always wet and sterilize my soil. Or due to the fact that I mist alot, even the soil. I've been using peat based mixes since the late 70's and have never been unhappy with it, exept those with wetting agents (which at the time I'd never heard of wetting agents).
I've seen the discussions regarding the clogging of pots in GW and MSN but can't remember what type of coconut material was the one refered to in these threads.
I used Horicultural Grade Coconut Husk chips (0.5" cubes) for some time now and haven't seen any problems to date. I use it 100% on my Paph orchids as it can absorb more water than bark mixes but also mix it into my soil for Hoyas to get it lighter/more aerated but the Hoyas would most likely do fine without it.
Peat is very hard to rewet once it had been allowed to completely dry out. Reducing the surface tension of water by adding soap to it will help with rewetting if that problem occurs.
Milan
I think that if you used only coir (the fine stuff) it might clog...but since I don't, I have not had any problem at all...quite the contrary. I think it was Chris Burton on the msn forum who said something about it clogging...but then she is not using nor aware of the new stuff on the market. MOST of the big nurseries here use it in one form or another.
Carol
Carol, I actually don't rinse mine. I should probably start doing that. Is it too late to rinse the stuff I have left over? Would it be easier to just get those cubes? Thanks! Heather
No, it wouldn't be too late at all, Healther...as long as it isn't mixed with other stuff...but then, that shouldn't hurt either. I use two pieces of window screen in a big collander... :o) And if your plants don't have any problem with it, I wouldn't worry about the stuff in the pots either.
So Leslie, what are you using for soil?? It's nice for sure-rich, dark, stays moist but not soggy......
I have problem with finding anything but Scotts or Miracle Grow (or Hyponex which I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole). Used to be able to get Sunshine potting mix but no one is carrying it anymore. Don't want to order online...too much in shipping charges and have little room for storage right now.
Milan & Carol thanks for the response! I read this before the subject came up on MSN I think. I did a GW search and didn't find anything.
I can understand using it for Orchids, I repotted a Phal from a trade and hate the fact I can't tell weather the bark mix is wet or dry.
It just seems like alot of trouble and extra expense, (for me anyhow) to have to mail order it and rinse it ect. when a huge bag of peat is available at Home Improvement stores for $8. - 10.00....
Thinking back on this and seeing some coir at a friends the other day, made me wonder if Englemans (Exotic Angel) uses coir as a base. I looked over their website and found no info, so I did the survey again and asked. Of course I doubt they'll answer me, they never have in the past....
Caron, The mix I use is Jungle Growth from Lowes. I hear it's not available
everywhere though, I think it's packaged in Statham Georgia.
I used to use Sunshine brand as well, a huge commercial grower near me used it and would sell me the 3 cu ft bags. He switched brands (which was still fine) but he never seemed to have extra to sell. I ended up experimenting with the brands from Lowes and Home Depot. Pro Mix and Majestic brands from Home Depot are pretty good, but luckily Lowes (here) started to carry Jungle Growth again
.
If I ever get time (still have tons of plants on the porch and in trees to move in)
I want to gather addresses and websites of all the popular companies (like Miracle Grow) and post them on all the Hoya forums. If enough people complain they may come out with a mix that doens't contain all these additives!
I can imagine that if EA is using pure Coir dust and puts a wetting agent in it...it would be a soggy mess! But when talking about using Coir...I think it is important to specify which Coir: the "dust" or peat like stuff, the chips, whether fine or medium. I know the Orchid growers were down on Coir but that was before the rinsing was discovered to be so important. I like the addition of some Coir to my mix because it keeps the pot from totally drying out, should it be hidden behind a bigger sister and not get enough water.
Yes...rinsing 3 cu. ft. of Coir chips is a real struggle sometimes!!!
We have few choices here. Prepared mixes are really expensive - and I just follow what the successful nurseries use here. You guys on the Mainland have such choices!!!
Yes, The EcoEarth is coir dust-it's more like peat.