Coco fiber instead of peat moss?

Has anyone else used this for a potting medium? I'm trying to get an idea of whether it makes more sense to use - I have heard that it is easier to re-wet than peat and that it absorbs more water. And, of course, there's the ecological component.

Any advice/ experience?

Hi there Pagancat. I'm not entirely clear on the question you are asking. If you are inquiring about coconut husk fiber that's used for orchids, then I can say that I like it a lot for orchids, though I've not tried it on other plants. If you are asking about the coco liner mats that are available in garden centers, well ignore this post. What are you potting? Peat is cheap and whatever it takes to amend it is usually easy to come by. Unless you live in Hawaii or Florida, coconut husk mediums are relatively expensive, sold in small quantities and not meant for potting many terrestrial plants.
Laurel

Hey Laurel - this is coco fiber bricks that, once hydrated, can be used in place of peat. IOWs, the brick will crumble and you can either start plants in it with no additive or use it in place of peat in a soil mix. Or so the packaging claims. I think you're probably using chips for your orchids?

Yes, Pagancat. So what is your source for the coco fiber bricks? I'd like to learn more. Thanks.
Laurel

http://www.cleanairgardening.com/coco-fiber-bricks.html is where I bought it from, altho I believe I've found a less expensive place - http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/766252/CategoryID/12000/SubCatID/2470/file.htm Still have to do the math to be sure.

This is a brand that I've seen a number of times online and at garden centers: http://www.wondersoil.com/website/ I'm not sure how the price compares with the others, probably varies depending on where you buy it.

LOL - they have a link for distributors that goes to a page "Coming soon".

I take it you haven't tried it?

I have some but haven't used it yet :-) If you google it you'll find sources, I can't remember where I got it, think it was from a local nursery somewhere but I know I've seen it online too.

Coir is something I use a lot when propagating roses, it as always worked well for me.

Thanks. I'll look into it.
Laurel

I have bought it before, on ebay. I wonder if there would be enough interest in it, to do a co=op? I bet we could get a deal on the bricks if we bought a lot of them.

Hey now, wait until I use these up!!!

Pagan,
How many did you get?

Came in a six pack...

With all the cuttings I do..that much would be gone in a week!

Grrr - I just planted two cuttings this evening and came out after dinner to find the goofball pup had taken off with one of them. You should see me out with a flashlight, looking all over for it...

here puppy puppy puppy..... LOL Just kidding

Ugh - tonight he walked off with a 4pk of cuttings that I was just giving some air to. Thankfully he just wanted to play hide-n-seek, not eat it.

good thing,most pups shread everything they get ahold of.

Pagancat, I've used both the coir and the coir with husk chips. I guess depending on what you are using it for would be which you would use. Me at least.

i.e. I prefer with the chips for planting larger plants. However, I do mix it with potting mix etc. I also put in some small bark pieces. Now that sounds like I sit there and toss one at a time little pieces of bark, right?

Since I discovered the one with the coconut husk chips I use that more than the other. However, since I started using Soiless mix, I don't use the just plain fiber at all.

I have not bought any peat moss in years.

BTW, I looked at the Wonder Soil Ecrane and I don't think that is the same thing that Pagancat is talking about. Could be wrong. Have been before.

Jeanette

It is the same if we're still talking about something that fits the description in this post: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5570342 It is made from coir/coco fiber and is intended to be used as potting mix, and when you add water and it hydrates the brick breaks apart and you fluff it up and put it in your pots. The only difference is they put in additional nutrients, polymers, etc so it's not 100% coir. They also have little pellets and things for seed starting, maybe those are what you were looking at?

Well, ecrane - let us know how it works for you when you get around to it. Of course the 'Wonder Soil' product will be slightly different, but I'm thinking about things like texture, etc.

It's been nearly a month now and the original brick that I hydrated still feels the way it did when I soaked it, even still damp once you get past the first half inch or so. Not bad for sitting in a hot/ cold garage.

Could those of you who have experience using one or more of these products please share what you are potting, if you are amending the mix (and with what), how often you repot and why you use these products over other, traditional options. Are these products less expensive or more available in your region?

Sorry about the plants Pagancat. I now have seven unidentified Cymbidium orchids after the "bad boy" ran the pots all over the back yard last April. It would not be so bad if they were not all a rose/mauve with spots and awarded specimens. Each plant is in a three gallon pot. I was hoping to sell them.

Ouch! Bad boy!

As you can see, he's trying his best to make all of my gardening a challenge... meet Boone, my bad boy!

I have used it in place of peat moss by mixing it, the coir with the chips, in with other potting mix, adding peralite, bark, sand, slow release fertilizer, and can't think if there was anything else. My list is in storage for spring. I have potted tree Peonies, Brugs, and other large conainer plants.

The reason I use the coir with the coconut husk chips is, with the bark, it gives the roots other textures to connect to. I think, and it is just in may imagination probably, that the different textures of the bark and chips traps oxygen. Even tho I use peroxide, I think it doesn't hurt.

Jeanette

He's a doll. Is he a pup? What kind of dog is he?

Jeanette

Ahh, a Shepherd/hound? We know those dogs well here. LOL

That reminds me of how my dog always tries to help me garden--he comes over to get some attention, then he flops down in the bed and proceeds to roll over on his back so that I can rub his tummy. Of course he usually squashes at least one plant in the process and comes away covered in mulch!

So far my only use of coir has been using the bigger coir chunks as mulch (rather expensive, but when I was initially mulching my garden my back was messed up and I couldn't handle big bags or wheelbarrows full of regular mulch). My Wonder Soil brick is still sitting in my garage somewhere, someday when I find it again then I'll get around to giving it a try! Trouble is it's small and it hides easily, so anytime I go to pot something the first thing I find is the big bag of Miracle Gro mix!

Thanks, Ecrane. Hopefully your dog drains well after being potted in coir. lol
Laurel

Not sure exactly what he is - we get a number of drop offs here and he was one. You probably nailed it with hound/ shepherd, although he's a lot more active than either of those breeds...? The one before was a Corgi and the one after a Heeler mix... you just never know.

Yup, that's the same scenario, ecrane!

Hounds are very hyper when they are "on". I have been posting the "Snake Dog" story on Pets. It's about our rescue Plott Hound, Pepper, who has a penchant for copperheads. We also have a Shepherd/Husky(?) mix, Goober, who landed on the doorstep a year ago March. Hate that sound of tires disappearing on gravel and whimpering puppies late at night. Here's our Shepherd mix dump dog. Sweetest gentle giant and now 85 pounds.
Laurel

Forgive me for being so off topic. It's like when someone mentions their kids. I try not to do that.

This message was edited Oct 12, 2008 8:51 PM

Awww....

S'okay, Laurel - I started it.

In that case, hound he is - and "on" only when he's not asleep!

Jeanette:
your bark chunks add airspace to your soil which helps with the oxygen exchange when you water.Like when you water a plant thats been a while between watering. the pot fills up and the air bubbles come out in the water. It causes and air exchange in the airspace. I tried a bag mix this summer trying to be more efficient and it was like a mud brick no texture or airspace for a good exchange. I am suprised I didn't kill everything I planted. you sounded curious.
Dave

What do you mean "I sound curious"? You mean because mine didn't do that? Probably the peralite, sand, bark, and the coir fiber. Besides the coir bark, I also add a fir bark which is pretty big. I couldn't find any smaller stuff. Donna found some, so next year I will have to look earlier.

But mind you, this is for bigger plants like the tree peony, brugs, etc. If you take a look at the container forum Al has several recipes on there for container mixes. I did get pretty close to one of his. Because he is in the south, I think, I can't get the exact things he calls for.

Jeanette