Everyone knows I have decided to use various forms of gardening this Spring, the EB, the HEB, the HE Buckets, the Bloommaster and the Revolutionary Planters and Topsy Turvys and last but not least the lay flat grow bags and the 5 gallon grow bags. I have used Boca Bobs' coconut coir exclusively thus far for everything. Here is what I'm noticing: The 5 gallon grow bags are doing excellent, the lay flat bags are catching up, remember I started them later on. The Bloommaster is not going to make it I don't think, not just because of the amount of plants in it; but because I have to water it from above. Remember now, I mixed the coconut coir with perlite and Shultz's fertilizer. It's heavy, too heavy, and I suspect that coconut coir is not to be used in upside down planters, as when it gets wet, and it has to be, when watered from the top and allowed to drain all the way down, it absorbs water and winds up getting way to heavy for the plants at the bottom of the upside down hanger or basket. I'm not having that problem at all with the 5 gallon bags or the lay flat bags, they are doing wonderful; but, the water doesn't have to go down that far.
I have noticed that the strawberries in the EB is doing better than the strawberries in the GP by just a tad. The HEBs I planted my artichokes in, is not doing so hot, it was an 18 gallon tote that had a 5 1/2" pond basket for a wicking device, I did not use a mulch cover on it, so when it rains the coconut coir has absorbed the excess water and weighed it down too much I think, the artichokes are suffering from being over watered now, same with the cukes in the hanging basket. My HE buckets are doing fine thus far; but, the are in the greenhouse, not outside of the greenhouse yet, so they only get the water from the reservoir.
My conclusions thus far: If you are using upside down planters, don't use coconut coir, if you are using 5 gallon grow bags and lay flat bags the coconut coir works great. If you are using an earthbox with a mulch cover, the coconut coir works great. If you are using a HEB without a mulch cover; I would not use coconut coir, it gets too heavy when wet. The whole tale will be in when the HE buckets hit the outside of the greenhouse, I'm starting to think I may have to make mulch covers for them. Now, there is perhaps a chance that the HEBs are not working properly also; and I didn't expect them to work as well as the EBs. These are my findings thus far.
As far as seed starting went, the coconut coir and Bob's coconut coir starting kit came out on top by a landslide, everything I planted in it grew, no problem. The Park's biodome kit sponges, didn't do so well with my vital spinach; but I think that is due to the sponges possibly being old, as they were dry and crusty in the one that I had planted the spinach seeds in (the last of the sponges I think, and some pretty old ones at that). Being that the bio sponges were all on back order after I used all the ones I had, I decided to use the coconut coir instead in the Park's bio dome kit, it did great, everything popped up perfectly and I planted a variety of things in it, so my mind is made up, it was the coir that made the difference there. Now, let's not forget my daughter used the peat pellets and not with much succes I must add. I also used Gardener's Supply's germinating mix and their styrofoam cells to plant some things in, had a pretty good success rate; but I think the coconut coir seed starting kit came out on top when compared to others in my household.
Thus, I have learned a lot this before Spring planting already and think I'm about to learn a lot more also. Will keep everyone updated. I am going to be using Gardener's Supply self watering container mix with the revolutionary planters and topsy turvys. I think if I am not using a mulch cover on the HEBs and EBs I will use the Jungle Grow; but, for the 5 gallon grow bags and lay flat bags, I will definately use the coconut coir. And if it comes to seed starting, I will definately opt out for Bob's seed starter kit with his coconut coir.
joyce
Discoveries I'm making already with my veggie garden
Well said Joy !!!!
I would like to add that my results with my homemade EB's and buckets were the least favorable of all the systems I have used. I have discontinued using them and now use only real Earthboxes, grow bags, and vertical planters.
Joy, good job. You've become a self educated gardener. D
Bob: I've been thinking along the same lines as you are buddy. Now, I got 3 hollyhock plants in the mail,5 Summer Cheer Daffodils, and about 30 raunauchus bulbs and 3 gay butter fly bushes. Guess what I chose to plant them in? Coconut coir and perlite. As they are in containers, and I think the fact that they are not containers the size of 18 gallon totes it will work. LOL
I think the size is what is the problem, when you look at an EB in comparison to the size of the 18 gallon tote what do you see? The 18 gallon tote is much bigger, it's much deeper, so there is a lot there that is contributing to the problem I think. The 5 gallon grow bags and lay flat bags and smaller peat pots are doing great.
joy
Devota, I've been contemplating an above ground garden too. But was curious what those that have one are using as a medium in theirs. That would be interesting. I'm also considering buying the real earth boxes next Spring instead of the totes also and perhaps some of the self watering containers and NJ stackers.
joy