Choosing a coconut coir manufacturer that ages properly is … Sorry I didn't see any updates on the subject. Traditionally, peat (sphagnum peat moss) has been used to aerate and lighten heavy soils and to improve the water retention of sandy soils. It is an organic soil amendment that readily absorbs and releases water. Click here to learn about individual types of succulents. I'm very excited because I wasn't sure it was ever going to flower, seeing how it receives only a few hours of direct sun. The high-water retention properties reduce watering frequency without plant stress, thereby minimizing plant loss. I'm hoping more places will carry it. Cocopeat Bricks, known as coir pith, coir fiber pith, coir dust, is made from coconut flakes, which are a by-product of the coconut industry and separates peanuts from flakes and fiber.Coir waste is collected in various locations and materials are washed, filtered and sorted into coconutpeat bricks for use in agricultural, horticultural and industrial applications. Peat Moss versus Coconut Coir. The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) has been in cultivation for at least 4,000 years, not just for food but just as importantly for fibers, fuel and building material. Since coir has a stable, open structure that allows plenty of air to get to the roots, it is an ideal amendment to create a loose and well draining soil mix. In front of this bamboo is a 3-foot tall granite lantern that adds to the Asian feel of this space. Here are a few of the best-recommended products. Many other plants have beautiful inflorescences, but seeing such delicate blooms on rugged, anti-social plants often armed with vicious-looking spines leaves a particularly indelible impression. The combination of a balanced pH, low natural salt content and minimal odor makes these coconut husk chips perfect for the nurturing of all plants. In fact, many if not most commercial potting soil mixes on the market today contain at least some peat. The “peat” of coconut coir, this basically looks like finely ground coconut or peat moss. DAILY POSTS FROM THE ROAD: Day 1: Desert Botanical Garden and more Day 2: Tucson Botanical Garden, DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum   Day 3: Agave-hunting in the Waterman Mountains and visiting Greg Starr’s nursery Day 4: Krutch Cactus Garden and Civano (Tucson); ASU Polytechnic Campus (Mesa)   Day 5: Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden, Cavalliere Park, Pinnacle Peak, and Taliesin West View from Pinnacle Peak, Scottsdale. 'Bonsai Blue' is very much alive. According to the instructions I received for the bricks I bought, “simply place the brick in a bucket of water and walk away”. We prepare this easy potting mix or soil with rain water. Copyright 2013-2020 Succulents and Sunshine LLC. I found a 4.5 cu ft Coir brick for $17. Opuntia macrocentra var. I became aware of coir when researching potting soil mixes for succulents. It must be aged properly to be used as a growing media, as it can let out salts that will kill your plant if you’re not careful. Coconut coir fibers from the coconut shells make this mulch gentle enough to use with orchids and other potted plants but is sturdy enough to use in landscaping, garden beds or grow bags. Just throw a few handfuls of that in and then a few handfuls of the coconut coir. It’s so small and absorbent that if you were to use coco peat as your only growing medium, you might drown out the roots of your plants. This … That was my cue to do some trimming. If the big box stores started to carry it, prices would go down to the point where it becomes a real alternative to peat. Bonsai Jack soil is a go-to for me. We use coir in our in some of mixes for the added moisture it provides. It weighs 27 lbs and would cost $22 to ship to me. Combined with at least 50% pumice, perlite, calcinated clay or the like, coir with its superior water-holding capability ensures that the mix doesn’t dry out too quickly, yet at the same time doesn’t subject the roots to an excess of much moisture. I have also experimented with putting 10% calcine clay and so far the batch of succulents with that is doing great as well. Coir is also good as a topdressing to increase moisture. Share this post with your succulent loving friends! macrocentra, Here is an index of all posts about my April 2016 trip to Victoria, British Columbia: Whirlwind trip to Victoria, British Columbia (part 1 of 2) Whirlwind trip to Victoria, British Columbia (part 2 of 2) University of Victoria Finnerty Gardens Abkhazi Garden, Victoria, British Columbia, Succulent sale at Silverado through 2/5/11, Succulent sale at UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, 11 gardening projects for 2011: projects 6-11, 11 gardening projects for 2011: projects 1-5, Arizona; Tucson; agaves; nurseries; books, furniture; garden furniture; product review, nurseries; Annie's Annuals; Northern California; shopping, nurseries; succulents; Southern California, Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society, Sacramento Bromeliad and Carnivorous Plant Society, snow;Christmas;Mount Shasta;Northern California, travel; Arizona; gallery; art; public gardens; succulents; desert; landscaping; architecture; history, travel; Arizona; missions; churches; succulents; cactus. Carl, that's excellent information! It is much easier to wet than peat (if you’ve tried to wet dry peat, you know how difficult that can be), holds water just as well if not better, decomposes more slowly and doesn’t get compressed like peat does. Because of my love for succulents and cacti I decided to try again this year after learning from my mistakes and this time potting them in mostly anorganic soil as I mentioned (50% prelite, 25%regular potting mix and 25% rough coir). It was $17.95 with free shipping, so it's about twice as expensive as peat.I thought it's definitely worth a shot since I don't need all that much (2 cu.ft. We use a medium of coconut coir (pronounced COY-er), sometimes with added perlite. 8 cu.ft. will fill a lot of containers!! Coir is being touted as a viable alternative since it is a by-product of coconut production and completely renewable. Coconut Coir Coconut coir, the shredded husks of the coconut, adds drainage capabilities and can be wet repeatedly, as opposed to other products which might not accept water well after the initial wetting. See more ideas about Coir, Christmas signs wood, Christmas signs. Thank you. How I use coconut husk in my potting medium for growing succulents of all types. Succulents need light, and plenty of it! Thank you very much for letting me know. All rights reserved, At the end of December 2016, I spent five days in Phoenix and Tucson visiting botanical gardens and nurseries and exploring the beauty of the landscape. The drainage that coconut coir offers makes it well suited to be a component in soil for growing succulents. 173 other succulent lovers also asked this question in the last 30 days. What can I help you learn about next? The problem with peat is that it is not a renewable resource and is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. Succulents from Mountain Crest Gardens are never grown in peat, nor do we recommend it. Coir has been used in the USA as a … Get help identify your succulents and see which ones will grow well for you! Further Reading: Tips for Planting Succulents; Well Draining Soil for Succulent Gardens It's hard to directly compare -- they both come compressed, but what amounts do they expand to? This mix is tailored to young plants in greenhouse conditions, and it can work for outdoor succulents in hot climates. Before shipping, the fibers are separated, cleaned, sorted, and graded. The second issue is price. It is also less acidic than peat, lasts longer and has a higher water retention. A great potting mix using coco coir, perlite or vermiculite and compost. Further Reading: Tips for Planting Succulents in Containers; How To Plant a Succulent. The first is availability. Chocolate bamboo ( Borinda fungosa ) before its haircut Chocolate bamboo ( Borinda fungosa ) after its haircut, I know I’m becoming a bit repetitive, but this is the season for cactus blooms. Ask your question below: Did you know each species of succulent has slightly different care needs? Two years ago, in June 2015, I bought a dwarf jacaranda sold by Monrovia under the name 'Bonsai Blue' and I planted it in large concrete container on our back patio. Coconut coir is 100% organic and is a … Just follow the directions in this post. Coco coir is a natural by-product of harvesting coconuts. The important thing to remember with soil, whether planting for the first time or repotting, is to make sure that the soil has a large particle size (1/4” or 6mm ideally). Inside the tough coconut shell is soft coconut meat that can be turned into coconut milk, coconut cream, and other products. Many commercial cactus mixes are surprisingly high in peat. Coconut coir, or coco peat, is a waste product of the coconut fiber industry. Many growers use coir in varying proportions in their soil mixes. Coconut coir pros usually recommend mixing the product with other plant amendments, but you can use it straight too. There are several different vendors and packages available, including some with free shipping. That means turning to mail-order, instead of a 5-minute drive to Home Depot. It is much easier to wet than peat (if you’ve tried to wet dry peat, you know how difficult that can be), holds water just as well if not better, decomposes more slowly and doesn’t get compressed like peat does. We have over 60 varieties featured with more added each week! It is a wonderful organic soil amendment for gardening, it holds moisture well, while releasing it easily and draining well. Coconut coir provides high water retention, drainage, root aeration and antifungal benefits. If you want to keep your succulent in a pot, add coarse grit components that have a diameter of one-half to a quarter of an inch. Coir is being touted as a viable alternative since it is a by-product of coconut production and completely renewable. The coconut, of course, is the world’s largest seed. Coir typically comes in compressed bricks that are surprisingly heavy. This is what the professionals use. Coconut coir is popular with a wide range of consumers that means container gardeners, hydroponic growers, commercial nurseries, and even homeowners trying their hand at indoor gardening. The thing to be aware of with cheap coir is it may contain sodium chloride (salt) and the EC may be to high due to potassium salts if it hasn't been properly washed by the supplier. Until recently, nobody mentioned coir (pronounced core) to the average succulent grower. But mainly it is a waste product of the coconut industry; mountains of the stuff have accumulated in tropical countries where coconut palms abound. There are a lot of options when it comes to succulent soil, but here’s a few of my favorites! Like most bamboos, Borinda fungosa is a vigorous grower when happy—and ours clearly is happy. There's one place locally that I know I can get Coir, but it's not exactly convenient. Just make sure you are using 1/4″  diatomaceous earth — not the fine powder — and you should be good to go! The best choice of sand for your succulent mix is sterile, coarse sand. In fact, it's blooming for the first time ever! Pumice helps the soil to dry in the correct speed. I’m so glad that you like the information on the blog and that your succulents are getting bigger! All rights reserved. Availability of coir is an issue for me, too. It is the coarse fibers removed from the coconut husk. The coconut coir mixed with large particle diatomaceous earth is also a good option and can be easier to find in a lot of countries throughout the world. All you need to do is soak it and it will expand to nearly double the size. Do you still suggest the coconut coir and diatomaceous earth for repotting succulents, or do you suggest a purchased soil? Some of them are much more likely to grow well for you than others. Well, I did just that, 24 hours ago, and half the brick is still, well, a brick. Most important, it accepts water well once it is dry. Succulents by Lula’s Garden Light: give your succulents plenty of light . And growing microgreens in coconut coir is definitely a viable option as a growing medium. Horticultural coarse sand breaks up dense potting soil to help attain the best growing medium for succulent plants. Sep 16, 2019 - Explore Jennifer Fox's board "Coir" on Pinterest. The next time I'm at Lowe's or Home Depot I'll try to get a hold of the nursery manager to ask them about coir. It has long been used to make doormats, mattress and upholstery stuffing, rope, and fishing nets. In addition, the pH of coir is more neutral than peat so it doesn’t change the pH level of the medium to which you add it. Click here to read my original post. Succulents and Sunshine has provided my plants with so much great care. Time for an update! My mix consist of 50% chicken grit, 50% coconut coir and so far it's been great. Insect and disease problems any updates on the history and making of coir to plants! Like door mats, twine or brushes and fiber-y vermiculite and compost to use a succulent ’ ve seen in., as soon as my coir is made up of the top coir... Coir has played an important role wherever coconut palms are grown, as! Whacking, prodding and scratching with a cultivating mattock—is beautifully fluffy and fiber-y of coir researching... 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