Dean W.

Coconut coir, what is it good for and how to use it? I've never dealt with it before, but bought two bricks to try out.

__________________

Abnshrek

Its suppose to keep away snails, and fungi Amigo, replaces peat moss, unless your making some rope or a mat. :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Dean W.

Yes, you can make your own potting soil too. I got some pine bark, peat moss and perlite.

__________________

Abnshrek

Its Green Solution to replace peat due to its detrimental mining damage (if that's so) :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Dean W.

This is something like I got. Different brand same ideal.
GrowCoir Coconut Coir Fiber

__________________

Dean W.

I mixed up the coconut coir. Well, I filled a 5-gallon bucket with almost 2 gallons of warm water and dropped the brick in. It took about 15 minutes to swell up, but when it did there was no water left. Then I got some worm castings, peat moss, perlite and about 3-gallons of pine chips and mixed all together. You are talking about what seems to be a pretty nice potting mix. I got like 12 gallons out of the deal mixing ingredients. It had the consistency of a seed starting mix almost. Now I'm wondering if I should add horticultural sand to the mix?

__________________

Abnshrek

I would or your going to hold to much water.. :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

bananimal

Recently mixed up a batch of potting mix. Whatever you put together the industry people say add coco coir at 20% - no more. The new Eureka Lemon and a bunch of pineapple pups are really taking off.

BTW - if you reconstitute a big brick of CC use a wheel barrow. And a tarp for the rain!!!!!!! Just think of the old joke of the guy who used several cups of "non HE" detergent to wash the clothes for his wife for the first time.

Dan

Worm_Farmer

I have soaked a brick in a 5 galllon bucket of water over night, then dumped it into a worm bin I was starting up. The worms like to live in it and seem to eat it slow making a good bedding for them to live in and eat. When I have extra I will mix it into a bag of potting soil, and also add perlite.

nannerfunboi

i figured this section was good place to ask question..
? does anyone use coconut husk chips in their potting mix..and/or
mixing into outdoor soil mix for their bananas (any tropicals for that matter)???
ive been kicking around the idea on drainage..the more the better..
some aroid growers seek out pots with holes/breathable fabric..etc
for healthier plants.. so i was thinking same for my nanners
?? thoughts??
anyone use orchid bark..or CHC (coco husk chips) in their mix?
im thinking for my overwintering potted plants i will try it this winter..
the 2 big colocasias i lost overwinter was to rot..
seems same principle on overwintering my ensetes and sabas..
thanks all..
also does someone want all the rain were getting here??? sigh

hydroid

I am working over in the South Pacific and am on a small island that has a very few Bananas and I was surprised that my Bananas back home in the states are much healthier and bigger.
I have just started having good results with the pups I transplanted after they almost died.
Although it's the wet season and rains almost every day this island is nothing more than coral dust and the rain just passes through without doing much. So the locals told me that they bury coconut husk around the corm to hold the water and moisture around the plant. So that's what I've been doing along with composing what I can get like coffee grounds, ashes, and other organics that the rats won't get. But the coconut husk are really making a difference now.

Worm_Farmer

Yes, I will mix 1 brick in every bag of potting soil, and add more perlite, and worm castings. I use this mix for both indoor and out door, bananas, and veggies alike.

Something new I started doing, I take 1 brick of CoCo and 1 gallon of water mixed with humic acid. Then soak the brick in Humic Acid water mix, mix up potting soil and enjoy.

The bricks I get usually do not have too many chips in them.

G.W.

I have several years of exp with coir as soilless media.

Item #1
SODIUM
Rinse your coir until the water runs clear.
Add ph adjusted nutrient solution. (NPK including cal and mag)
Rinse again. Minimum volume of water is 3X coir IMHO

Processing of coconuts generally involves soaking in sea water to loosen the fibrous exterior.
During this time large amounts of salt are absorbed.

I have personally measured rinse water from fresh coir with a TDS of 1000ppm.


Item #2
Coir is deficient in calcium and magnesium. Your plants will be too if you fail to address this issue.
Watch for intervienal chlorosis as a sign of mag def.
Foliar feed epsom salt @1tbs/gal to correct.
It can be supplemented into soluble fert solution @1/4tsp/gal as part of regular feeding regiment.
Another way (and how I finally slayed this beast) is DOLOMITIC LIME
This is commonly called "Ag Lime" and is crushed limestone containing both calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
1tbs/gal in your potting mix, it is slow to dissolve and has a ph close to 7 so there are no swings (wood ash anyone? )

These are two major issues/drawbacks concerning the use of coir.
Once you address these coir will become like a miracle media.

My recipe
5 gallon bucket
drill a pencil sized hole 3 inches up the side NONE BELOW THIS !!!
rinse coir
mix your coir with 25% perlite and a handful of dolomite
plant your nanner
water with soluble complete ferts @500ppm UNTIL WATER COMES OUT OF THE HOLE
to check water needs simply lift (I kick) the bucket to feel the weight heavy=ok light=add water till it comes out of the hole
hang on to your britches

if you grow tired of your (giant freakin) nanners going all Mary Poppins every time a breeze blows then you can bury the bucket half way in the dirt
it will still drain, although more slowly

If 5gals is too small, then consider a 18 gal or larger rough tote or the like.
Just be aware that coir has huge absorbency and a small plant like 1ft WILL be waterlogged in a container this size. A strong 3ft plant is the smallest I would put in a 18 gal tote.
In a 25 gal I would expect a 15ft+ plant to do fine, maybe only needing watered every other day. The more perlite you add the less water holding capacity.

coir is fantastic once you understand it

__________________
winter winners, jackfruit, carambola, hua moa, d namwah, hak ip lychee with pink leaves 2 days before a cold snap eeeek!

Winter losers, kohala longan, misi luki, 80% jackfruit seedling loss

first bloomers, HUA MOA, DC, D NAMWAH, FHIA 17, KANADARIAN, RAJA PURI, M D NAMWAH

best bunch FHIA 17 , undisclosed

WORST BUNCH hua moa, 2 fingers