[Arid_gardener] moss substitute - Coir

[Olin Miller]

I haven't used coir and am not familiar with it.  Did a web searh and did
not  find anything that against using it except that it's pretty pricey.
Like Clair said, it is a renewable resource and there may not be a local
retail source.   I would also like to hear from somebody who has  actual
experience with it?

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Clair Spackman" <cjspackman at ucdavis.edu>
>I am in the same place as you making raised beds I will use in a "square
>foot" way.  I have read that coir is a good substitute for moss.  It is not
>hydrophobic like moss and being from coconut trees it is not endangered the
>way the moss is (moss comes from bogs that take millions of year to evolve
>and which are getting smaller).
>I understand you buy the coir in bales/vacuumed packed and then soak it and
>it bulks up.
>I haven't found any yet, but then I haven't really looked either.  I don't
>know what the cons are of coir, I'm sure there must be some as there always
>are.  Maybe someone here will know more about it.

Clair