[Arid_gardener] Re: moss substitute - Coir

[Dick Gross]

Thanks, Clair, for that information. I have used coir for years as a 
component for seed propagation. Still have a few bricks left from a West 
Valley nursery on Bell that I couldn't find the last time I tried to go 
there. I started using it because of claims that proved to be true that 
damping-off was reduced wth its use but I assumed that might be due to 
opening up and aerating the medium while flushing accummulated water-sourced 
salt from the root system an added advantage.
Dick Gross

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clair Spackman" <cjspackman at ucdavis.edu>
To: "Olin Miller" <dergartenarzt at att.net>; <rakena at basicisp.net>; 
<arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 9:19 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Re: moss substitute - Coir


> Olin et al,
>
> I have just found coir at Acme Worm Farm, 5726 E.29th St. . Tucson, AZ 
> 85711 . 520-750-8056.
>
> They sell it in 2.5, 5 and 10 cu ft blocks starting at $21.  Not cheap but 
> that does include UPS ground delivery fees.
>
> This is what they have to say about coir 
> (http://www.acmewormfarm.com/supplies.html#coir)
> Our Coconut Pith Fiber comes from Sri Lanka, where they soak their coir in 
> fresh water reservoirs to insure low salt levels. It's of the highest 
> quality available. Coir is superior to peat moss in many aspects. Coir has 
> antibiotic properties against pathogens, is loaded with natural growth 
> hormones, soaks up more water than peat moss, soaks it up quicker, and 
> holds it longer.  Potting soils made with coir do not require a wetting 
> agent. Using coir in place of peat moss also means less strip mining of 
> bogs. These blocks are compressed 5:1.  Each block yields 2-1/2 cubic 
> feet.  Put one in a wheelbarrow with five gallons of warm water, and watch 
> it grow to full size in about an hour (or two hours with cold water). Coir 
> also make great worm bedding when mixed half and half with compost or aged 
> manure.
>
> Clair
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