Has anyone ever heard of Coconut Compost? and is it sold anywhere commercially? It is supposed to be a good medium for propagating Maple cuttings.

SteveW
Long Island NY

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Jarbas Godoy ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

In a message dated 12/28/03 7:07:29 PM, writes:

Has anyone ever heard of Coconut Compost? and is it sold anywhere
commercially? It is supposed to be a good medium for propagating Maple cuttings.


SteveW

Coconut fiber, called "Coir," is being used in a lot of growing mixes in
place of peat. In this use the fiber is ground fairly fine and is also sold in
bricks for use as an Orchid media. It is also sold as larger chucks to replace
tree fern when growing Orchids.

I have not seen a composted version of this except in some of my pots where
it has broken down to mud.

You might purchase one of the dry bricks and see how that works. The
material is soaked in warm water for a time to wet it before use. It expands a
number of times in volume.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Jarbas Godoy ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Good Day to All,

There is a product called - Cocopeat - www.jayampathi.com
out of Sri Lanka.[Premium Coir - an alternative to peat.]

Suggested as - Hydroponic Growing Medium

However I did add it into my mix in place of peatmoss[due
primarily to another member's request that we ease up on
the use of Canadian peat moss.]

It has tremendous water retaining capacity.

I used approximately 1/3 to 1/4 in my mix of [sifted all],
crushed red brick from hollow clay building block,silica based
gravel and [replacing some of the ]home made compost.
It was a bit too much.I had to decrease the watering.

When I begin to re-pot next week,I will let the group know
if the -cocopeat- survived the exposure to the roots,compost
and added fertiliser [Blaucom-German] as granules.

Additionally,coconut husks are rich in potassium and sodium
for those interested in making glazes from the ash of the husk.

This cocopeat seems to be the ground up insides of the coconut
,possibly husk ??,and the fibres.
Not sure how to describe this,as in our slack dialect type English
the coconut is simply husk,inner nut shell and the meat.
So if someone says they husked the coconut,they meant that they
have removed the nut.

It's a lovely cool day,thus far 70 deg.f [ 21 deg.C] is our low,
but we are hitting this temperature every night.
Stay well.
Khaimraj
West Indies/Caribbean



-----Original Message-----
From: Billy M. Rhodes
To:
Date: 29 December 2003 2:23
Subject: [IBC] COCONUT COMPOST


In a message dated 12/28/03 7:07:29 PM, writes:

Has anyone ever heard of Coconut Compost? and is it sold anywhere
commercially? It is supposed to be a good medium for propagating Maple
cuttings.


SteveW

Coconut fiber, called "Coir," is being used in a lot of growing mixes in
place of peat. In this use the fiber is ground fairly fine and is also sold
in
bricks for use as an Orchid media. It is also sold as larger chucks to
replace
tree fern when growing Orchids.

I have not seen a composted version of this except in some of my pots where
it has broken down to mud.

You might purchase one of the dry bricks and see how that works. The
material is soaked in warm water for a time to wet it before use. It
expands a
number of times in volume.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Jarbas Godoy ++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++