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Coco vs soil "in Organic grow"
- Thread starter War horse
- Start date
You can, but it will raise the bulk density (dry weight by volume). Watering is trickier, total porosity is typically lower.
Depends what you refer to as soil as well. Soil and compost generally make a heavy mixture.
Nothing to stop a few test pots though. 100% coir, 50/50, 100% soil, etc.
Depends what you refer to as soil as well. Soil and compost generally make a heavy mixture.
Nothing to stop a few test pots though. 100% coir, 50/50, 100% soil, etc.
HuffnPufferfish
Member
i had one bag of peat and i like that a lot, but cant get that anywhere around here so im back to mixing coco to around 30% keeps more air in the middle
What about 60% soil and 40% perlite
Not a big perlite fan either. Again though, if that's whats available. Forty % seems a bit much. Twenty-five % is more in line. Perlite as well as coco, while serving to loosen up soil, add very little as far as nutrients and don't serve to support your microlife.
Not knowing your soil, it's hard to comment. I've never had good luck with my local soil in pots.
Alternative may be leaf mold as suggested. I can't say from experience. I've seen plants grown in well composted horse manure with success, though there is concern about medications.
From what I can tell, it's peat moss (good), dolomite lime (good with peat moss), tree bark ( unknown origin, probably good), and a small amount of "NPK" fertilizer 12-14-24. Requires additional fertilizer. ( high numbers, probably not organic). $40 American on Amazon (OUCH!!!)
I wouldn't buy the "Plus" because of the fertilizer not being organic. I wouldn't pay $40 either. Without the fertilizer though, it sounds like it may be a good product. The non Plus version would probably make a very good base for some of the soil recipes, if you can get it at a decent price.
fyi soil is clay, silt, and loam.
i think the OP is posing the question sphagnum peat moss vs coco coir?
i vote peat moss myself. the raw stuff (no promix or sunshine products). good biology. cheap. north american. win.
coco coir seems to be a great hydro medium but i'm not a fan of how it behaves in a living soil situation IME. granted after one run i ditched it and went back to peat, so i didn't give it the fairest chance.
i agree with h.h.---unamended native soil is very difficult to work with in containers.
i think the OP is posing the question sphagnum peat moss vs coco coir?
i vote peat moss myself. the raw stuff (no promix or sunshine products). good biology. cheap. north american. win.
coco coir seems to be a great hydro medium but i'm not a fan of how it behaves in a living soil situation IME. granted after one run i ditched it and went back to peat, so i didn't give it the fairest chance.
i agree with h.h.---unamended native soil is very difficult to work with in containers.
I've used both as an aeration tool and had success but I think it depends on your quantity. Dealing with PH in coco can be a PITA if your percentage of total material gets higher whereas I've had successfull runs in 100% peat and no PH adjustments whatsoever. Also coco will require more watering, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your situation I suppose
