here is what he determines as coconut fiber and his suggestions
"Both coco peat or coconut fiber are same.
Young, fibrous coir with a lot of large pith particles and short fibers should be used to mix with adenium potting medium. The fine materials of the coco peat should be sieved off always.
If coir blocks are the only source looks carefully for large particles and lots of fiber always."
he believes that our coir is to fine and hold to much water and compacts the potting medium to much.
I dont have an out let for chicken manure but there is black cow bagged OR cheaper composted manure at lowes and H.D.
I think is mixture causes me to see the reason fro each component and the ratio and see what is the closet thing i have to that like the manure. and sand i saw a corce builders sand at the H.D so i think still little fine so im mixing with crushed rock you use as a base for patio paves stones. the mix looks like it will make a nice mix. now the coconut fibers the coir i get is so fine BUT i can get coconut liner baskets ar H.D for under 2.00 and cut with snips or im thinking i have a meat grinder if i soak it wet and fees it threw that it might work. cor the charcoal again THE H.D. has it for orchids its to big but if you put in a pillow case you can wack it with a hammer to reduce the size. that is about the full list so i see ANYONE willing to put a bit of work in to it you can use this as a guide to better potting medium.
the thing is the feeding now chemical fert. this is one im stopping now these plants become week and susceptible to disease and rot with the chemicals. he saids the plant doesnt get the right outer skin and the stronger stems if forced to grow to fast. in the long run the will be able to produce more and bigger blooms and stems.
He said even the hy breads and crosses are no different still need to treat the same.
Just some info that might help newbies and "seasoned growers" alike
mike
