rcorey: -I tried bulk coir
>> coir have changed dramatically in the last ten years.
>> nature's footprint. just don't buy the cheapest stuff and try to find reviews. hydroponics people use it - so pays to read the forums.
>> coir peat does not compact even when wet, so aeration is much better then with reg peat. and it does not turn into mush in 1 season like peat either. i actually read that it could be reused - like it gets better as it ages ;), so long as it does not have pathogens and dead rotting roots in it. try shaking it off the roots - and you'll see it's possible. i reuse mine from succulents when i repot them into new mix. and by the way all cacti/succs come in coir peat now ;).
That's really good to know! I'll try it again and skip checking HD. That loft, aeration, and durability are why I went from peat moss to bark fibers. It sounds like coir is the same idea only much better. Most of the cheap coir bricks I tried had enough powder and small fines that they would not have held air even when drained overnight.
BTW, CarolineScott, who re-uses potting mix, described flushing it with good compost tea to displace old soil microbes and establish beneficial new ones. Great idea!
The thread "Rejuvenating soil in containers" in
Containers forum
