coconut fiber (flower, manure, containers, price)

[Koale]

So, has anyone used coconut fiber in their gardens? Landlord dropped off a 'cube' of it for use in a flower bed but it doesn't seem to be very user friendly. Have to soak it before it's useable. Here is my question on this stuff... After soaking it and letting it absorb water, can I crumble it and just let it dry and use it from a bag?
Koale

[oldgardener]

Soak it in water, then mix it into your soil the same way you would add peat moss, or any other soil amendment.

If you let it dry out before you add it to your soil, it won't be usable until you soak it again.

[charlygal]

Coco coir is my preferred medium for my containers. For in ground use, I plan on mixing it with compost. It has excellent drainage and maintains moisture.

[Koale]

thank you... if I use it I'll have to mix it w/something... but, I think I'm just going to give it back to the LL. I prefer plain old compost...thanks folks.
K

[oldgardener]

Originally Posted by Koale

thank you... if I use it I'll have to mix it w/something... but, I think I'm just going to give it back to the LL. I prefer plain old compost...thanks folks.
K

The coconut fiber would just add more "fluff" to the soil, kind of like peat moss, for aeration. Your landlord may think the soil needs aeration, and that's why they gave it to you?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I don't like it enough to pay the high price for it.



If you want fiber and moisture retention outside, find yourself some composted horse manure, rabbit manure, forest mold compost, coffee grounds.


If moisture retention is really a problem, put in a small handful of water crystals or use Turface.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

If I had free coconut coir for outside, I'd just mix it into the soil dry. Crumble it and turn it under. It will soak up moisture when you water the garden.


Odd choice, though. But hey, as long as you don't have to pay for it, go ahead and mix it in. It won't cause any damage.

[Gerania]

I loved it when I had a garden with clay. Though I added compost and peat, neither of them kept the soil from becoming a brick the way that coir did.

[hotzcatz]

I've seen folks use it to line hanging baskets, although I don't know if it was from a looks standpoint or for some sort of soil/moisture sort of thing.


It should add organic matter if you have heavy soils?