In Goa, we say that there isn't a part of the coconut tree that ever goes to waste. Even the trunk is used as beams in construction. The outermost shell with the coir are dumped into the pit in which to grow a new coconut Palm.🥥🌴 Every single part of the tree has multiple uses, and is such an integral part of Goan traditions. (Sigh) Nostalgia!😊
I used coco coir last year to start hundreds of seeds, vegetables, perennials and annual flowers. I just used the coco coir by itself and fertilized with fish emulsion once they all had their true leaves. They all grew great!
For Luke's fans: A "part" is one scoop of whatever size measuring container you are using. It might be a bucket, an old yogurt container, a measuring cup, etc. The size does not matter. Using the same Container to scoop the amounts of Parts needed to make the whole batch is what matters.. Formula for every 20 Parts to create a 100% mixture will be: 25% Perlite = 5 Parts (scoops) & 15% Vermiculite = 3 Parts (scoops) & 60% Coco or Peat = 12 Parts (scoops). 5+3+12 = 20 Parts/Scoops total, each Part is 5% of the mixture = 100%. It doesn't matter what size scooper you use, a Part is a Part of 100% total.
I like coco coir just because it's better for me to work with. I suffer allergies 😩but can't pull myself from gardening 🌱🌾 especially now that I am concentrating on saving money $ growing my food. I wear gloves 🧤 and a mask 🎭 , which a small price to pay for my love💛 of plants 🌿 Thanks Luke for all you do. 🕊
I have astma and used to suffer from hayfever, eczema and other discomforts. I found out that drinking nettleleaf tea (antihistamine benefits) and lessen my carb and stop eating gluten, white sugar containing products and products containing conservatives (E-numbers) like mononatrium glutamate E621 and goat milk instead of cowmilk (different casëine) helped me get over it. I can work in the garden whereas I used to have burning eyes, continuous sneezing episodes for years. Nettleleaf is not for all as some might be allergic to that as well. Working in the garden has worked miracles for my health as well. Bless you with great health. Love from Holland.
Everyone recommends the allergy pills but really what you need is allergy shots. I was deathly allergic to most things outside until I got them. It's a time commitment but it will pay off
Hey Luke last year i made kind of a raised bed where I took logs and used my soil from my yard. I bought a HUGE bag of perlite from the grow store and mixed it into my yards soil to loosen it up...I think it contributed to the most successful onion harvest I ever had along with Trifeca of course lol. Planning on doing it like that again for all my root Veggies!
@@chickeastwater9883 It tells me that it could be fatel to pets if they should digest Is styrofoam dangerous to kittens? My Cat Ate Styrofoam! Here's What to Do (Vet Answer ... The main risk to your cat from eating Styrofoam is that it can cause a blockage in your cat's stomach or intestines. A partial blockage can cause your cat to display symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, and a full blockage is classed as a surgical emergency.
I just tried some coco coir seed starting mix this year because it was cheaper then peat starting mix...I love it, once its been rehydrated its a lot easier to not over pack into the cells so roots can move through it nicely and it takes less time to get off your hands. It doesn't smell the same as peat but it still has a nice light earth smell.
We are using leftover potting soil from last year, finished compost, and leftover potting mix to start seeds. Winter sowing some tomatoes in the breezeway that gets a lot of sun, and growing a few tomatoes and peppers under our first tiny grow light. Saves on cost. Our small garden really helps us and it tadtes so much better.
I have been using coco coir for over 10 years now and it is so great. I live on the 4th floor and grow stuff on my balkony/walkway & windo-sills. Carying all that in compost up is just bad for my knees. So i get me some coco coir blocks and some compost from the parents garden. Mix it up and use it for all my pottet veggies and herbs. It is great to use in pots and flower boxes. It keeps things fluffy and well drainable. Only have to keep an eye on fertilizing right depending on what i want to grow. Love the stuff. great video and informative. thank you.
I had to come back and thank you again. I watched the whole video and found that I didn't know as much about coconut coir as I needed to know. Now I know more. There is no such thing as too much information. Continue to be thorough.
I use a 20 gallon trash can set on top of 3 bricks with holes in the bottom, fill with water, let it drain to rinse the coco coir 3 days/times, then keep it stored in there and use as needed. Cheap and EZ.
@@tammydepew5236 Sorry that I didn't see your comment before now. Yes, a little coco coir runs out of the bottom of the trash can, but not much. Your question has stimulated my brain to realize that I could put some old window screen over the holes. And No, it doesn't get moldy because O transfer it first into plastic cement mixing pans to air dry, then transfer again into a different trash can without holes after it has dried. I use various sized trash cans to store EVERYTHING. 😁🧓
I always learn something from your videos, thank you. Today I learned that my attacks on coir blocks with different types of saws are a thing of the past.
Wow! I didn't know about salt content in coco coir. I didn't have good success before when I used it in a seed starting mix, but now that I know about washing it I will try again! Thank you for sharing all this good information :)
Thank you Luke for this video. I didn't know abo ut coco coir and seawater, or the need to rinse out the salt. I have just used it straight as I have used peat in the past. Very informative! Thank you again!
I use coconut coir for my seed starting mix, worm bedding, and bedding for my tortoise. It’s amazing how much you can do with it and it takes up way less space!
Yeah, I wouldn't say coco coir is better than peat moss, but here in Australia, it's way cheaper and readily available. We have a good brand called Brunnings that is pre-washed, so is way lower in salt than some others. I've never used it as the main portion of a potting mix, but usually a mix of compost, coco coir, and worm castings with some vermiculite added. I use boiling water to get rid of any pests in compost for indoors use. Thanks for the great video.
I was thinking to microwave damp compost. The steam from the water woul for sure kill everything. I've also heard of people reusing potting mix by getting it all moist and baking it to kill any fungus microbes or pests.
I still have a ton of autumn leaves. I’ll chop some up with the mower and try putting a bunch in bags for next year. I didn’t wash my cococoir. Hope my citrus does ok in it because I just transplanted a bunch of citrus trees. The flowers I potted up look great in it!
I like the change from "grow big or go home" to "grow bigger". Feels more inclusive. Also thank you for the useful information, especially regarding the added nutrition at the end.
I cannot tell you how excited I am that you will be carrying Coco Coir! I have been buying it for a couple of years now. I find it easlier for me to work with than peat because it doesn't become hydrophobic. The tip on how to break it off is wonderful thank you, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be buying from you next time.
I’ve been using coco coir for years in my vivarium but never heard anyone mention the issue of salinity before. That would explain why some of my plants struggle when I refresh it!
certain Anthuriums can be very sensitive to the salt. Years ago I was told by a large grower in New Zealand that he had lost many thousands of young anthurium plants out of micro propagation when he tried using coco peat.
Coconut is grown in beaches near sea shore. Coconut trees like a little bit of salt. It is not entirely correct to say countries like India don’t have sweet water.
This year I used coco coir to start my seeds, it held the water and kept my seedlings moist till their first leaves. Then I started feeding them with diluted fertilizer. I’m really impressed with the results. I babysat them b/c I was concerned about my seeds drying out but it wasn’t necessary.
For what it’s worth, I have heard that the rinse water from the coconut coir can be used, CAREFULLY, as a general mineral supplement for mineral stripped soils. Sea water has MANY minerals, not just sodium and chloride.
@@kimberlyscott864 I wish! I am just getting set up on my retirement property and hope to start planting this year. What I have accumulated is bits and pieces of information over the years.
@@Bill32H-it3sv IMO, it’s not where it comes from, but whether or not it profits the people doing the work. Too often, it profits only the middlemen and big business, and wastes scarce potable water. For the reasons you gave, I also use Canadian peat.
Yes but what comes off washed coco coir is not simply sea water. It’s mostly sodium from the seawater that gets bound to the coco coir’s cation exchange sites. So there’s a good chance you’d be feeding your plants/soil toxic levels of sodium doing that. Better just diluting a small amount of good quality sea salt in some room temp water ;)
Just used coco peat this year for seed starting and learned the hard way that I should have rinsed it! But honestly it still was better that peat moss!! One 101b block was equal to giant block of peat most! Plus so much lighter to handle and was delivered right to front door!
I do container gardening up north in zone 5A and make my own homemade potting mix. I start by using clay dug from my backyard I let it dry in the sun on my driveway then I crush it into a fine powder then sweep it up and collect it. I used to use the topsoil as part of my base ingredients instead of clay, but I've found that the clay has way more minerals than the native topsoil in my backyard. Basically I mix the clay, coarse garden perlite, compost, worm castings, coconut coir , plus inoculants and amendments together by hand. Per 10 cubic foot giant wheelbarrow (1 batch): 5 gallons coconut coir 5 gallons of crushed powdered clay 5 gallons of locally-sourced earth worm castings 5 gallons of my homemade super compost (fortified with rock dust and charcoal) 5 gallons of coarse garden perlite This is the bulk of my soil base mix. Then I add these inoculants and amendments to the base mix listed above. (1)Bat Guano (2)Bone meal (3) blood meal (4) rice hauls (5) alfalfa meal (6) kelp meal (7) seaweed meal (8) aged chicken manure (9) green sand "mineral deposits from the ocean floor" (10) feather meal (11) mycorrhiza "a type of fungus" (12) microorganism mix "multiple different types of microorganism bacteria" (13) neem cake meal (14) red wiggler worms about one dozen per flower pot depending on the pot size If you could see through my soil would look like a tangled web of millions of white spider webs in the soil mixture, this is also known as Santa's Beard, it's a good thing 👍. This is the holy grail of the home gardener, it's known as "soil hyphae" a type of mycorrhiza fungus network that has a beneficial symbiotic relationship with the vegetable plant roots. If you're able to achieve this hyphae network magical things happen like absolute ridiculous yields from one plant, it's truly insane 😳👍. I basically make a living soil and let the soil feed the plants (happy soil microbes happy plants)🤷. The only time i actually feed the plants is maybe for the first 5 weeks. I might occasionally mix some fish emulsion with water depending on the current growth rate. Basically if you build your soil properly in the beginning, there's really no reason to feed your plants in my very short grow season 🤷. Happy gardening all hope this helps someone ✌️.
I find that coir rehydrates much easier than peat as, in my experience I have to add hot water to the peat but, the coir will take up cold water, no problem! I usually only use peat when I need to make a more acidic blend for plants that need a more acidic environment. That being said, I’m glad to know that efforts to make peat more sustainable are being made.
You have to adjust pH down almost 1 full point if growing in all coco. Also it requires additional calcium and magnesium due to the cat-ion exchange of coco.
It's not your fault. They don't want the public to see the devastation caused by the peat collecting. I suppose the public would see the land cleared to the horizon and wouldn't know what they are looking at anyway.
Important notes: In controlled studies, coir always falls short of peat in seedling growth. Plants like peat better. Also, peat will hold more air for an equal volume of water than will coir. Peat also has better capillary action, which pulls water up from the very bottom danger zone for roots, so it's easier to tell when to water. Vermiculite is usually only used for seed starting mixes, mostly because of compaction problems due to its accordion style construction. It does good for short term use (seedlings), but falls down for long term use (potting soil). It also holds too much water without a corresponding capillary ability, so contributes to soggy mixes. Better to get your water holding power from just more peat.
I’ve used coco coir for years. Didn’t know we had to wash the salt out of it! Wow. I guess it’s a tiny part of my overall mix so I never worried about it
Once in a while I do a hardcore strip of all the hair algae in my marine reef aquarium (I'm still figuring out my light levels and whatnot, every time you change something the aquarium reacts somehow, the whole thing is a living organism,) and dump it near the roots of my big rhodedendron. This spring was the first time that I did this, and it's the first time that my rhodo has had new growth in years.❤ (And I am going to stop for this year, it's had enough salty power food for this season I think.❤)
Thanks Luke! I have been thinking about these. I, however, am trying to get completely away from plastic (good luck to me) so I will pass on the bags but I loved your educational breakdown here. Thank you so much!
Could you put your outdoor temps in you videos? Your channel is a great guide for me since we share a similar zone and climate. I'd be curious to know how much "work" your greenhouse is doing to help your lettuce survive in this non-winter winter.
“The other herb” 🤣 love this guy!! lol. Hey I’m from Michigan as well and you provide a lot of great info which I appreciate. I know if you’re doing something I can do it at the same time!! Thanks for the content.
I use both. It depends on Time.If I’m potting things up and run out , I use peat, if I have time to let the big block of coir soak I use that. It’s my first choice. I add perlite and vermiculite to my bed mix , again what I have on hand.
I have found that coir based seed starting mix is better than peat as it is much finer, so I use coir for seed starting, then go to peat for potting mix.
How does leaf mold compare to peat and coco coir? I tend to use this more often than other materials because it's locally sourced and much easier to come by. Our municipal compost is made primarily of last autumn's decomposed leaves and other yard waste, and you can make leaf mold at home as well.
Wasting water, washing salt from the coco coir product seems a stretch by its fans to claim it's an "environmentally friendly" product. Thanks for explaining it all, the pros and cons.
Labor machinery and fuel for transportation. I guess you could buy coconut shells and do all the labor yourself, but there's still going to be shipping.
Thanks for you videos and your channel. You gave me alot of ideas and tips that helped me alot for quite abit. Kind Regards One of those other "herb" gardeners
I couldn't believe how much the Coco Coir has gone up at my nursery. It's practically doubled cause everyone is using it now. I've been using it for about 6 years now. Great stuff but I might need to go back to my old mix due to price
New gardener here-2 questions for you. #1 What is vermiculite, what is it made of? #2 Is pearlite just tiny spheres of styrofoam? If not, what is it made of?
I would say 2 blocks of moistened coco of that size make 1 bale of dry peat. Cost is another thing I look into. Locally I can get 1 bale at Lowes for about $13, a coco equivalent would cost almost $30. I cheat. I don't use any "lite" additives in my mixes because I see no benefit in them. I also have never done any of that pH balancing of either medium that some do. My longterm concern about coco rinsing is what to do with that salt water. Surely if you discard it in the same place it will contaminate the ground. I would say dump it down the storm drain so that salt goes back to the ocean along with road salt, or filter the particles out and use it to flush toilets. A word to the wise is don't use any coco bricks you may find at the pet store because chances are it was not prerinsed as I found out. You could see the salt crystalize on the top of the medium. That was before the reality of salt in coco coir was really made known. I got a salinity tester just because of that.
Your nutrients are just the trifecta plus? You're not adding compost to them? Also, what are your thoughts on coco as a mulch for outdoor? Thanks, and your videos are awesome.
Peat mining is going strong in Canada despite regulations that are supposed to prevent it. Our wetlands are being destroyed as a result and they are our climate champions. Since peat grows at 1mm per year, it's non-renewable.
My biggest issue with Coco coir is the fuel used in the shipping. Not a fan of the amount of water being wasted trying to get rid of the salt. For me, I have been using leaf mold that I produce each year as a seed starter and in my potting mixes. I completely understand not everyone can, or even wants to make leaf mold. Availability and price is also a concern to me. Trying not to rely on any outside sources for my garden. Enjoy your videos! Stay Well!!!
@@CL-ty6wp Fresh water to desalinate coco choir is a waste in my opinion. I understand water does not disappear, but it can become unusable. I completely agree there is no free lunch. That is why I make my own soil amendments, save seeds, the list goes on. Trying to make as natural of an environment to suit my needs as a gardener. Purchasing coco choir or peat is not in my equation. Stay Well!!!
Water is never wasted , there is a finite amount on earth , it is in a continual cycle of evaporation , filtration and flow . So the run off of this will go back into the environment , be filtered by Earth's filter system , evaporation will occur and the it will rain and the cycle will repeat !
4:51 was hilarious! Quick, the boss is coming, look busy....okay, I will rapidly hand you bricks from my pile, and you make another pile until he leaves LMAO
If you are making soil blocks which would be better for holding the block I use (4 peat : 2 Pearlite : 1 compost) and mix in a bit of blood meal , green sand and azymite
I like using peat...my only issue is the dust. I pre soak to reduce dust and mix with sand and compost for potting, or 50/50 with perlite for cuttings. I've never had an issue with it. I do have a coco block to try but the thought of salinity doesn't sit well with me.
I have just got my self a small greenhouse and purchased a 75LT block of coco, will try this in the spring, I live in the south of England, what was the fertilizers name? you use.
I've always known about rehydrating Cococoir, but not so much about rinsing it? Maybe that's why my tomato seedlings did so poorly when I used Coir? I may do an experiment using rinsed coir vs. peat for tomato seedlings...?
A popular convention I've seen if you make your own mixes is to have 1 part "regular" soil mix to 1 part sand to make cacti mix. Does this mix work with that? If not, do you have a cacti mix recipe you like?
Thank you for making this video! I was going to get some, but I’ll get some from you! BTW, Can I use this where there is a steep 4’ slope at the back of my yard to a privacy fence? It gets SO muddy, and I have erosion. My dog loves to bark and scratch at the fence to get to the two dogs that could eat him in one bite, and I need something to fill it up rather than ground cover, which turns to weeds! I am always washing a white little dog that turns black with mud. Plus, I’m allergic to molds and have Lyme. But I love gardening (with Luke’s seeds, of course!).
Being here in Alberta I can attest, we have over 75Million hectares of peat. We will never run out. It IS absolutely a renewable resource. It is much worse for the environment for us to use coir. We don't have coconut trees here. It must be harvested thousands of miles away. It then must be packaged, then shipped. The fuel alone used to get it is far worse for our environment. It's nice to have but it goes through a lot to get here. Canadian peat is a wonderful resource.
REMEMBER people use their LOCAL resource to generate wealth. So what is wrong with that? You are an adult and you can decide whatever is good and suitable for your need.
I've worked at a peat moss plant & across the board, it is all the same. All we did was add sand to some mixes & change the brand of bag depending on the customer whether it was Miracle Grow or whomever. It's like that in most industries. Cars are like that, just put a different style body on it & call it something different. Billionaires ripped you off, do something about it.
![ละลาย (LALALYE) - DAOU PITTAYA ต้าห์อู๋ พิทยา [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wo6r9TgausI/mqdefault.jpg)
In Goa, we say that there isn't a part of the coconut tree that ever goes to waste. Even the trunk is used as beams in construction. The outermost shell with the coir are dumped into the pit in which to grow a new coconut Palm.🥥🌴
Every single part of the tree has multiple uses, and is such an integral part of Goan traditions. (Sigh) Nostalgia!😊
Like weaving baskets & other such things out of the leaves.
I used coco coir last year to start hundreds of seeds, vegetables, perennials and annual flowers. I just used the coco coir by itself and fertilized with fish emulsion once they all had their true leaves. They all grew great!
For Luke's fans: A "part" is one scoop of whatever size measuring container you are using. It might be a bucket, an old yogurt container, a measuring cup, etc. The size does not matter. Using the same Container to scoop the amounts of Parts needed to make the whole batch is what matters..
Formula for every 20 Parts to create a 100% mixture will be:
25% Perlite = 5 Parts (scoops) &
15% Vermiculite = 3 Parts (scoops) &
60% Coco or Peat = 12 Parts (scoops).
5+3+12 = 20 Parts/Scoops total, each Part is 5% of the mixture = 100%.
It doesn't matter what size scooper you use, a Part is a Part of 100% total.
How much fertilizer should I add?
Also, should I add the fertilizer to the whole mix or some to each seedling pod?
Thank you so much!
If you purchased his fertilizer the recipe is on the bag.
Thank you ❤
I like coco coir just because it's better for me to work with. I suffer allergies 😩but can't pull myself from gardening 🌱🌾 especially now that I am concentrating on saving money $ growing my food. I wear gloves 🧤 and a mask 🎭 , which a small price to pay for my love💛 of plants 🌿 Thanks Luke for all you do. 🕊
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Good job! Keep going😊🌱
I take claritin or zyrtec when gardening or else I'm a sneezy mess & super stuffed up the next day
HAROLD JAMES
I have astma and used to suffer from hayfever, eczema and other discomforts. I found out that drinking nettleleaf tea (antihistamine benefits) and lessen my carb and stop eating gluten, white sugar containing products and products containing conservatives (E-numbers) like mononatrium glutamate E621 and goat milk instead of cowmilk (different casëine) helped me get over it. I can work in the garden whereas I used to have burning eyes, continuous sneezing episodes for years. Nettleleaf is not for all as some might be allergic to that as well. Working in the garden has worked miracles for my health as well. Bless you with great health.
Love from Holland.
Everyone recommends the allergy pills but really what you need is allergy shots. I was deathly allergic to most things outside until I got them. It's a time commitment but it will pay off
Hey Luke last year i made kind of a raised bed where I took logs and used my soil from my yard. I bought a HUGE bag of perlite from the grow store and mixed it into my yards soil to loosen it up...I think it contributed to the most successful onion harvest I ever had along with Trifeca of course lol. Planning on doing it like that again for all my root Veggies!
@@chickeastwater9883 It tells me that it could be fatel to pets if they should digest
Is styrofoam dangerous to kittens?
My Cat Ate Styrofoam! Here's What to Do (Vet Answer ...
The main risk to your cat from eating Styrofoam is that it can cause a blockage in your cat's stomach or intestines. A partial blockage can cause your cat to display symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, and a full blockage is classed as a surgical emergency.
I just tried some coco coir seed starting mix this year because it was cheaper then peat starting mix...I love it, once its been rehydrated its a lot easier to not over pack into the cells so roots can move through it nicely and it takes less time to get off your hands. It doesn't smell the same as peat but it still has a nice light earth smell.
I grow my micro greens in coconut coir. A little goes a long way, and it hold moisture really well.
So how do you deal with the salt issues, as I too went that way but have experienced tomatoes having some issues?
We are using leftover potting soil from last year, finished compost, and leftover potting mix to start seeds. Winter sowing some tomatoes in the breezeway that gets a lot of sun, and growing a few tomatoes and peppers under our first tiny grow light. Saves on cost. Our small garden really helps us and it tadtes so much better.
I have been using coco coir for over 10 years now and it is so great. I live on the 4th floor and grow stuff on my balkony/walkway & windo-sills. Carying all that in compost up is just bad for my knees. So i get me some coco coir blocks and some compost from the parents garden. Mix it up and use it for all my pottet veggies and herbs. It is great to use in pots and flower boxes. It keeps things fluffy and well drainable. Only have to keep an eye on fertilizing right depending on what i want to grow. Love the stuff.
great video and informative. thank you.
I had to come back and thank you again. I watched the whole video and found that I didn't know as much about coconut coir as I needed to know. Now I know more. There is no such thing as too much information. Continue to be thorough.
I use a 20 gallon trash can set on top of 3 bricks with holes in the bottom, fill with water, let it drain to rinse the coco coir 3 days/times, then keep it stored in there and use as needed. Cheap and EZ.
GREAT IDEA!
Will the coco coir not run out of the holes? Do you have issues with mold as it sets in the can waiting to be used?
@@tammydepew5236it must dry out a bit. The stagnant water would be gnarly
@@tammydepew5236 Sorry that I didn't see your comment before now. Yes, a little coco coir runs out of the bottom of the trash can, but not much. Your question has stimulated my brain to realize that I could put some old window screen over the holes. And No, it doesn't get moldy because O transfer it first into plastic cement mixing pans to air dry, then transfer again into a different trash can without holes after it has dried. I use various sized trash cans to store EVERYTHING. 😁🧓
I was thinking something along them lines.
I always learn something from your videos, thank you. Today I learned that my attacks on coir blocks with different types of saws are a thing of the past.
I really appreciate the education that Migardener share with us❣️
This is my second year gardening and I haven’t tried coco coir yet, so this info is very helpful. Thanks!
Wow! I didn't know about salt content in coco coir. I didn't have good success before when I used it in a seed starting mix, but now that I know about washing it I will try again! Thank you for sharing all this good information :)
Exact same thing here too! I was so disappointed with the failed attempts but now with this new info, I will try again!
I grew up in Sheboygan, WI…..Sheboygan is written on your 5 gal container…..memories…. Lived on the beach across from Michigan.
Thank you Luke for this video. I didn't know abo
ut coco coir and seawater, or the need to rinse out the salt. I have just used it straight as I have used peat in the past. Very informative! Thank you again!
I use coconut coir for my seed starting mix, worm bedding, and bedding for my tortoise. It’s amazing how much you can do with it and it takes up way less space!
excellent explanation of peat and coco. a lot better than lots of online sources.
Yeah, I wouldn't say coco coir is better than peat moss, but here in Australia, it's way cheaper and readily available.
We have a good brand called Brunnings that is pre-washed, so is way lower in salt than some others.
I've never used it as the main portion of a potting mix, but usually a mix of compost, coco coir, and worm castings with some vermiculite added.
I use boiling water to get rid of any pests in compost for indoors use. Thanks for the great video.
I was thinking to microwave damp compost. The steam from the water woul for sure kill everything. I've also heard of people reusing potting mix by getting it all moist and baking it to kill any fungus microbes or pests.
You're ruining a large portion of why compost is so good by boiling it. Microbes microbes microbes.
@@Smithers4 Absolutely right! But for indoor pots a sterile medium is useful to avoid bringing pests into the home and the microbes will soon return.
I still have a ton of autumn leaves. I’ll chop some up with the mower and try putting a bunch in bags for next year.
I didn’t wash my cococoir. Hope my citrus does ok in it because I just transplanted a bunch of citrus trees.
The flowers I potted up look great in it!
Ohhhhhh, I didn't know that; thanks! I didn't know about the salt or peeling sheets!! Good thing for me, you thought to address coco coir today!
I like the change from "grow big or go home" to "grow bigger". Feels more inclusive. Also thank you for the useful information, especially regarding the added nutrition at the end.
I cannot tell you how excited I am that you will be carrying Coco Coir! I have been buying it for a couple of years now. I find it easlier for me to work with than peat because it doesn't become hydrophobic. The tip on how to break it off is wonderful thank you, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be buying from you next time.
I’ve been using coco coir for years in my vivarium but never heard anyone mention the issue of salinity before. That would explain why some of my plants struggle when I refresh it!
I just learned that from this video too!
Was thinking my plant starting soil was moldy but then saw the salty crust and now I know why 😮
certain Anthuriums can be very sensitive to the salt. Years ago I was told by a large grower in New Zealand that he had lost many thousands of young anthurium plants out of micro propagation when he tried using coco peat.
Thank you for the explanation and recipe. I like how you up cycled those pallets to make grow tables. Greenhouse is awesome!
Thank you! I love them too. Upcycling is great.
Great video! Thanks for explaining both peat and coco coir.
I wouldn't have known that about the salt from the saltwater without your info. Thanks.
Coconut is grown in beaches near sea shore. Coconut trees like a little bit of salt. It is not entirely correct to say countries like India don’t have sweet water.
Didn’t know about the washing of the coir of salt, so I will do that this year and hope the seedlings gets a better start than they did last year.
You should buffer the coco coir in a cal-mag solution for several hours after hydrating it.
I use coco coir inside for seed starting/microgreens and peat moss for outside containers. Works great for me.
A pleasant combination!
This year I used coco coir to start my seeds, it held the water and kept my seedlings moist till their first leaves. Then I started feeding them with diluted fertilizer. I’m really impressed with the results. I babysat them b/c I was concerned about my seeds drying out but it wasn’t necessary.
For what it’s worth, I have heard that the rinse water from the coconut coir can be used, CAREFULLY, as a general mineral supplement for mineral stripped soils. Sea water has MANY minerals, not just sodium and chloride.
So interesting! Do you have any resources to share?
@@kimberlyscott864 I wish! I am just getting set up on my retirement property and hope to start planting this year. What I have accumulated is bits and pieces of information over the years.
@@Bill32H-it3sv IMO, it’s not where it comes from, but whether or not it profits the people doing the work. Too often, it profits only the middlemen and big business, and wastes scarce potable water. For the reasons you gave, I also use Canadian peat.
Yes but what comes off washed coco coir is not simply sea water. It’s mostly sodium from the seawater that gets bound to the coco coir’s cation exchange sites. So there’s a good chance you’d be feeding your plants/soil toxic levels of sodium doing that. Better just diluting a small amount of good quality sea salt in some room temp water ;)
Just used coco peat this year for seed starting and learned the hard way that I should have rinsed it! But honestly it still was better that peat moss!! One 101b block was equal to giant block of peat most! Plus so much lighter to handle and was delivered right to front door!
What did you do with the water you’ve washed the coco coir in. Thank you. I love your videos. So helpful
I do container gardening up north in zone 5A and make my own homemade potting mix.
I start by using clay dug from my backyard I let it dry in the sun on my driveway then I crush it into a fine powder then sweep it up and collect it.
I used to use the topsoil as part of my base ingredients instead of clay, but I've found that the clay has way more minerals than the native topsoil in my backyard.
Basically I mix the clay, coarse garden perlite, compost, worm castings, coconut coir , plus inoculants and amendments together by hand.
Per 10 cubic foot giant wheelbarrow (1 batch):
5 gallons coconut coir
5 gallons of crushed powdered clay
5 gallons of locally-sourced earth worm castings
5 gallons of my homemade super compost (fortified with rock dust and charcoal)
5 gallons of coarse garden perlite
This is the bulk of my soil base mix. Then I add these inoculants and amendments to the base mix listed above.
(1)Bat Guano
(2)Bone meal
(3) blood meal
(4) rice hauls
(5) alfalfa meal
(6) kelp meal
(7) seaweed meal
(8) aged chicken manure
(9) green sand "mineral deposits from the ocean floor"
(10) feather meal
(11) mycorrhiza "a type of fungus"
(12) microorganism mix "multiple different types of microorganism bacteria"
(13) neem cake meal
(14) red wiggler worms about one dozen per flower pot depending on the pot size
If you could see through my soil would look like a tangled web of millions of white spider webs in the soil mixture, this is also known as Santa's Beard, it's a good thing 👍.
This is the holy grail of the home gardener, it's known as "soil hyphae" a type of mycorrhiza fungus network that has a beneficial symbiotic relationship with the vegetable plant roots.
If you're able to achieve this hyphae network magical things happen like absolute ridiculous yields from one plant, it's truly insane 😳👍.
I basically make a living soil and let the soil feed the plants (happy soil microbes happy plants)🤷.
The only time i actually feed the plants is maybe for the first 5 weeks. I might occasionally mix some fish emulsion with water depending on the current growth rate.
Basically if you build your soil properly in the beginning, there's really no reason to feed your plants in my very short grow season 🤷.
Happy gardening all hope this helps someone ✌️.
What is the best way to source all of these ingredients?
Thank you so much!
I find that coir rehydrates much easier than peat as, in my experience I have to add hot water to the peat but, the coir will take up cold water, no problem! I usually only use peat when I need to make a more acidic blend for plants that need a more acidic environment. That being said, I’m glad to know that efforts to make peat more sustainable are being made.
Thanks! I had a loose idea but this helped me firm up how to use both mediums
I use a combination of both! I found that using coco coir exclusively made my plants underperform.
Lots of people will use a combination, and that’s great too!
You have to adjust pH down almost 1 full point if growing in all coco. Also it requires additional calcium and magnesium due to the cat-ion exchange of coco.
It's not your fault. They don't want the public to see the devastation caused by the peat collecting. I suppose the public would see the land cleared to the horizon and wouldn't know what they are looking at anyway.
Maybe, as a way to rinse, set the coco out in the rain! Then,it can be hydrated, and rinsed both, effortlessly! 😁😎
Important notes: In controlled studies, coir always falls short of peat in seedling growth. Plants like peat better. Also, peat will hold more air for an equal volume of water than will coir. Peat also has better capillary action, which pulls water up from the very bottom danger zone for roots, so it's easier to tell when to water.
Vermiculite is usually only used for seed starting mixes, mostly because of compaction problems due to its accordion style construction. It does good for short term use (seedlings), but falls down for long term use (potting soil). It also holds too much water without a corresponding capillary ability, so contributes to soggy mixes. Better to get your water holding power from just more peat.
I’ve used coco coir for years. Didn’t know we had to wash the salt out of it! Wow. I guess it’s a tiny part of my overall mix so I never worried about it
Best video I have seen on the merits of Coco Coir vs. Peat Moss. I’ll stick with peat moss other than seed starting.
Once in a while I do a hardcore strip of all the hair algae in my marine reef aquarium (I'm still figuring out my light levels and whatnot, every time you change something the aquarium reacts somehow, the whole thing is a living organism,) and dump it near the roots of my big rhodedendron. This spring was the first time that I did this, and it's the first time that my rhodo has had new growth in years.❤ (And I am going to stop for this year, it's had enough salty power food for this season I think.❤)
Thanks Luke! I have been thinking about these. I, however, am trying to get completely away from plastic (good luck to me) so I will pass on the bags but I loved your educational breakdown here. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the ratios! I’ve been stressing. 😂 it’s time to start some seeds😊
Thank you for doing a video on how to use the coco coir. I ordered the 3 cubic feet and it’s so helpful to know what to do to get started.
Thanks, 😊 Luke! I learned about more than the announced subject!!! Now I know what vermiculite and permiculite are for! 😅😊
Could you put your outdoor temps in you videos? Your channel is a great guide for me since we share a similar zone and climate. I'd be curious to know how much "work" your greenhouse is doing to help your lettuce survive in this non-winter winter.
“The other herb” 🤣 love this guy!! lol. Hey I’m from Michigan as well and you provide a lot of great info which I appreciate. I know if you’re doing something I can do it at the same time!! Thanks for the content.
I use both. It depends on Time.If I’m potting things up and run out , I use peat, if I have time to let the big block of coir soak I use that. It’s my first choice. I add perlite and vermiculite to my bed mix , again what I have on hand.
I have found that coir based seed starting mix is better than peat as it is much finer, so I use coir for seed starting, then go to peat for potting mix.
Really nice to see the level up in video quality!
Thank you! :)
I wonder if you would mix coco and peat? Now that's a mind bender. Thanks for posting, always Enjoy.
Perfect training just when I needed it. Thanks! Where do you recommend I get vermiculite and perlite in bulk?
I just bought bulk perlite off of Amazon. It was the only place that I could find it. It was roughly $34 bucks for 3 or 4 cubic ft of it.
How does leaf mold compare to peat and coco coir? I tend to use this more often than other materials because it's locally sourced and much easier to come by. Our municipal compost is made primarily of last autumn's decomposed leaves and other yard waste, and you can make leaf mold at home as well.
Such a great product especially if you make it at home. I wouldn't start seeds in it but I think it's great for the garden.
Great video 😊 thanks for sharing and have a great day and happy gardening 🌿🌱😊🤗
Wasting water, washing salt from the coco coir product seems a stretch by its fans to claim it's an "environmentally friendly" product. Thanks for explaining it all, the pros and cons.
This was super helpful. Thank you!!!
❤ the new info. I’ll be getting my trifecta as soon as possible. The the videos coming!!!!
You'd think that something in such an infinitely abundant supply wouldn't be so damned expensive.
It has mostly to do with the systems to get it from a raw husk to what it is, then to get it to your house. It’s pretty intensive!
@@MIgardenerYours is actually the cheapest I've found, but the shipping kills it because it almost doubles for every 1 added.
Labor machinery and fuel for transportation. I guess you could buy coconut shells and do all the labor yourself, but there's still going to be shipping.
Thanks for you videos and your channel. You gave me alot of ideas and tips that helped me alot for quite abit.
Kind Regards
One of those other "herb" gardeners
I couldn't believe how much the Coco Coir has gone up at my nursery. It's practically doubled cause everyone is using it now. I've been using it for about 6 years now. Great stuff but I might need to go back to my old mix due to price
Coconut coir is the best because it has what plants crave. It has electrolytes!
I mix 60% hydroponic grade coco and 40% perlite for hydroponic medium.
New gardener here-2 questions for you. #1 What is vermiculite, what is it made of? #2 Is pearlite just tiny spheres of styrofoam? If not, what is it made of?
I would say 2 blocks of moistened coco of that size make 1 bale of dry peat. Cost is another thing I look into. Locally I can get 1 bale at Lowes for about $13, a coco equivalent would cost almost $30. I cheat. I don't use any "lite" additives in my mixes because I see no benefit in them. I also have never done any of that pH balancing of either medium that some do. My longterm concern about coco rinsing is what to do with that salt water. Surely if you discard it in the same place it will contaminate the ground. I would say dump it down the storm drain so that salt goes back to the ocean along with road salt, or filter the particles out and use it to flush toilets. A word to the wise is don't use any coco bricks you may find at the pet store because chances are it was not prerinsed as I found out. You could see the salt crystalize on the top of the medium. That was before the reality of salt in coco coir was really made known. I got a salinity tester just because of that.
I cut Coco Coir with my bandsaw., works great.
Great, informative video. Thank you!
Was listening to the modern homesteading podcast today and the mentioned your store was kinda cool
Oh very cool!
Good advice! I have tried making my own compost!
HI LUKE, I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS IN ALL THAT. WE GOT PROMIX BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Good question! I’m curious, too!
I made my own peat base mix this year, 2 parts moss 1 part vermiculite. It cost me 1/5 the price and worked well.
Hey! Cool shelving! : )
Thanks! I love the look too. A lot of work, but we’ll worth it.
This was super educational! I just learned so much!!!
Your nutrients are just the trifecta plus? You're not adding compost to them?
Also, what are your thoughts on coco as a mulch for outdoor?
Thanks, and your videos are awesome.
Just potted up some plants using the coco coir without rinsing. Then saw your video. Yikes! Fingers crossed!
Ok Luke I’m going to need some peat with lime added and some pre washed coconut husk fiber. Do you carry any ?😂 Thanks for the info. Very helpful ❤
Peat mining is going strong in Canada despite regulations that are supposed to prevent it. Our wetlands are being destroyed as a result and they are our climate champions. Since peat grows at 1mm per year, it's non-renewable.
My biggest issue with Coco coir is the fuel used in the shipping. Not a fan of the amount of water being wasted trying to get rid of the salt.
For me, I have been using leaf mold that I produce each year as a seed starter and in my potting mixes. I completely understand not everyone can, or even wants to make leaf mold.
Availability and price is also a concern to me. Trying not to rely on any outside sources for my garden.
Enjoy your videos! Stay Well!!!
Water can't be 'wasted'.
That water didn't disappear.
Also, there is no free lunch.
@@CL-ty6wp Fresh water to desalinate coco choir is a waste in my opinion. I understand water does not disappear, but it can become unusable.
I completely agree there is no free lunch. That is why I make my own soil amendments, save seeds, the list goes on.
Trying to make as natural of an environment to suit my needs as a gardener. Purchasing coco choir or peat is not in my equation.
Stay Well!!!
@@CL-ty6wp Brian probably believes the Global warming or is it Global cooling hoax as well.
Water is never wasted , there is a finite amount on earth , it is in a continual cycle of evaporation , filtration and flow . So the run off of this will go back into the environment , be filtered by Earth's filter system , evaporation will occur and the it will rain and the cycle will repeat !
I understand Pete is hydrophobic and low ph. vs coco that takes water and mid ph. I did not know this and killed my berries. Keep teaching
Can you please do a video on explaining pH and give many examples of plants that require different types of pH?
4:51 was hilarious! Quick, the boss is coming, look busy....okay, I will rapidly hand you bricks from my pile, and you make another pile until he leaves LMAO
If you are making soil blocks which would be better for holding the block I use (4 peat : 2 Pearlite : 1 compost) and mix in a bit of blood meal , green sand and azymite
I do the same.
Hello. It's a good video.I want to ask is it possible to reuse coconut coir? Thank you.
Interesting. Coir is new to me.
Same here
This was very informative. Thank you!!
I like using peat...my only issue is the dust. I pre soak to reduce dust and mix with sand and compost for potting, or 50/50 with perlite for cuttings. I've never had an issue with it. I do have a coco block to try but the thought of salinity doesn't sit well with me.
I have just got my self a small greenhouse and purchased a 75LT block of coco, will try this in the spring, I live in the south of England, what was the fertilizers name? you use.
I've always known about rehydrating Cococoir, but not so much about rinsing it? Maybe that's why my tomato seedlings did so poorly when I used Coir? I may do an experiment using rinsed coir vs. peat for tomato seedlings...?
Thank you Luke, very informative.
I use coco coir for my micro greens production exclusively.
You probably can cut the block of coco choir with a saw into pre sized pieces.
I love,love your greenhouse!
Great video. Can coco coir be used in a raised garden bed instead of soil?
Would this be better then Promix for potato grow bags? I know this year I am going to make a very light soil in my potato grow bags.
A popular convention I've seen if you make your own mixes is to have 1 part "regular" soil mix to 1 part sand to make cacti mix. Does this mix work with that? If not, do you have a cacti mix recipe you like?
Great teaching
Thank you, this is just what I was looking for 💯
Glad it helped! Happy gardening.
Thank you for making this video! I was going to get some, but I’ll get some from you!
BTW, Can I use this where there is a steep 4’ slope at the back of my yard to a privacy fence? It gets SO muddy, and I have erosion. My dog loves to bark and scratch at the fence to get to the two dogs that could eat him in one bite, and I need something to fill it up rather than ground cover, which turns to weeds! I am always washing a white little dog that turns black with mud. Plus, I’m allergic to molds and have Lyme. But I love gardening (with Luke’s seeds, of course!).
Being here in Alberta I can attest, we have over 75Million hectares of peat. We will never run out. It IS absolutely a renewable resource. It is much worse for the environment for us to use coir. We don't have coconut trees here. It must be harvested thousands of miles away. It then must be packaged, then shipped. The fuel alone used to get it is far worse for our environment. It's nice to have but it goes through a lot to get here. Canadian peat is a wonderful resource.
Refreshing truth
REMEMBER people use their LOCAL resource to generate wealth. So what is wrong with that? You are an adult and you can decide whatever is good and suitable for your need.
I've worked at a peat moss plant & across the board, it is all the same. All we did was add sand to some mixes & change the brand of bag depending on the customer whether it was Miracle Grow or whomever. It's like that in most industries. Cars are like that, just put a different style body on it & call it something different. Billionaires ripped you off, do something about it.