coconut fiber

From: "Dany Hervelle" bs246466 at skynet.be> on 2000.06.01 at 00:20:20(4660) Hell to all Did someone have experiance with aroid cultivation in a medium composed in major part of coconut fiber?There are some nurserys where we can get this here now and  will try this.Also,of course i know that it is not aroid,did someone know some serious nurserys where i can get unusuals species of calathea,or some colectors who may be interesting with trade.I know that most of the aroiders are ofen also gingers! Thanks Dany

From: GeoffAroid at aol.com on 2000.06.01 at 02:53:24(4663) Dany, I grow most of my aroids (Anthuriums, Dracontium, Amorphs etc) in a compost composed of about 4 parts coconut fibre, 1 part fine bark chunks and one half part perlite and have had great success with it. As long as you feed regularly it makes a good, free draining but moisture retaining compost and doesnt deplete the already damaged peat supplies of the world. Regards, Geoffrey Kibby +More London

From: Durightmm at aol.com on 2000.06.01 at 02:55:05(4666) Hi Dany, I use coconut fiber in my mix for aroids. It is of greater use in a sand mix for Calatheas. Durning the rainy months several inches per week requires the kind of drainage it provides. Try it, you'll like it. regards, Banta.

From: plantnut at macconnect.com (plantnut) on 2000.06.01 at 02:56:01(4668) Be very careful of Coconut fiber!!!!!! After about six or eight months the top can look great.... but just below the surface.... the media has turned to mush.... it disintergrates like you would not believe! Now, this might just be in the climate here in South Florida.... But, I had a lot of rotted roots because of it.....Years ago, I tried it.... Now, would not touch it with a ten foot pole..... even one that was twelve foot!!! Dewey +More >Hell to all Did someone have experiance with aroid cultivation in a >medium composed in major part of coconut fiber?There are some nurserys >where we can get this here now and  will try this.Also,of course i >know that it is not aroid,did someone know some serious nurserys where i >can get unusuals species of calathea,or some colectors who may be >interesting with trade.I know that most of the aroiders are ofen also >gingers! Thanks Dany

From: Aroideae at aol.com on 2000.06.01 at 02:56:14(4669) Dear Dany, I germinate all my Anthurium and Philodendron seeds in straight coconut fiber, the ground up sort that resembles peat. my guess is that it would be far too wet for many aroid genera unless it was amended considerably to enhance aeration, but i grow primarily tropical epiphytes. lynn +More << Hell to all Did someone have experiance with aroid cultivation in a medium composed in major part of coconut fiber?There are some nurserys where we can get this here now and will try this.Also,of course i know that it is not aroid,did someone know some serious nurserys where i can get unusuals species of calathea,or some colectors who may be interesting with trade.I know that most of the aroiders are ofen also gingers! Thanks Dany >>

From: mb.cfg at mindspring.com on 2000.06.01 at 23:58:21(4672) I must throw in my two cents and agree VERY STRONGLY with Dewey. I once made the mistake of potting up dozens of plants with coconut fiber as a major component of the soil mix. There is no doubt in my mind that this stuff breaks down into wretched sludge faster than anything else I have ever seen. +More I have read some of the emails of others using this product with success and I am amazed! In my own experience the only thing coconut fiber is good for is suffocating roots...I would not even risk it...its not worth it. (P.S. Please note....there are 2!! different kinds of coconut fiber sold commercially and they don?t react the same. One kind is sold in long coarse strands and looks much like a horses mane, the other is usually sold in bricks and resembles peat moss. The one that looks like a horses mane is very "dry" and resists absorbing moister, the other holds lots of water. The "horses mane" type breaks down much slower than the brick kind, but they both eventually turn to "mush".) Marc Burack > Be very careful of Coconut fiber!!!!!! After about six or eight months the top can look great.... but just below the surface.... the media has turned to mush.... it disintergrates like you would not believe! Now, this might just be in the climate here in South Florida.... But, I had a lot of rotted roots because of it.....Years ago, I tried it.... Now, would not touch it with a ten foot pole..... even one that was twelve foot!!! Dewey

From: DBurch2345 at aol.com on 2000.06.03 at 01:54:32(4678) Another experience with coir-based media -UGH!!! I used some last year when I couldn't get my usual mix ("Citrus mix") and lost more gingers during the season than I ever have before. Granted I did not modify my watering system, so must take part of the blame (but there are only 30 or so hours in most days), but it did all of the sludge forming that Dewey mentioned, losing all aeration. Anyway all my globbas, curcumas and various smaller genera hated the stuff, and those that survived were essentailly frozen in time as far as growth went - same size rhizomes in November that went in in April. If you use it be prepared to check your watering very very carefully. Derek Burch

From: hermine hermine at endangeredspecies.com> on 2000.06.03 at 05:02:49(4679) At 06:54 PM 06/02/2000, DBurch2345@aol.com wrote: >Another experience with coir-based media -UGH!!! I used some last year when >I couldn't get my usual mix ("Citrus mix") and lost more gingers during the >season than I ever have before. Some folks on the CYCAD list found that this material caused a serious health problem in their plants, and as far as i can remember, it nurtures some organism which attacks the CYCAD. The Cycadians just finished SHRIEKING over this. hermine

From: "Dany Hervelle" bs246466 at skynet.be> on 2000.06.04 at 22:08:02(4688) Hello to all(and excuse me for taping hell!) Thanks for all the reaction about the utilisation of coconut fiber.Like i see, some are positive, some very negative and some soft positive;So i think that all i had to do is try,with a lot of precaution.I will mix it with stone lave and charcoal wood. I will let you know what is my experiance. Thanks again Dany +More -----Message d'origine----- De : Dany Hervelle ? : Multiple recipients of list AROID-L Date : jeudi 1 juin 2000 01:20 Objet : coconut fiber >Hell to all Did someone have experiance with aroid cultivation in a >medium composed in major part of coconut fiber?There are some nurserys >where we can get this here now and  will try this.Also,of course i >know that it is not aroid,did someone know some serious nurserys where i >can get unusuals species of calathea,or some colectors who may be >interesting with trade.I know that most of the aroiders are ofen also >gingers! Thanks Dany > > >

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