Re: Re: coconut fiber

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

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