| I think there might be 2 different things we're talking about in this thread. I have used both coir chips and something called coir peat. Both come in dried compressed bricks or expanded in bags. Coir chips are just what the name inplies, chips of choir material. I use it in a similar manner to the way I use bark, except that the coir chips soak up and retain a lot more water so I use it for plants that like the moisture (Paphs, Phrags, Phals). Coir peat, if I understand correctly, is the same material but ground up to about the same consistency as peat. It may be mixed with a little peat as well. I use this just like I use peat.
Sharyn, it sounds like your original post in this thread is describing this fine coir peat medium. Is that correct? If so I would not use it alone as a potting mix. I would add it to other things (bark, coir chips, perelite, charcoal, etc., etc.) to incerase the moisture retentiveness of the mix the same way you would use regular peat.
I hope this info is helpful and not confusing.
Happy Growing!
-Kevin  |