Coco coir vs soil

It [coir] would never do the same job as decent soil IMO. I also don't like the fact that's it's promoted as environmentally friendly when it's being transported thousands of miles.
Molehill soil is also a great product, so if you have access to that, it's great for long term potted planting of anything woody, as well as for mixing with other things, depending on use.
I use a peat based compost which is extracted as part of water processing in Ireland, and is sold half a mile away from me at the local mill. I also use my own compost but it takes a very long time to break down here, so I need a few bags of that compost each year. I also re use compost from containers - annuals etc, but it depends what you're using any of these mixes/products for.

 

I'm stocking up on peat compost before the ban kicks in next year

 

It is more closer to 7000 nautical miles to ship coir from Sri Lanka to the UK.

 

No ban coming in to force next year. It has been delayed until 2027, but some are saying it might not be banned now until 2030. It will be down to choice by the retailer if they don't stock peat based compost from next year. If the retailers say they don't stock peat based compost because it's banned, then, they either don't know the legislation or they are purposely misleading you.

 

Or pandering to the green lobby.

 

I was thinking of using coir instead of soil and adding compost to it. My understanding is that its very good at holding water so should take longer to dry. In addition the blocks are much easier to transport and take less space to store than a block of soil. Ive also read that its more likely to be acidic in nature than the normal top soil that is bought

I wasnt really thinking about the environmental impact or as a substitute to peat. As an aside i find it very difficult to find anywhere that sells peat based compost or soils so i dont know where other people are buying these from

 

Make sure you add more grit/perlite to improve drainage otherwise you increase the risk of roots rotting off especially overwinter and in early spring.

 

There has been sharp increases in coconut products due to high demand with a drop off in productivity. The likes of the milk, oil and water are increasing in demand, which is having a knock on effect on the cost, also for coir substrate. Weather conditions, disease and aging tree's has all contributed to harvesting being down as much as 20% in some Asian countries.

There is another aspect to coir substrate environmental credits, the substrate is a bi product, however deforestation rarely gets mentioned.
Many broadleaf forest have been lost to make way for palm tree oil and coconut tree plantations, especially in the Pacific, resulting in a significant loss of carbon storage.

 

Used to just be the coconut shy and a coconut mat.
Things move on don't they.

 

For woody plants in pots the best compost is soil based John Innes type no 3 which has the right texture and nutrients for the plants to thrive but the nutrient levels are, as with any bought planting media, only good for 3 months so need supplementing with top dressing and/or liquid feeds.

Coir is a soil conditioner used to add to composts and soil to improve moisture retention and should never be used as a soil replacement for all the reasons given above - no nutrients and root rotting.

 

Im very surprised to read this as every coco coir i have seen advertised seems to suggest that its environmentally friendly and its using a waste product from coconuts. The comments made about transporting it round the world and deforestation to produce this product are really putting me off using it . I feel that we have a responsibility in wealthier countries like the UK to think about the global impact of our actions so im going off the idea of buying it

 

I don't think the ban is the problem as such,should it come in the future, it's not easy to find peat based compost as most sellers have taken the green advice on board already and are not stocking it.

The only one I have found at an acceptable price was what I would call pretty much rubbish, it was so fine almost like dust.
Most people seem to moan about a few lumps in compost, and I agree for seed sowing something fine is best, but for general potting I prefer something a bit coarser.
As I said earlier not used coir but I think it's probably got a use added to a compost to help create a decent texture.

When you really look into all this modern pushing to use greener products none of it makes much sense to me as the real truth is usually hidden or ignored.

 

The fact that it had salts washed out was another thing that attracted it to me as im thinking its more likely to be towards the acidic or neutral ph range

Ive never been able to find peat containing anything. All the soil or compost i've bought has always advertised itself as peat free and i just accept that. Even if there is no official ban it seems to have been unofficially banned by producers in the UK. I have used Growise compost from bord na mona (The Irish Peat Board) but even then im not 100% sure it contained peat as i think the Peat Board role has changed but they still brand stuff . I therefore wasnt looking for coco coir because of the situation with peat it was more its ease of transport , water holding ability and pH

 

In DEFRA's report in 2011 coir was red flagged in, poor working conditions, child labour, excess water for washing, fossil fuels in the processing and shipping. The report went on to say that seeking a different peat free substrate alternative was recommended. But now we are told it is okay to use it, but no second official report to back this up.

You can buy peat based composts near me from a number of outlets, B&M, Home Bargains, small independent G/C's and the Home centre.
There are online retailers where you can purchase bales of pure peat with no additives.

Peat composts will be available for sale in England for many years to come, until the Irish and Scottish governments align with West Minsters legislation.
Even if they ban the harvesting of peat, it does not mean that imported peat will be banned. So if the Irish go down the path that there will be a ban on harvesting peat but imports will still be allowed, then anything that the Irish import and sell with in their own borders, can then be legally sold to anywhere with in the UK, regardless of any regulations imposed