Coir
David Rees (davidr@ento.csiro.au)
Sat, 17 Aug 1996 15:37:43 +1100
Coir is a waste product from the coconut industry, its ground up shell and
other fibres from the fruit I think. Sri Lanka has huge piles of it and
they did not know what to do with it until someone tried using it as a plant
compost. In other words its use is pretty environmentally friendly. Its
usually sold in compressed bricks - about the size of a house brick. To
use, you put the brick in a bucket (normal 10l , 2 gallon one) and fill with
warm water. The brick expands and you have 10l of peat substitute. In
Australia (in Canberra at least) its not difficult to find in good garden
centres and some discount stores such as K mart. Here a brick goes for Aus
$ 1.50 - 2 making it cheaper than peat.
David Rees
CSIRO Division of Entomology
GPO Box 1700
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia
Phone: (06) 246 4198, Int:. +61 6 246 4198
Fax: (06) 246 4202, Int. Fax: +61 6 246 4202
Email: davidr@ento.csiro.au