Coir

Coir or coco-peat is something of a recent discovery for me. I never really paid much attention to them on the nursery shelves until earlier this year. How can something so easy to transport (4.5kg blocks make 60 litres of material), environmentally sustainable (made from coconut fibre which would otherwise be thrown away) and both retains moisture and better drainage at the same time. I have been stockpiling them in my garage. When I need to use it, I simply put a block into a barrel of water and wait for the fibres to expand. I like to mix the coir with compost and manure when I'm re-potting. Due to its light weight nature, coir is a terrific choice for balcony gardens.